Activity 3.2.1- Natural Resources Review

 

When you examine the concept map above, everything ties back to the overarching idea of natural resources and their utilization. Some resources, such as wind, trees, water, and fish, are considered renewable because nature can replenish them relatively quickly. Others, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, are nonrenewable, meaning that once they are used up, they’re essentially depleted, as they take millions of years to form. Fossil fuels play a significant role in this, as they provide the energy to power cars, heat homes, and run industries; however, they also create problems such as pollution and resource depletion.

That’s where the other strands, sustainability, recycling, reusing, and unsustainable situations, come in. Sustainability is all about using resources wisely, such as choosing solar energy over fossil fuels or practicing sustainable fishing to prevent fish populations from collapsing. Recycling and reusing are ways to extend the life of materials we already have, such as turning old plastic into something new or reusing glass jars instead of discarding them. When we fail to do these things, we encounter unsustainable situations, such as overfishing or relying too heavily on fossil fuels, which deplete resources and harm the environment.

Essentially, all the pieces are interconnected: resources provide us with what we need, but how we utilize them determines whether they’ll last. By practicing sustainability and making informed choices about recycling and reuse, we can avoid unsustainable situations and conserve resources for the future.

Citations: 

Jerome, B. A. (Producer). (2017). Exploring Natural Resources [Video file]. Visual Learning Systems.


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