WHAT ARE
RENEWABLE
RESOURCES?
Renewable resources are resources that will grow back or reproduce
themselves if they are managed properly. Even if we use some now, they will
still be available for our use later as long as we do not overuse them. We
use renewable resources to meet our wants and needs for food, medicine,
shelter, and material things such as clothes and furniture.
Some examples of renewable resources are soil to produce agricultural
crops, fish from the oceans for food, and trees cut from forests to produce
firewood and material goods.
renewable resource a
resource that can regrow or
reproduce as long as it is not
overused
SOIL, AGRICULTURE, AND FOOD
In North America, if you ask someone where their food comes from, most
people would probably answer “from the store.” Obviously, this is true in
the simplest sense. However, most of the food that all 7 billion of us on the
planet eat is from the soil. Without soil, farmers would not be able to grow
crops (Figure 6.1) or raise livestock. Without soil, trees would not grow.
Without soil, all life on Earth would be affected.
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UNIT 2: Our World’s Natural Resources: Use and Sustainability
FIGURE 6.1 Soil is needed to
produce agricultural crops, such as
this one in Mexico.
In what other ways does soil
affect my life?
NEL
Soil is considered a renewable resource because it is able to renew itself.
Soil’s ability to renew itself is known as soil health. The health of soil affects
the types of crops that can be grown. The type of soil also influences which
crops are grown. There are different types of soils around the world that can
grow a wide variety of crops. This affects what people eat.
How do you
think soil health
affects animals that
live in an area?
FISH
Fish populations reproduce themselves and are considered a renewable
resource. Fish are a valuable source of food for more than 1 billion people.
They provide an important source of protein for many people’s diets. Fish
are also used as a source of food for pets and livestock. The demand for fish
is increasing around the world as people in many developed countries have
begun to replace red meats with fish in their diets. Many researchers have
suggested that eating fish and fish oils provides health benefits.
FORESTS
Forests are considered a renewable resource because they can regrow
(Figure 6.2). Seeds fall or are planted, rain falls, the Sun shines, and in
30 years or so, a fully grown tree can be chopped down, used for firewood,
processed for lumber, or manufactured into material goods. It can also be left
alone to provide a home to a wide variety of species.
Forests are important to local ecosystems. Trees store water that can
be released into the atmosphere, keeping moisture in the air, which is an
important part of the water cycle. The roots of trees hold the soil together,
stopping erosion, so more trees and other plant life can grow. Trees absorb
carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas. Greenhouse gases are gases
that trap heat from the Sun and contribute to global warming. Trees also
produce oxygen, which all life needs to breathe.
NEL
FIGURE 6.2 A forest of pines
regrowing in Switzerland
I wonder how long it took for
these trees to grow?
CHAPTER 6: Renewable Resources
171
FOCUS ON
EVALUATE AND
DRAW CONCLUSIONS
This stage in the inquiry process happens after
research questions have been asked, evidence
gathered, and data organized. You now have
to look critically at your evidence and draw
conclusions based on your findings. Evaluate
and draw conclusions by asking yourself the
following questions:
EVALUATING EVIDENCE
• Is the information related to my research
questions? Delete any material that does not fit
this criterion.
• Is the information current? Be critical of the
timeliness of your material.
• Do I have enough evidence to answer my
question? If necessary, brainstorm ideas on
where to find more recent information.
DRAWING CONCLUSIONS
• How does the evidence fit together? Make sure
that your arguments follow a logical order.
• What judgment(s) or conclusion(s) can I make
based on this information?
• Does my conclusion answer my research
question? Does the evidence support my
conclusion?
The inquiry process can help you better
understand geography. Considering how a
problem can be solved is another important key to
geographic learning.
TRY IT
Read the text below on deforestation in Kenya
and consider the following research questions:
Why have trees been removed in Kenya? What
are some impacts of their removal? Evaluate the
information presented and then write a conclusion
to answer the questions. Make sure you present
your ideas in a logical order.
Deforestation in Kenya
Kenya is a country in Africa with a population of
45 million. The capital city is Nairobi. It has a
population of 3 million. The climate of Kenya varies
from tropical to temperate throughout the year.
Tourism is the main economic activity in Kenya, and
many people visit to go on safaris. The government
wants to develop more industry, but there is no money
for large-scale industrial development.
Many small farming communities are located in the
northern part of Kenya. This area has only a thin, dry
layer of soil for farmland. There are some grassy areas for
animals to graze. The region gets little rainfall. In a good
year, people are able to grow food for their families.
Drought years result in food shortages and hunger.
People have begun to remove more and more trees.
They hope that the soil beneath the trees will be able
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to grow more food. But over time, the soil dries and
cracks and blows away with the wind. The grasses for
grazing are drying up. Conflict can occur among people
as their need for food grows. Over time, the forests are
disappearing and the people still have little to eat.
Some organizations are working to help farmers by
improving their farming practices and replanting trees.
The Drylands Natural Resources Center works with the
community to replant drought-resistant tree saplings.
Knowledge about where to plant trees and how to take
care of them has resulted in the creation of a tree farm.
The tree farm can provide income to further build this
small business. The economic situation of the people has
improved and the forests are being regenerated. Other
organizations have assisted with introducing droughtresistant crops for increasing the food supply.
UNIT 2: Our World’s Natural Resources: Use and Sustainability
NEL
FIGURE 6.3 A logger cuts down
a mahogany tree in a rainforest
in Costa Rica. Mahogany wood
is valued for its beauty and
strength. In some countries,
mahogany is an endangered
species due to overharvesting.
I wonder how mahogany is
valuable to the environment?
OVERUSE OF RENEWABLE RESOURCES
Earth is home to a huge variety of species. There are an estimated 8.7 million
known species on the planet. However, many species have vanished. The
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) estimates that at least 10 000 species become
extinct every year. And we know why. We have removed their habitats and
overharvested plants and animals for food, medicine, and material wants
(Figure 6.3). We have also overharvested plants and animals to make
money. We have focused more on the economic benefits and less on the
environmental impacts.
The WWF says that it takes Earth 12 months to produce what we use in
9 months. This means we are using resources faster than Earth can produce
them. This is an important fact because our health and our livelihoods depend
on the health of the planet. The good news is that we can change the way we
use Earth’s resources in order to sustain the balance of life on Earth.
CHECK-IN
1. GATHER AND ORGANIZE Create a flow chart to show
how we use a renewable resource. Use images
to illustrate your ideas. In your flow chart, you
should include
• your chosen renewable resource in its
natural state
• the products we make from your chosen
resource
• what happens to these products when we are
done with them
NEL
2. GEOGRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE Renewable resources
can regrow or reproduce over time. Do you think
this means that we can use as much as we want,
whenever we want? Explain your thinking.
CHAPTER 6: Renewable Resources
173