Natural resource

Natural resources , including natural goods , are components or functions of nature that have an economic benefit . Natural resources include raw materials and components of the environment such as soil, air, water or genetic diversity.

Classification

Natural resources are often divided into renewable and non-renewable. Non-renewable (also "exhaustible") natural resources are only available in a constant total amount in a period relevant for human planning. The consumption of a certain amount means that this amount will no longer be available at a later point in time. The stock of renewable (including regenerable ) natural resources, on the other hand, can grow in the period relevant for human planning.

Examples of non-renewable resources are non-renewable raw materials such as fossil fuels or mineral resources obtained from mining . Renewable resources primarily include living resources that grow back if they are not excessively exploited ( renewable raw materials ). This includes fish , forests and wild plants in general . They can be used indefinitely if their consumption does not exceed the new generation and thus takes sustainability into account. As soon as more is used than is renewed, the resources are exhausted until they are finally completely used up. Renewable resources also include inanimate substances such as earth , water , wind and all forms of renewable energy .

meaning

The natural resources that can be found on the territory of a state often determine its position in the global economy and thus its political influence (cf. OPEC , OAPEC ). Industrialized countries are less dependent on natural resources for their prosperity because they have more infrastructure capital. However, the existence of easily accessible natural resources can also damage the economic development of a country because it promotes political corruption or can cause the so-called resource curse .

Since the 1980s, the depletion of natural resources and attempts are a sustainable development be achieved in the development policy into account. This is especially true for the rainforest regions of the tropics , which make up the largest part of biodiversity , in particular genetic natural capital.

The overexploitation of natural resources is a growing problem in modern times. Since the report of the Club of Rome The Limits to Growth in 1972, the limitations of our planet's raw materials have been made clear in many further studies. Renewable resources are also not available in unlimited quantities, for example overfishing from 1958 onwards led to the cod wars .

The conservation of natural resources is the focus of the environmental movement's efforts. It is also a basis for the programs of the green parties around the world. The depletion of natural resources, especially water , is seen as a major cause of conflict and unrest in developing countries .