Planet Earth has characteristics that make it the pearl of the cosmos. The natural environment and natural resources determine the state of the world economy. In turn, the development and use of specific "gifts" of the environment depend on the socio-economic needs of the population, as well as the natural properties of each region. A world-class natural resource - land, mineral, water and forest reserves. In addition, the reserves of the World Ocean can also be attributed to this category: both flora and fauna, and water and the elements contained in it.
Currently, the following types of natural resources are distinguished: inexhaustible and exhaustible. The latter, in turn, are divided into renewable and non-renewable. Consider these categories in more detail.
A finite natural resource is a source of energy that can run out in a relatively short period of time. An example is oil, coal, peat, biomass. This category can be further divided into two groups. To the firstinclude natural reserves of a non-renewable nature, that is, those whose consumption and use cannot be replenished by a person. The second group consists of renewable energy sources. This includes resources that a person restores as needed.
An inexhaustible natural resource can be attributed to a separate group. It is a source of energy that a person can use almost indefinitely due to its so-called "huge reserves". This type includes the energy of the Sun, space, geothermal and wind energy, and others. Such resources are called alternative energy sources, as humanity hopes that over time they will be able to replace exhaustible resources.
The ecological situation observed on the planet as a whole has a huge impact on the quantity and quality of world reserves. Global problems of our time, such as soil pollution, wastewater discharge, ozone depletion, unsustainable economic activity, reduce the possibility of using energy sources.
Depending on economic viability, all natural resources can be divided into:
1. Non-production. This group includes everything that is used by a person, but is not produced by him. For example, drinking water, game animals or wild flora.
2. Production. This includes every natural resource produced or grown by man. The results and means of agriculture have a similar quality.farms (forage plants, forage and game animals, soil, water used for irrigation), as well as industrial products (metals and alloys, wood, fuel).
In addition, there is a classification of natural resources according to their economic value. There are balance and off-balance minerals. Among the first are the reserves that are currently being used. Their development is cost-effective and expedient. The latter, on the contrary, require additional investments, since they are located in difficult areas for extraction, require special processing conditions and have a relatively small number of deposits.
