2. Energy Resources
Renewable Energy Sources
Renewable sources of energy or flow sources, rely on natural energy
flows and sources in the environment and thus have the potential of being
continually replenished. These include firewood, petroplants, animal dung,
solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, tidal energy, etc.
Non-renewable Energy Sources
Non-renewable energy sources are available in limited amount and
develop over a longer period. Because of indiscriminate use they are
likely to be exhausted in the near future. These include coal, mineral
oil, natural gas, nuclear power, etc.

3. Geothermal plants make use of naturally
heated steam drawn to the surface
through a series of bore holes about 1 Km
in length.
􀂾 It should be noted that geothermal
energy can be depleted unless existing
fields are carefully managed.
􀂾 This energy is used in the form of
electrical energy, thermal energy, nuclear
energy, light energy, mechanical energy &
chemical energy etc

4. Advantages of solar energy:Solar energy is
kind of universal, decentralized and no –
polluting energy.
􀂾 Solar energy is the energy of the sun, which
reaches earth in the form of short wave
radiation visible light and near ultraviolet light.
Solar energy helps considerably in maintaining
the ecological balance through the process of
photosynthesis and green house effect.
􀂾 Solar energy is bound to achieve great
economic importance in future because of
depletion trend of convention energy sources.

7. NATURAL RESOURCES

8. Land Resources
The Importance of Land
• The human civilization has thrived on land.
• Land is used for agriculture.
• Land contains huge amount of mineral deposits.
• It also contains water in the form of underground water.
• Most of the animals find their habitat on land.
• Land directly or indirectly provides all the resources required to fulfil the
basic needs of humans: food, cloth, and shelter.

9. Land Degradation
Lowering of the quality of land is commonly referred to as land degradation.
Causes of Land Degradation
•Mining
•Urbanization
•Deforestation
•Overgrazing
•Construction of dams and canals
•Excessive use of fertilizers
•Dumping of industrial and domestic waste

10. Forest Resources
A forest is a biotic community with a
predominance of trees; it is an important
renewable resource.
Forests restore oxygen in our
atmosphere through photosynthesis and
also provide solvents, medicines, fuels, and
many other products that are important for
our health and comfort.
India is rich in forest resources
with a great diversity of flora and fauna.

11. Conservation of forests :-
Forests can be conserved by :-
i) Afforestation – planting of more trees.
ii) Preventing or reducing deforestation.
iii) Preventing over grazing by cattle.
iv) By setting up wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, biosphere reserves etc.
v) Undertaking social forestry programs like Van Mahotsav, Chipko
movement for planting and protecting trees on a large scale.

12. Effects of Desertification
•Rapid soil erosion
•Poor soil quality
•Unfavorable climate
•Low water table, salty and hard water
•Huge economic losses

13. Control of Desertification
•Promoting large-scale plantation of trees
•Changing agricultural practices and promoting dry land farming
•Development of pasture lands and control of overgrazing
•Promoting equitable use of water resources
•Development of water catchment areas

14. Wildlife :-
a) Importance of wildlife :-
i) Wildlife helps to preserve biodiversity.
ii) Wildlife helps to maintain food chains and food web.
iii) We get useful products from wildlife like food, medicines, leather,
bones, honey, lac etc.
b) Conservation of wildlife :-
i) Preserving the natural habitats of animals.
ii) Banning poaching of animals.
iii) Protecting endangered species of animals.
iv) Setting up of wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, biosphere
reserves etc.

15. Water :-
a) Uses of water :-
Water is a basic necessity for all living things. We use water for our
daily needs, for agriculture, transportation, construction of buildings,
roads, dams etc. Water is a natural habitat for aquatic organisms.
Human activities are affecting the availability of water and causing
pollution of water bodies.
b) Dams :-
Advantages of dams :-
i) Irrigation of crops.
ii) Producing electricity.
iii) Supplying water to towns and cities.
iv) To control floods.
Disadvantages of dams :-
i) Social problems :- It displaces a large number of people who have
to be rehabilitated.
ii) Economic problems :- It is expensive and uses a huge amount of
public money.
iii) Environmental problems :- It causes deforestation and loss of
biodiversity.

16. c) Water harvesting (Rain water harvesting) :-
Water harvesting is collecting and storing rain water for future use.
The common methods of water harvesting are :-
i) Digging pits, ponds, lakes etc.
ii) Building small earthen dams or concrete check dams.
iii) Construction of dykes.
iv) Construction of reservoirs.
v) Construction of rooftop collecting units in houses.
d) Advantages of underground water :-
i) It does not evaporate easily.
ii) It spreads out and recharges wells.
iii) It provides moisture for irrigation of crops.
iv) It does not get polluted easily.
v) It does not provide breeding ground for mosquitoes and houseflies.

17. Different methods of water harvesting

18. Pollution – Acid Rain
 Sulphur and nitrogen compounds react with water
and other substances in the air to form sulfuric
acid and nitric acid.
 Acid precipitation removes
calcium, potassium, and other nutrients from the
soil, depriving plants of these nutrients.
 It damages plant tissue and slows their growth.
 Sometimes, the acid concentration is so high in
lakes, rivers, and streams that fish and other
organisms die.

20. Pollution - Eutrophication
 Eutrophication occurs when fertilizers, animal
wastes, sewage, or other substances rich in
nitrogen and phosphorus flow into
waterways, causing extensive algae growth.
 The algae use up the oxygen supply during their
rapid growth and after their deaths during the
decaying process.
 Other organisms in the water suffocate.
 Eutrophication is a natural process, but human
activities have accelerated the rate at which it
occurs.

21. Methods of Controlling Soil Erosion
•Reduced tillage
•Contour bunding
•Vegetative bunds
•Strip cropping
•Terracing
•Afforestation on barren land
•Control of overgrazing
•Construction of small check dams
•Promotion of equitable use of water resources
•Prevention of excavation of rocks

22. Coal and petroleum :-
Coal and petroleum are fossil fuels formed by the decomposition of
dead plants and animals inside the earth after several millions of years.
They are non-renewable sources of energy.
Petroleum reserves may last for about 40 years and coal reserves
may last for about 200 years.
Coal and petroleum contain carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulphur.
When they are burnt, they release carbon dioxide and oxides of
nitrogen and sulphur.
Carbon dioxide is a green house gas which causes global warming.
Oxides of nitrogen and sulphur combines with moisture in the air
and produces acid rain.

23. Control of Deforestation
•Mining activities should be prohibited in areas declared as protected
forests.
•Cutting of trees should be followed by massive plantation.
•The environmental laws and legal provisions should be strictly
enforced.
•Forest extension should be carried out through social forestry, agro
forestry, recreation forestry, extension forestry, etc.
•Public awareness should be created regarding medicinal and other
economic and environmental significance of forests.

24. Role of an Individual in Conservation of Natural Resources
•Energy Conservation
Switch off electric lights and appliances whenever not needed
Ride a bicycle as often as possible
Using CFL bulbs energy can be saved.
•Forest Conservation
Plant a large number of trees
Make equitable use of forest and forest products
•Water Conservation
Repair leakages
Save water in agriculture (by adopting drip irrigation techniques)and domestic
activities
Adopt rainwater harvesting techniques
•Land Conservation
Do not dump agricultural, industrial, and domestic waste on land
•Sustainable Food
Adopt vegetarian food habits
Use unpackaged food items such as vegetables and dry beans instead of canned or
packaged food

25. Need for management of natural resources :-
All the things we use and consume are obtained from
natural resources. Due to increase in population,
industrialisation and urbanisation the demand for natural
resources is increasing and their availability is limited . So
there is a need for proper management of natural resources.
The proper management of natural resources consists of :-
i) Judicious use of natural resources and avoiding wastage
of natural resources.
ii) Long term planning for the use of natural resources so
that it last not only for the present but also for future
generations.
iii) The exploitation of natural resources should not be for
the benefit of a few people but should be distributed
equally for all.
iv) While extracting and using natural resources we should
also plan for the safe disposal of wastes so that no
damage is caused to the environment.

26. The Three R’s to save the environment :-
The three R’s to save the environment are Reduce, Recycle and Reuse.
i) Reduce :- means using less of natural resources and avoiding
wastage of natural resources.
ii) Recycle :- means the materials like paper, plastic, glass, metals
etc used for making things can again be used for making new things
instead of synthesising or extracting new paper, plastic, glass or
metals.
iii) Reuse :- means using things again and again like the plastic bottles
in which we buy jams, pickles etc can be again used for storing
things in the kitchen.