Sustainability- A bio-human civilization Flashcards
(17 cards)
What are resources?
A Resource is a source or supply from which a benefit is produced and that has some utility and worth.
What are the basis on which resources can be divided?
Based on Origin, Utility(renewability), Level of development, Distribution, Based on ownership.
Biotic and Abiotic resources. (Origin)
Biotic Resource: All living things are known as Biotic Resources. These resources are obtained from the Biosphere and they have life, such as – Human Beings, Flora, Fauna, fisheries, etc.
Abiotic Resource: All non-living things are known as Abiotic Resources, such as Wind, Water, Air, Rocks, Metals, etc.
National and International resources. (Ownership)
National Resource: Resources which belongs to a nation. These resources are found within the political boundaries and territorial waters of a country. E.g. rivers, forests, minerals, etc.
International Resource: Resources which are found beyond the territorial boundaries of a country. These resources are managed by the international institutes. No single country can use these resources without the permission of the international authorities. E.g. Minerals, fisheries, etc.
Renewable resources (Utility )
Renewable Resource: Resources which can be renewed or reproduced are known as Renewable Resource. E.g. Solar & Wind energy, Water, etc. Resources like Wind, Sunlight, are present in such huge quantities that human consumption does not effect them.
Many resources are replenishable which means these resources are recycled within the environment by natural process and their quantities remain constant. E.g. Oxygen Cycle and Water Cycle take place rapidly, whereas e.g. like Rock Cycle is very slow.
Non-renewable resources (Utility)
Non-Renewable Resource: Resources get exhausted when used. These resources cannot be renewed or reproduced. Fossil Fuels like, coal, petroleum, natural gas are the best examples of non-renewable resource. These resources are limited in supply and it takes millions of years in their formation.
Ubiquitous/Localized resources. (distribution)
Ubiquitous Resource: Resources which are found everywhere are called ubiquitous resource. E.g. air, land, water, etc.
Localised Resource: Resources which are found only in certain places are localised resources, like coal, petrol, iron, etc.
Community/Individual resources. (Ownership
Community Resource: Resources which belongs to a community of people. E.g. parks, community halls, picnic spots, etc.
Individual Resource: Resources which are owned by an individual. E.g. plot, car, house, etc.
Potential/Actual resources (Level of development)
Potential Resource – Resources which are found in a region but have not been utilized, might be because of the lack of technology. They can be used in future. E.g. Solar and Wind are potential resource. Rajasthan and Gujarat have great potential for the development of these two resources.
Actual Resource - Resources whose existence has been proved and whose quality, quantity and location has been determined for utilization with the available technology. E.g. Assam oil fields, Damodar coal fields, etc.
What are the three main threats to resources?
Pollution
Depletion
Destruction
How does pollution by humans seem to affect resources?
Pollution causes considerable harm to the biosphere, and often polluted habitats have lesser greenery and biotic resources. Many other resources in the biosphere such as soil, water, air which are required for human well-being are also polluted and not in a state to be used.
Air pollution (sources, pollutants, defects)
Sources- Cars, burning fossil fuels, industries, toxins(from chemical factories), waste dumps(incineration)
- Often concentrated in urban and industrialized areas
- Low visibility, health problems, bronchitis, asthma, birth
defects, Parkinson’s, etc.
- Pollutants include carbon dioxide, sulphur and nitrogen oxides
- Produce smog when mixed with fog
Air pollution (what can be done)
Individual- Car pooling, Buses, Walking and Cycling for short distances, produce lesser waste(incineration), do not use AC’s and deodorants (CFC).
Communities- cycling lanes, renting cycles, good and fast public transport (preferably electric), using solar/hydro/wind energy.
National- Restrictions on industries emissions, investing in research for electric or vehicles running in renewable resources, better infrastructure and subsidiaries on solar panels, etc.
Water pollution (sources, pollutants, defects)
- Disposal of waste in rivers (plastics, furniture), release of harmful toxic chemical waste(effluents) into water bodies, prayer materials (ganesh murti, flowers, etc.), sewage, etc.
- Bioaccumalation (eating fishes), consuming water from polluted water bodies harms humans, flora and fauna in the area. Many plankton, fish, animals drinking water from these sources may die due to these pollutants. Soil may be polluted and affect nearby forests. Animals such as buffaloes may consume plastic and die from suffocation.
How to deal with water pollution waste?
To remove/reduce negative effects, proper disposal of waste, effluent treatment plants, social service by personally collecting the waste gathered on beaches, water treatment in extremely polluted areas and release of the water back into the water body, effluents can be stored in ponds or other similar artificial water bodies if treatment may be inefficient(temporary solution).
Land pollution (sources, pollutants, defects)
- Mainly plastics, toxins from technology waste, dumps, landfills,
- Affects plants and animals in the area, lack of livable habitat, soil pollution, lack of trees causes landslides and loose topsoil, dryer areas, lesser rain, etc. Waste from dumps release toxins that may seep into waterways or be released in the air polluting the air.
- Toxic metals, biowaste(hospitals)
How to deal with land pollution, solid waste?
Recycling, Reusing of plastic, Replace plastics with other materials, using metals and other materials from the waste dumps, rather than mining for metals.
For waste disposal, landfills for biodegradable waste, recycling of plastics by making oil or other plastic products, incineration for non-recyclable plastic waste or some other ideas including this waste for making roads more durable.
