Nature's Treasures

Everything we use comes, in the end, from nature. The useful materials we obtain from the Earth are called natural resources. Air, water, soil, sunlight, minerals, forests and fuels are all natural resources — nature’s treasures that make life possible.

• Air — a mixture of gases. We need its oxygen to breathe; plants need its carbon dioxide to make food. Moving air (wind) is also used to make electricity.
• Water — needed by every living thing for drinking, growing crops and countless daily uses. Most of Earth’s water is in the salty oceans; only a little is usable fresh water.
• Soil — the loose top layer of the Earth in which plants grow. It holds water and nutrients, and is home to many small creatures. Soil takes a very long time to form.
• Minerals — useful substances dug out from rocks inside the Earth, such as iron, copper, gold, coal and salt. We use them to make metals, tools, machines and more.

Resources are of two kinds. Renewable resources can be replaced by nature in a fairly short time or do not run out — sunlight, wind, water and forests (if cared for). Non-renewable resources took millions of years to form and will run out if used up — coal, petroleum (oil) and natural gas, together called fossil fuels, and most minerals.

Natural resources are limited, and many of them — especially fossil fuels and minerals — cannot be replaced once used up. If we waste them or use them faster than nature can replace them, future generations will be left with too little. Using resources wisely and carefully, so that enough is left for the future, is called sustainability (or sustainable use).

A simple and powerful guide is the rule of the three R’s:

• Reduce — use less; do not waste. Switch off lights and fans when not needed; close taps; use only what you need.
• Reuse — use things again instead of throwing them away. Carry a cloth bag, use both sides of paper, refill bottles.
• Recycle — send used materials like paper, glass, metal and plastic to be made into new things, so fewer fresh resources are used.

We can also help by choosing renewable energy — using the Sun (solar energy) and the wind, which never run out and do not pollute, instead of burning fossil fuels. Planting trees (afforestation) protects soil, gives oxygen and supports wildlife, while saving water and electricity conserves precious resources. Protecting our air, water, soil and forests from pollution keeps these treasures useful for everyone. Caring for nature’s resources today is the way to make sure they last for tomorrow.