List of Natural Resources

The list of natural resources, presented in this article, mainly classifies them as biotic and abiotic. The list is also presented in a form which can be understood in a better manner by kids.

The natural resources can be simply defined as materials which occur naturally in different environments. There are many things which can be included in the list of natural resources. At present, only those resources found on the earth are included in the list. However, scientists are considering the possibility of obtaining natural resources present on asteroids. Let’s take a look at the different forms of natural resources through the list presented below.

Natural Resources List

Classification of natural resources can be done by means of many different criteria. However, on the basis of origin, biotic and abiotic are the two main categories. Natural resources extracted from the biosphere of earth are categorized as biotic. Minerals, metals and other such materials (non-living) fall in the category of abiotic natural resources.

Biotic Natural Resources:

The biotic resources can be obtained in the raw form, or by means of cultivation through agriculture. Petroleum is a resource that has to be included in the category of biotic natural resources. This is because, it has an organic origin. The following list provides names of resources directly obtained from the biosphere.

• Timber

• Petroleum

• Natural Gas

• Fruits

• Wax (tree wax) Biotic Resources (Agriculture): The various crops obtained by means of farming are the important natural resources. Few of these important resources are enlisted below.

• Rice, Wheat and Maize: These are the cereals widely used by people from the world over. Wheat, rice and maize form the bulk of grains cultivated on the earth.

• Cotton: It is a cash crop which produces raw materials for manufacturing. Synthetic fibers are also used in the production of garments, however, cotton holds the major share.

• Sugarcane: The sugarcane crop, just like that of cotton is a cash crop from the point of farmers. Sugar prepared from this cane is used in variety of food products. In fact, the bakery products and other sweetmeats require sugar as the basic ingredient.

The crops mentioned above are important ones. List of other plants used for the purpose of cultivation is presented below.

• Parsley
• Oat
• Rye
• Basil
• Bay
• Cauliflower
• Catnip
• Sunflower
• Garlic
• Peas
• Okra
• Squash
• Carrot
• Zucchini
• Celery
• Brussel Sprouts

The use of seafood including fishes and other creatures (crabs, prawns, etc) by human beings is in practice for a long time. However, the disastrous consequences of this activity are influencing this world. The inclusion of these organisms in the list of natural resources should therefore, be a matter of debate. It has been proved that fishing disrupts the ecological balance and also affects the fish habitat adversely. Similarly, feeding on terrestrial animals (meat) also has affected the food web in an adverse manner. Enlisting the names of these creatures as ‘resources’ might spark a controversy in a world where we are increasingly becoming aware of problems pertaining to our fragile ecosystem.

Abiotic Natural Resources:

The different abiotic natural resources are enlisted below.

• Gold

• Coal

• Diamond

• Silver

• Bauxite

• Nickel

• Copper

• Iron Ore

• Zinc

• Lead

• Sulfur

• Chromite

• Talc

• Barites

• Marble

• Limestone

• Platinum

• Vanadium

• Salt

• Sand

• Gravel List of Renewable Resources The list presented below, classifies resources in a way that helps the younger generation to become aware of the list of natural resources, for kids should also understand that conserving natural resources is a need of time. Educating them about how to make judicious use of natural resources is important. The information about renewable natural resources through examples of wind and tidal energy provided at the end should also prove to be useful.

• Water: It is the most important natural resource and one cannot survive without water. We can see that life thrives/flourishes in the presence of water. It is a natural resource required by all the living beings not only in survival, but also for the growth and development.

• Air: The most abundant and also an important natural resource for survival, air (in the form of oxygen) is needed by most of the creatures found on earth.

• Sun light: Just like air and water, sun light is needed for survival by living beings. The process of photosynthesis is carried out in the presence of sun light. With plants circulating most of the energy in the food chain, one tends to forget that sun light is the original source. The water cycle too cannot be completed without sun light.

• Trees: Trees are the main energy source for living beings on earth. The carnivores and scavengers obtain energy by feeding on other animals who, in turn, feed on plants.

• Wind Energy: It is one of the least used natural resources on earth. The process of obtaining energy from wind doesn’t pollute the environment. Air pollution which results from the combustion of fossil fuels can be reduced by the use of wind energy.

• Tidal Energy: This form of energy is similar to that of wind energy. In fact, the tides/waves of oceans used to in obtain energy, originally gain it from wind. More information in the form of tidal energy facts should be useful.

The different types of natural resources enlisted in the article give us an idea of the richness of earth’s resources. The list of natural resources presented in the article is not an exhaustive one. This is because, a natural material is used in different ways and the purpose for which it used, makes it a resource. Thus, only few of the important natural resources are enlisted in this article.