 Natural resources are naturally occurring substances that are considered valuable in their relatively unmodified (natural)
form. A commodity is generally considered a natural resource when the primary activities associated with it are extraction
and purification, as opposed to creation. Thus, mining, petroleum extraction, fishing, and forestry are generally considered
natural-resource industries, while agriculture is not.
Natural resources are often classified into renewable and non-renewable
resources. Renewable resources are generally living resources (fish, coffee, and forests, for example), which can restock
(renew) themselves at approximately the rate at which they are extracted, if they are not overharvested. Non-living renewable
natural resources include soil, as well as water, wind, tides and solar radiation — compare with renewable energy.
Mineral
resources are generally non-renewable and, once a site's non-renewable resource is exhausted, it is considered to be useless
for future extraction, barring technological improvements that allow economic extraction from the tailings. Technological
improvements may also allow future extraction of metals at lower concentrations than at previous times, which converts low-grade
resources into ore, and may re-open or expand mines.
Both extraction of the basic resource and refining it into a
purer, directly usable form, (e.g., metals, refined oils) are generally considered natural-resource activities, even though
the latter may not necessarily occur near the former.
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A nation's natural resources often determine its wealth and status in the world economic system, by determining its political
nfluence. Developed nations are those which are less dependent on natural resources for wealth, due to their greater reliance
on infrastructural capital for production.
However, some see a resource curse whereby easily obtainable natural resources
could actually the prospects of a national economy by fostering political corruption.
In recent years, the depletion
of natural capital and attempts to move to sustainable development have been a major focus of development agencies. This is
of particular concern in rainforest regions, which hold most of the Earth's natural biodiversity - irreplaceable genetic natural
capital. Conservation of natural resources is the major focus of Natural Capitalism, environmentalism, the ecology movement,
and Green Parties. Some view this depletion as a major source of social unrest and conflicts in developing nations.
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Global Natural Resources
Development & Investment Network
youthemvp@yahoo.com
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Natural Resources Fund
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