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Protecting

Chapter 18 Our Natural Resources

The Earth is full of different physical features, such as mountains, beaches, plains,
deserts, islands, peninsulas, oceans and rivers. Our Earth is indeed a special place. The
weather varies day to day and from place to place. There are different types of soil and
vegeta on (plants). Many animals roam around Earth. All of these things make up our
natural environment.

The natural environment provides many natural resources for people. Natural
resources are always found in or on Earth. The basic natural resources are water, air,
soil, minerals, animals and plants.

Renewable Resources
Renewable resources are the natural resources that can be used to benefit people and
can then be replaced for other people to be reused. On the other hand, the natural
resources that cannot be replaced or reused are termed non-renewable resources.
Renewable resources are replaced through natural processes at a rate that is equal to
or greater than the rate at which they are used, and deple on is usually not a worry.
Some common examples include:
 Air (wind)
 Fresh water
 Soil
 Living organisms (trees)
 Sunlight

Non-renewable Resources
Non-renewable resources are exhaus ble and are extracted faster than the rate at
which they formed. Some common examples are:
 Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)
 Diamonds and other precious gems and minerals
 Types of metals and ores

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