Sustainable Management and use of natural resources.

Sustainable development through management of natural resources in order to foster economic and social development is considered as objectives of sustainable consumption and production. Humans have an absolute dependence on never ending flow of natural resources to sustain their societies and economies. Natural resources are central to human wellbeing.

The major natural resources are land, water, air, minerals, forests, fisheries and wild flora and fauna which have been categorized as nonrenewable and renewable. Non renewable resources are present in finite quantity so stock diminishes as they are mined. Metal ores, coal, petroleum are the examples. Some nonrenewable resources can be reused or recycled. But renewable resources can be sustained and harvested with the rate of harvesting does not exceed the rate of renewal of the resources. Industrialization, expanding human population made resource use increased to the exploitation levels which exceed resources natural regeneration.

Natural resources have double-edge effect on economic growth as intensive utilization undermines sustainable development. To be truly sustainable, systems of resource use must not significantly degrade any aspects of environmental quality. Natural resource extraction and processing accounts for global biodiversity loss, water stress, greenhouse gas emissions, waste generation etc.

Upcoming solutions are decoupling, resource efficiency and circular economy. Conservation, cut down on the trash we produce, using 5 R principle of waste management, planting new seedlings, reducing trees cutdown, sustainability roadmaps, forest management certifications make the way to resource efficiency. Scientists can work to develop technologies to develop cleaner energy sources. Citizens can promote life style changes to consume less and reduce impact. Macro level and sectoral policy interventions, taxation and fiscal measures should be done. Investment in resource efficiency represent one of the least costly approaches to help meeting the sustainable development goals.

So, these healthy practices should be done to conserve natural resources that give better quality to human life with fundamental life support, in the form of both consumptive and public-good services.


"Eco Cult"
Project on Global Week for Act4SDGs by Green Pulse Society

Article by:- P.W.T.Nawodya
Design by:- Chamudika Gunawardhana

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