Natural resources are the fundamental components of the Earth that support all forms of life and human activity. These materials and substances occur naturally, existing independently of any human creation or manufacturing process. They form the basis of our environment and are the raw materials from which all human-made products are ultimately derived. Understanding these resources is necessary for recognizing their value and how they interact with human civilization.
Defining Natural Resources
Natural resources are defined as materials or substances found in the environment that possess utility to humans for survival or economic gain. These resources are formed through geological, biological, or atmospheric processes over vast timescales, such as the formation of mineral deposits or the growth of forests. A material becomes a “resource” only when human technology and culture recognize its existence and develop the means to use it. Therefore, a natural resource must be inherent to the natural world and hold some recognized value for human society. The distinction between a resource and a product is that the resource, like crude oil still underground, is found in nature, while the product, such as gasoline, is the result of human refinement and processing.
Classification by Availability
One of the most common ways to categorize these materials is based on the rate at which they can be naturally replenished, which divides them into renewable and non-renewable resources. Renewable resources are those that are replenished naturally over relatively short timescales, often within a human lifetime, or are continuously available. Examples include solar radiation, wind energy, and the natural growth of forests and agricultural crops. These resources are considered sustainable as long as their rate of consumption does not exceed their natural rate of regeneration, a concept known as sustainable yield.
Non-renewable resources exist in fixed amounts within the Earth’s crust or take geological epochs, typically millions of years, to form. Their consumption rate by human industry far outpaces their extremely slow formation rate, meaning they are finite and subject to eventual depletion. This category primarily includes mineral resources like iron ore, copper, and gold, as well as the fossil fuels—coal, petroleum, and natural gas.
Classification by Origin
A separate classification system is based on the resource’s source material, distinguishing between biotic and abiotic resources. Biotic resources are those derived from the biosphere, meaning they come from living or organic matter. This includes all resources obtained from plants, animals, forests, and fish. Fossil fuels are also classified as biotic resources because they were formed millions of years ago from the decay and compression of ancient organic matter.
Abiotic resources are those derived from non-living and inorganic materials. These resources originate from the lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. Examples of abiotic resources are air, water, sunlight, land, and all non-fuel mineral deposits like metals and stone. A resource can fit into both systems: coal is non-renewable by availability but biotic by origin, whereas sunlight is both renewable and abiotic.
Economic and Societal Value
The value of natural resources forms the foundational support for all human civilization and economic activity. These materials serve as the primary inputs, often called “natural capital,” that are transformed by labor and technology into goods and services. For example, iron ore and coking coal are raw materials for the steel industry, which in turn builds infrastructure and manufacturing tools. The provision of energy is a dominant value stream, with fuels like natural gas and oil powering transportation and electricity generation for global commerce.
Resources also fulfill the fundamental requirements for human survival, such as clean air, fresh water, and fertile soil for agriculture. The availability and distribution of these resources are directly tied to economic stability and geopolitical influence across the globe. Because resources are finite, their scarcity drives market prices and influences international trade dynamics. Understanding this integrated value is necessary for making informed decisions about their use and future availability.