Chapter 4

Natural resources

1. What is meant by natural resources?

Answer: The welfare and development of human civilization depends largely on these resources. Since these resources are obtained from nature, they are called natural resources. Land, water, wind, mineral resources, coal, forests, animals, etc. are natural resources.

2. What are the types of natural resources?

Answer:  Natural resources can be of two types-

            (a) Renewable resources

            (b)  Nonrenewable resources

3. What are renewable and non-renewable natural resources? Give examples.

Answer:  Renewable resources: Renewable resources are inexhaustible and they can be regenerated within a certain period of time. For example, solar energy, forests, forest resources, etc. Of course, many renewable resources do not have the ability to regenerate quickly. These resources are depleted due to widespread use. such as forests, groundwater, etc.

          Non-renewable resources: These resources are found in nature only in limited quantities. Once people exhaust these resources, they cannot be regenerated.  For example, fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum, mineral resources, etc.

4. The State the environmental services of green trees.

Answer:  About one-third of the world's land area is covered by forests. This green space not only provides us with all kinds of essential goods, it also provides us with many environmental services. From plants we get many commercial goods like timber, firewood, food, fuel, animal feed, medicines etc. But we should also recognize the important non-commercial or environmental services that forests are providing. as-

  • Green plants produce oxygen gas, which is essential for life on Earth, through photosynthesis.

  • During photosynthesis, green plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and reduce the problem of global warming.

  • Forests harbor thousands of species of animals ranging from insects to giant wildlife.

  • Forests reduce land erosion.

  • Forests control local climatic conditions and the water cycle.

  • Some plants absorb many toxic gases and act as indicators of pollution.

5. Name the National Parks of Assam.

Answer:  The names of the National Parks of Assam are-

        (a) Kaziranga National Park,

        (b) Manah National Park,

        (c) Orang National Park,

        (d) Nameri National Park and

        (e) Dibru Saikhoa National Park.

6. Name 5 wildlife sanctuaries in Assam.

 The five wildlife sanctuaries in Assam are :

        (a) Pavithra  Sanctuary.

        (b) Garampani  Sanctuary.

        (c) Laokhawa  Sanctuary.

        (d) Barail  Sanctuary.

        (e) Pani Dihing  Sanctuary.

7. Name the largest wetland in Manipur .

Answer: The largest wetland  in Manipur is called Loktak Lake.

8. Name two traditional methods of protecting land resources.

Answer:  Two traditional methods of land resource conservation are:

        1. 1. Soil erosion can be reduced by planting trees in hilly or sloping areas.

        2. 2. The use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers should be banned and the application of organic fertilizers should be encouraged.

9. Write about the mineral resources of North East India.

Answer: The North East region of India is a reservoir of various mineral resources. Meghalaya is famous for its uranium, coal and limestone. Assam is widely known for its mineral resources. The state is mainly exploited for petroleum (crude oil), natural gas, coal and limestone. The Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) is the most profitable public sector undertaking in the state. Various minerals like selimanite, base metal, beryl, building materials, asbestos, fire clay, kevalene, fullers earth, mica, quartz, dolomite etc. are found in Assam. However, the extraction of most of these minerals has not become economically viable. Gold mining in the Sovansiri River in Assam dates back to the early nineteenth century.

10. Mention some of the measures of water conservation.

Answer:  Water is one of the most valuable and essential natural resources – which should be conserved by appropriate strategies. The following measures can be taken in this regard:

1. Rainwater harvesting

2. Water runoff reduction

3. Preventing drying out

4. The Reuse of water

5. Preventing water wastage

6. Water Pollution Control

7. Strict laws are enforced

8. Conduct awareness programmes.