Resource Depletion and Sustainability
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This document discusses various types of natural resources including water, minerals, agriculture, and forests. It provides details on renewable resources like freshwater and timber, and nonrenewable resources such as fossil fuels. Specific issues covered include freshwater access and sources, water depletion, pollution, deforestation, agricultural practices, and pesticide use. Solutions proposed are desalination and water exports. The document concludes with notes on government responses to better manage resources sustainably.
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Resource Depletion and Sustainability
- 1. Resources Water, Minerals, Agriculture, Forests
- 2. Renewable and Non-Renewable Renewable= replaceable/replenishable freshwater, timber Nonrenewable= nonreplaceable/nonreplenishable fossil fuels (oil, coal, natural gas, uranium)
- 3. Freshwater Access to freshwater depends on site and situation -Canada-20% of world’s fresh water
- 5. Freshwater Sources Surface water= rivers, streams lakes, snowfields, and glaciers Aquifer= underground water-bearing rock, sand, or gravel
- 6. Surface Water vs. Aquifer Surface Water Aquifer • Bacteria • Less bacteria • Harder to access • Easier to access • Recharge slowly
- 8. Freshwater Issues Groundwater depletion= aquifers are being over-pumped water table falls =farmers dig deeper wells So what? Digging too deep= Arsenic and fluoride
- 9. Solutions? • Water exports • Desalination
- 10. Contributors • Industrial pollution • Urbanization • Agricultural practices
- 11. Mineral Resources Mining= strips natural vegetation, rock, soil - Left abandoned and pollutants dumped into environment
- 12. Agricultural • Creating farmland= destroying natural habitats • Maintaining farmland= irrigation and fertilization • Farmland Salination= farmlands turn to wastelands • Practices: – Chemicals: pesticides and herbicides – Genetically Modified Foods (in Canada: corn, canola, soybeans, squash, potatoes)
- 13. Pesticides Pesticides= poison to kill insects Herbicides= poison to kill unwanted plants - Kill harmless insects - Harm farmworks - Seep into nearby streams ***phase-out in Canada
- 14. Deforestation -fewer trees= more carbon & poorer air quality Brazilian Rainforest Case Study Rainforest exploitation= farming, cattle ranching, mining, lumbering - Subsistence farming= farmers given rainforest to develop unsuccessful Deforestation= dry, arid wastelands - flooding, clogged reservoirs
- 16. Deforestation Canada’s Forests ¼ of world’s temperate, deciduous coastal forest 1/3 of the world’s boreal coniferous forest Almost all of the world’s old growth pine - Forest fires, industrial development, logging Environmental stewardship= effective management of resources, sustainable practices
- 17. Government Response • governments helping to clean-up and protect environment • Canada- national, provincial, regional laws SO WHAT??