Earth has unique features that make it the pearl of the cosmos.The natural environment and natural resources define the state of the global economy.In turn, the development and use of unique "gifts" of the environment depend on the socio-economic needs of the population and the natural properties of each region.Natural resources world-wide - land, minerals, water and forest reserves.In addition, this category may also include stocks of the oceans: as the flora and fauna, and water and the elements contained therein.
Currently, the following types of natural resources: the inexhaustible and exhaustible.The latter, in turn, are divided into renewable and nonrenewable.Consider these categories in more detail.
exhaustible natural resource - the source of energy that can result in a relatively short period of time.An example can be considered as oil, coal, peat and biomass.This category can be further divided into two groups.The first is the nature of non-renewable natural resources, ie the consumption and use of which a person can not make up.The second group consists of renewable energy sources.This includes resources that restores a person as needed.
In a separate group include an inexhaustible natural resource.It is a source of energy that a person can use almost indefinitely because of its so-called "vast reserves."For this kind of rank as solar energy, space, geothermal and wind power, and others.Similar resources are called alternative sources of energy as humanity hopes that eventually they will be able to replace exhaustible resources.
the quantity and quality of world reserves has an enormous impact environmental conditions observed on the planet as a whole.The global problems of our time, such as soil pollution, wastewater discharge, ozone depletion, unsustainable economic activities, reduce the possibility of using energy sources.
Depending on the economic viability of all natural resources can be divided into:
1. Non-productive.This group includes all human uses, but does not produce them.For example, bottled water, game animals or wild flora.
2. Production.These include every natural resource produced or grown man.Similarly, the quality of the results and have the means of agriculture (fodder plants, fodder and game animals, the soil, the water used for irrigation), as well as manufactured goods (metals and alloys, wood, fuel).
In addition, there is a classification of natural resources for their economic value.Distinguish and off balance sheet minerals.The former include stocks which are currently in use.Their development cost effective and expedient.Second, in contrast, require investment of additional funds, because they are in difficult areas for mining, require special processing conditions and have a relatively small amount of deposits.
