Natural Resources
Natural resources are materials from the Earth that people use, which may be renewable or non-renewable.
▶ Interact
Play with the controls to see the idea in action.
📘 Learn
Natural resources are materials from the Earth that people use, which may be renewable or non-renewable.
- Renewable resources replenish themselves
- Fossil fuels will run out
- Sustainable use protects the future
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is Natural Resources?
Within Geography, which covers maps, landforms, weather, climate, population and settlements: understand how our planet and people connect, this topic explains Natural Resources. Geography explains how places, people and natural processes connect, so each topic here combines a clear definition with a visual model.
Check that you can explain Natural Resources in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding Natural Resources helps you explain patterns on maps and in the news, and make reasoned decisions about places and environments.
Natural Resources in detail
Natural resources are materials from the environment that people use. Renewable resources, such as solar, wind, water and timber, can be replaced naturally if managed well, whereas non-renewable resources, such as coal, oil, gas and minerals, take millions of years to form and will run out.
Resources are unevenly distributed, causing trade, dependence and conflict. Using them sustainably means using them at a rate that allows replenishment, reducing waste, recycling and developing alternatives. Resource management is important for economies and for the long-term health of the planet.
How the interactive helps you understand Natural Resources
Watch the pie chart in the interactive. Use any sliders or buttons it offers to change the values and see how the pie chart responds.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of Natural Resources.
Real-life uses and examples
- Explain how Natural Resources affects people, jobs and land use in a region.
- Support an answer about Natural Resources with a named case study and specific evidence.
- Interpret a graph or map that shows Natural Resources and say what it suggests.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mixing up cause, effect and consequence when you explain Natural Resources.
- Writing general statements without a named place or example.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about Natural Resources
What is Natural Resources?
Natural resources are materials from the Earth that people use, which may be renewable or non-renewable.
What are the most important points about Natural Resources?
The main points are: Renewable resources replenish themselves; Fossil fuels will run out; Sustainable use protects the future.
Why is Natural Resources useful?
Understanding Natural Resources helps you explain patterns on maps and in the news, and make reasoned decisions about places and environments.
How can I practise Natural Resources?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to Natural Resources?
Related topics in Geography include Soil and Land Use, Mining and Quarrying, The Demographic Transition Model.