Recursos Naturales

Natural resources are derived from the environment. Many natural resources are essential for human survival, while others are used for satisfying human desire. Conservation is the managementof natural resources with the goal of sustainability. Natural resources may be further classified in different ways.[1]
Resources can be categorized on the basis of origin:
* Abiotic resources comprisenon-living things (e.g., land, water, air and minerals such as gold, iron, copper, silver).
* Biotic resources are obtained from the biosphere. Forests and their products, animals, birds and theirproducts, fish and other marine organisms are important examples. Minerals such as coal and petroleum are sometimes included in this category because they were formed from fossilized organic matter,though over long periods of time.
Natural resources are also categorized based on the stage of development:
* Potential Resources are known to exist and may be used in the future. Forexample, petroleum may exist in many parts of India and Kuwait that have sedimentary rocks, but until the time it is actually drilled out and put into use, it remains a potential resource.
* Actualresources are those that have been surveyed, their quantity and quality determined, and are being used in present times. For example, petroleum and natural gas is actively being obtained from the Mumbai HighFields. The development of an actual resource, such as wood processing depends upon the technology available and the cost involved. That part of the actual resource that can be developed profitably withavailable technology is called a reserve resource, while that part that can not be developed profitably because of lack of technology is called a stock resource.
Natural resources can be categorized onthe basis of renewability:
* Non-renewable Resources are formed over very long geological periods. Minerals and fossils are included in this category. Since their rate of formation is...