Natural Resource Management
Natural resource management projects increasingly try to incorporate a role for communities in the design and implementation of NRM projects. For example, the Mauritania Rainfed Natural Resource Management Project (fiscal 1997) is financing the first 5 years of a 20-year long-term program to activate a process of natural regeneration of land fertility, rangeland vegetation, and livestock and forest production. It will do this by encouraging the emergence of better-adapted and more sustainable approaches to resource use. This is likely to result in greater biodiversity conservation while generating more income and a better quality of life for the local people. The project, which will provide rural communities with effective empowerment in the management of their natural resources, is active in 47 villages in three regions of the country. A number of microprojects (dikes, small dams, wells, women’s vegetable gardens, nurseries of indigenous tree species) are under way with the active participation of local communities.
Energy is required for the evolution of life forms on earth. We obtain energy from different sources. The natural resources that we use today are the prime source of energy for the day-to-day activities of humans, without which we would still be lurking around in the Stone Age. In this article, we will discuss why there is a need to manage and conserve our natural resources.
What is Management of Natural Resources?
Management of natural resources refers to the plan of action related to renewable and non-renewable resources. Natural resources like land, soil, water, plants and animals are affected by global warming, overpopulation, industrial expansion and other related reasons.
Why is Management of Natural Resources Important?
Following are the reasons why the management of natural resources is important:
- To maintain a balance in the ecosystem.
- To avoid further destruction of the environment.
- To avoid over-consumption of natural resources.
What are the Three R’s of Waste Management?
Following are the 3 Rs of waste management:
- Reduce
- Reuse
- Recycle
Reduce
Reduce refers to smart purchasing of the products. The best way to reduce waste is by not producing waste. Following are the ways to reduce:
- Avoid using disposal products like paper cups and plates and straws instead switch to reusable products.
- Check for the durability of the products.
- Stop asking for carry bags at shops, instead carry cloth bags.
Reuse
Reuse refers to using products that are economical and also environmental friendly. Following are the ways to reuse:
- Donate or sell old clothes, electrical appliances, furniture, etc.
- Reuse the paper and plastic bags.
Recycle:
Recycling refers to reusing products to get creative and by-products. Following are the ways to recycle:
- Recycling used paper to make paper bags.
- Purchasing products that can be recycled and also that are recycled.
Need to Manage Natural Resources
Here are the reasons why we need to manage our natural resources:
- Everything that we use today – food, clothes, house, vehicles, fuel, notebooks, furniture, cooking gas, utensils, toys, roads, etc. is obtained from resources on the earth.
- A significant portion of the energy which we use today is obtained from non-renewable sources. This implies that once they are used up, they cannot be replenished. The most important source of non-renewable energy used extensively is the fossil fuels which have taken millions of years to be formed.
- Managing the resources would not only ensure their rational use but also put a limit to the degradation it is causing to the environment. For example, the usage of resources in different forms generates a lot of waste which is being disposed off into the water bodies. This, in turn, is polluting the rivers and lakes. Limiting usage will also reduce waste generation and pollution.
