Part – B Micro-Project Report

Prepare A Report on Natural Resource Depletion

1.0 Rationale:

Natural Resources depletion refers to the situation where the consumption of natural
resources is faster than it can be replenished. The natural resources of a nation can be
divided as renewable resources and non-renewable resources. The natural resources
contribute at large to the economic development of a nation. Current patterns of energy
and natural resource use, agricultural practices, and urbanization appear to be largely
unsustainable and require urgent remediation. The consumption pattern of natural
resources did not seem to be justifiable which can have economic downfalls for the
nation. Population Explosion is acting as a catalyst for resources depletion. Consumption
pattern if not addressed will lead to irreversible climate change and declined economic
growth, as a result of increased social, economic, and environmental costs and decreased
productivity. In order to achieve economic growth, developing countries are abusing their
lands on the grounds of economic interests. Whether is in the form of air and water
pollution, deforestation and soil erosion or the extraction of natural resources itself, the
fact is that developing countries are currently accounting for remarkable depletion of
natural resources. It seems evident that much of the economic growth activities enforcedby
governments, account for significant resources depletion.

2.0 Aims: Prepare A Report on Natural Resource Depletion

Causes of natural resource depletion:

Causes:
• Overpopulation
• Poor Farming Practices
• Logging
• Overconsumption of Natural Resources
• Pollution
• Industrial and Technological Development

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3.0 Course Outcomes Addressed:

CO1) Develop public awareness about environment

CO2) Select alternative energy resources for engineering practice.
CO3) Conserve resources and biodiversity.
CO4) Apply techniques to reduce environmental pollution.
CO5) Manage social issues and environmental ethics as lifelong learning.

4.0 Literature Review:

The depletion of natural resources occurs when we vigorously use the available ones at a rapid
speed. Some of these non-renewable resources like coal, minerals, etc., take millions of years to
form and thus their rapid use will result in depletion of these natural resources. Unsustainable useof
these natural resources due to the demand and increase in population has also resulted in depletion
of natural resources. Earth has two types of natural resources, those that can be replenished despite
continuous usage like sunlight, tidal energy, etc. These are renewable resources of energy and
those that can’t be replenished are called non – renewable resources. Explosive growth in the
human population had led to population overconsumption. Humans’ activities have harmed the
nature to that extent that now nature cannot replenish the resources at the rate of the resources
being consumed. This leads to the depletion of natural resources.

5.0 Actual Methodology Followed:

1. We have planned the micro project on a report on natural resource depletion under the
guidance of subject teacher.

2. Then our team started collecting information about natural resource depletion and its types
and its related information by using internet and books.

3. We have also taken the reference from YouTube. We studied the natural resource
depletion Effects, causes etc.

4. We have collected all the import data on natural resource depletion. After the research of
one week, we have started implementing the report on natural resource depletion.

5. After the setup of part- A we paper a report of Survey on report on natural resource
depletion after finishing all the typing we arrange all the data in proper arrangement.
6. We selected proper margin font, layout, A4 size etc. at last we got the printouts of the
micro- project and submitted to subject teacher.

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6.0 Actual Resources Required:

Sr. Name of Specifications Qty Remarks

No. Resource/material

1. Computer system Processor intel core i7 1 -

RAM 8 GB
2. MS word 2019 1 -

3. Reference book- Author-Dr. Jayshree 1 -

Environmental Studies A.Parikh

4. Printer HP inkjet 1 -

7.0 Outputs of the Micro-Projects:

In this micro project, we have discussed about the, Natural Resource Depletion. Also
we discussed about the different types of natural resources depletions. We learned about
the causes and effects of an natural resources and different laws for resources.

8.0 Skill Developed / Learning outcome of this Micro-Project:

We came to know about the natural resource depletion. its causes, effects and solutions for
avoiding the natural resources depletion. We learned about the Impacts, Causes, Effects and
Issues. also learn about rules and regulations of the natural resource depletion.

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 Prepare a Report on Natural Resource Depletion
The depletion of natural resources occurs when resources are consumed at a faster rate than thatof
replacement. Natural resources are those resources that are in existence without human actions
and they can either be renewable or non-renewable. And when it gets down to the discussion of
natural resource depletion, it a terminology used in reference to water usage, farming, fossil fuel
consumption, fishing, and mining. And above all, natural resource depletion is defined on the
premise that the value of a resource is measured in terms of its availability in nature. A resource
that is rare on earth due to depletion has a higher value than a natural resource which is in
abundance. Due to the increasing global population, the levels of natural resource degradation is
also increasing. Consequently, the world’s eco-footprint is estimated to be one anda half times the
ability of the earth to sustainably provide each individual with enough resources that meet their
consumption levels. Herein is a detailed explanation of the causes, effects, and solutions of
natural resource.
This includes the emission of CO2 and methane which are quite harmful greenhouse gases. These
gases are known to increase the process of global warming. Thus, resource depletion also causes
global warming and the resulting adverse consequences to our environment

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Causes of Depletion of Natural Resources

1. Overpopulation
The total global population is more than seven billion people. Still, there is a consistent increase in
the overall earth populace and this has been a critical factor in accelerating the depletion of natural
resources. An increase in the populace expands the need for resources and conditions necessary to
sustain it. In addition, it contributes to increased ecological contamination. Research further
indicates that developing countries are using more and more resources to industrialize and support
their ever-increasing population. Hence, the depletion of natural resources will continue as long as
the world. Overpopulation is the state whereby the human population rises to an extent exceeding
the carrying capacity of the ecological setting. In an overpopulated environment, the numbers of
people might be more than the available essential materials for survival such as transport, water,
shelter, food or social amenities. This regularly contributes to environmental deterioration,
worsening in the quality of life, or even the disintegration of the population.

It is estimated that about 81 million people add to the world’s population annually. Regionswith the
highest number of population density (the number of people living in a given region) feel the dire
effects and problems of overpopulation. Due to immigration, the decline in mortality rates,
medical breakthroughs, and increased birth rates, populations will always increase and eventually
gives rise to overpopulation.

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2. Poor Farming Practices
Humans are causing a lot of stress to land resources due to the overreliance on food productionfor
daily nutritional requirements. Poor irrigation practices, for example, is a key contributing factor
to salinization and alkalization of the soil that sustains plant growth. Poor soil management
practices and the use of heavy machinery and farming equipment also destroy the soil structure
making it unsuitable for plant growth. Some farming practices such as excessive use of
pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides equally kill important soil micro-organisms that are
essential in replenishing nutrients in the soil.

How Poor Farming Practices Affect Food

Many commercial crops end up in inedible

products, like packaging or fuels. While
these practices negatively affect the
environment, they don’t affect our foods.

Pesticides and herbicides are linked to

many health problems, but not all
chemicals are harmful. Pesticide has
become a dirty word for food-savvy
consumers. However, not all pesticides are
directly responsible for health problems,
and not all pesticides are dangerous.

For example, diatomaceous earth is a common “natural remedy” for many pest problems, but it is a
chemical that controls pests, which makes it a pesticide. The term natural remedy is misleading.
Most of these remedies are naturally-occurring or biodegradable chemicals. Almost all “natural
remedies” for pest problems are simply chemical pesticides with little to no risk for the applicator:

• Peppermint oil, tea tree oil, and other essential oils are chemical pesticides
• Oil and soap sprays are chemical pesticides
• Vinegar is a chemical pesticide

Herbicides are not talked about as often as pesticides, but they still carry risks for the consumer.
Herbicides are usually selective, meaning they kill specific weeds but do not harm the target crop.
This means your food has likely had herbicide sprayed on it at somepoint during its life.

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3. Logging
The World Bank reported that the net loss of global forest between 1990 and 2016 was 1.3 million
square kilometers. On the same note, tropical deforestation is estimated to occur at a rate of one
percent annually, especially in Latin America regions. People are clearing forests primarily for
agricultural reasons due to the increase in the population pressure.
Humans are also cutting down trees to make space for residential complexes and multiplexes.
Through deforestation, the planet not only loses tress but also thousands of animals and great
plant biodiversity due to the destruction of their natural habitats. Moreover, increased logging
activities lead to soil erosion that degrades natural soil minerals.

4. Overconsumption of Natural Resources

The 1760 industrial revolution saw large-scale mineral and oil exploration and the practice has been
gradually growing, leading to more and more natural oil and mineral depletion. And together with the
advancements in technology, development, and research in the contemporary era; exploitation of minerals
has become easier and humans are digging deeper to access different ore. The increased exploitation of
different minerals has led to some of them entering into a production decline.
For example, minerals such as Gasoline, Copper, and Zinc production are estimated to decline in the next
20 years. Plus, oil mining continues to rise due to the upsurge in the number of engines that use petroleum
thereby magnifying its depletion. The peak oil theory supports this fact by putting forward that it will comea
time when the globe will experience uncertainties on alternative means of fuels owing to the over-
harvesting of petroleum.
Overconsumption worsens climate breakdown and increases air pollution. It exhausts the planet's life
support systems like the ones that provide us with fresh water, and leaves us short of materialscritical to our
health and quality of life.

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 5. Pollution

An increase in population and modern anthropogenic activities is a major contributor to the disposal
of pollutants into the natural environment and as such, the value of natural environments is gradually
exposed to degradation. The soil, air, lakes, and seas are being contaminated with sewage,
radioactive, materials, and toxic chemicals among other pollutants pollution comes from both
natural and human-made (anthropogenic) sources. However, globally human-made pollutants from
combustion, construction, mining, agriculture and warfare are increasingly significant in the air
pollution equation.[5]
Motor vehicle emissions are one of the leading causes of air pollution.[6][7][8] China, United
States, Russia, India[9] Mexico, and Japan are the world leaders in air pollution emissions. Principal
stationary pollution sources include chemical plants, coal-fired power plants, oil
refineries,[10] petrochemical plants, nuclear waste disposal activity, incinerators, large livestock
farms (dairy cows, pigs, poultry, etc.), PVC factories, metals production factories, plastics factories,
and other heavy industry. Agricultural air pollution comes from contemporary practices which
include clear felling and burning of natural vegetation as well as spraying of pesticides and
herbicides[11]
About 400 million metric tons of hazardous wastes are generated each year.[12] The United States
alone produces about 250 million metric tons.[13] Americans constitute less than 5% of the world's
population, but produce roughly 25% of the world's CO2,[14] and generate approximately 30%
of world's waste.[15][16] In 2007, China overtook the United States as the world's biggest producer
of CO2,[17] while still far behind based on per capita pollution (ranked 78th among the world's
nations).

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Some of the more common soil contaminants are chlorinated hydrocarbons (CFH), heavy
metals (such as chromium, cadmium – found in rechargeable batteries, and lead – found in
lead paint, aviation fuel and still in some .

6. Industrial and Technological Development

The industrial revolution has brought about new technologies with immense power. This was the
transition to new manufacturing processes in Europe and the United States, in the period from about
1760 to 1840. This has been succeeded by continued industrialization and further technological
advancements in developed countries around the world, and the impact of this technology on the
environment has included the misuse and damage of our natural earth. These technologies have
damaged our world in two main ways; pollution and the depletion of natural resources.
1. Air and water pollution
Air pollution occurs when harmful or excessive quantities of gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon
monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitric oxide and methane are introduced into the earth’s atmosphere. The
main sources all relate to technologies which emerged following the industrial revolution such as
the burning of fossil fuels, factories, power stations, mass agriculture and vehicles. The
consequences of air pollution include negative health impacts for humans and animals and global
warming, whereby the increased amount of greenhouse gases in the air trap thermal energy in the
Earth’s atmosphere and cause the global temperature to rise.

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Water pollution on the other hand is the contamination of water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans,
and groundwater, usually due to human activities. Some of the most common water pollutants are
domestic waste, industrial effluents and insecticides and pesticides. A specific example is the release
of inadequately treated wastewater into natural water bodies, which can lead to degradation of
aquatic ecosystems. Other detrimental effects include diseases such as typhoid and cholera,
eutrophication and the destruction of ecosystems which negatively affects the food chain.
2. Depletion of natural resources
Resource depletion is another negative impact of technology on the environment. It refers to the
consumption of a resource faster than it can be replenished. Natural resources consist of those that
are in existence without humans having created them and they can be either renewable or non-
renewable. There are several types of resource depletion, with the most severe being aquifer
depletion, deforestation, mining for fossil fuels and minerals, contamination of resources, soil
erosion and overconsumption of resources. These mainly occur as a result of agriculture, mining,
water usage and consumption of fossil fuels, all of which have been enabled by advancements in
technology.
Due to the increasing global population, levels of natural resource degradation are also increasing.
This has resulted in the estimation of the world’s eco-footprint to be one and a half times the ability
of the earth to sustainably provide each individual with enough resources that meet their
consumption levels. Since the industrial revolution, large-scale mineral and oil exploration has been
increasing, causing more and more natural oil and mineral depletion. Combined with advancements
in technology, development and research, the exploitation of minerals has become easier and
humans are therefore digging deeper to access more which has led to many resources entering into
a production decline.
Moreover, the consequence of deforestation has never been more severe, with the World Bank
reporting that the net loss of global forest between 1990 and 2015 was 1.3 million km2. This is
primarily for agricultural reasons but also logging for fuel and making space for residential areas,

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encouraged by increasing population pressure. Not only does this result in a loss of trees which are
important as they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but thousands of plants and animals
lose their natural habitats and have become extinct.

Effects of Depletion of Natural Resources

1. Water shortages
Poor farming practices, deforestation, and pollution are major causes of water resource depletion
due to contamination, wastage, and the destruction of natural water catchment areas. As of today,
approximately one billion people lack access to clean water because of the effects of deforestation
and contamination of water sources and groundwater. Water shortage further contributes to famine
and food insecurity.

2. Oil depletion
Oil is a non-renewable resource that accounts for approximately 40 percent of the total energy used
globally. Research by EIA’s International Energy Outlook had shown that due to the high rate of
oil exploitation, the amount of oil remaining would last for only 25 years. Oil is an essential
commodity in manufacturing, planting, mining, and transportation among many activities, and its
depletion would be devastating. The adverse effects of oil depletion include the fall of the business,
the high cost of living in developing countries, and uncertainty in the transport sector.

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3. Loss of forest cover
Approximately 18 million acres of forest cover are destroyed annually. This means that half of the
world’s natural forest cover has already been cleared. Furthermore, studies indicate an increase in
deforestation in the past three decades has resulted in a 12% to 17% rise in greenhouse gases
globally.
Other devastating effects of deforestation include soil erosion, an increase in the greenhouse gases
leading to global warming, loss of biodiversity, increased flooding, and drought.

4. Depletion of minerals
There has been an increase in the exploitation of minerals such as phosphorus, gasoline, copper,
and zinc among others to sustain the seven billion people on earth. Studies by Global Phosphorus
Research Institute, for example, shows that the earth could run out of phosphorus –an essential
element for plant growth, in the next 50 to 100 years. Studies by the United States Geological
Survey also indicate that there is an increase in non-renewable resources consumption of natural
minerals and construction materials such as copper, sand, gravel, and stone.

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5. Extinction of Species

Due to the changes in the living conditions of animals as a result of resource overexploitation and
habitat degradation, some species may go extinct. Forested regions are known to be a habitat for
thousands of animals but deforestation is progressively destroying forest habitats. Practices such as
overfishing and pollution have similarly led to a drastic reduction in the number of marine species
such as the tuna fish.

Solutions of Depletion of Natural Resources:

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1. Controlling Deforestation

Programs aimed at checking against deforestation such as REDD (Reducing Emissions from
Deforestation and Forest Degradation) created by the World Bank, the New York Declaration on
Forests, and the United Nations are initiatives that could help reduce the depletion of natural
resources.

The initiatives may also act as incentives for encouraging the general public to conserve forests as
these are the habitat and protectors of some of the world’s unique plant/animal species and water
sources respectively. Sustainability programs that aim to educate people about the importance of
conserving natural resources should also be enacted as a way of focusing on the long-term risks
associated with environmental degradation.

2. Reducing oil, mineral, and material consumption

Oil-rich countries together with the World Bank, state, and consumables’ regulatory bodies should
join hands towards a common international objective of discussing how oil and mineral
consumption, as well as exploitation, can be reduced. Manufactures can, for instance, be trained on
lean manufacturing (recycling, re-use, and reducing wastage) while consumers sensitized on how to
adopt re-use, reducing wastage, and recycling techniques.

3. More exploration and use of renewable sources of energy

Renewables such as solar and wind power can be explored more and utilized to reduce the
dependency on fossil fuel, which is a major cause of environmental pollution, climate change, global
warming, and destruction of natural habitats.

4. Protecting wetlands and coastal ecosystems

Wetlands are regions saturated with groundwater that serve a significant role in sustaining
vegetation cover. The coastal and wetland ecosystems are thus vital in sustaining the food chain as
they replenish water sources and avail minerals and nutrients for primary producers (green and
flowering plants), essential for maintaining plant and animal biodiversity. Also when coastal
ecosystems are protected, they aid in controlling marine overfishing and protect coral reefs.

5. Sensitization and awareness creation

People need to be educated on how their daily practices put a strain on the scarce natural resources
and their individual contributions to the depletion of natural resources. The main purpose of creating
awareness would be to encourage people to preserve and restore the natural environment by getting
involved in conservation efforts.

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Conclusion:
A natural resource is anything that people can use which comes from nature. People do not make
natural resources, but gather them from the earth. A renewable resource grows again and comes
back again after we use it. this is like a rebounding ball. For example, soil, sunlight, water and
wood are renewable resources. A non-renewable resource is a resource that does not grow and
come back, or a resource that would take a very longtime to come back. And this one is like a sin
once done is done. For example, when we use coal, there is less coal afterward. One day, there
will be no more of it to make goods. The non-renewable resource can be used directly (for
example, burning oil to cook), or we can find a renewable resource to use (for example, using
wind energy to make electricity to cook). It is important to conserve (save) non-renewable
resources, because if we use them too quickly there will not be enough.
Most natural resources are limited. This means they will eventually run out. A perpetual resource
has a never-ending supply. Some examples of perpetual resources include solar energy, tidal
energy, and wind energy. Other examples are salt, stone, magnesium, and diamonds.
Some of the things influencing supply of resources include whether it is able to be recycled, and
the availability of suitable substitutes for the material. Non-renewable resources cannot be
recycled. For example, oil, minerals, and other non-renewable resources cannot be recycled.

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