Definition

Noun: * Natural Resources: Materials or substances occurring in nature that can be used for economic gain or to support life. These are actual and potential supplies provided by the natural environment, such as minerals, forests, water, and fertile land.

Usage

The term "natural resources" is a plural noun used to refer collectively to the Earth's naturally occurring assets. It is commonly discussed in contexts like economics, environmental science, geography, and policy. * It is often modified by adjectives like finite, renewable, non-renewable, depleted, or abundant. * It frequently appears with verbs like manage, exploit, conserve, deplete, and protect.

Examples

• The country's economy depends heavily on its natural resources, especially oil and gas.
• Sustainable management of natural resources is crucial for future generations.
• Overconsumption is depleting the world's natural resources at an alarming rate.
• They conducted a survey to map the region's natural resources.

Advanced Usage

• "To tap natural resources": To begin using or exploiting available natural resources.
  • The new technology allows us to tap previously inaccessible natural resources.
• "Natural resource curse" (or "resource curse"): A paradoxical situation where countries with an abundance of natural resources tend to have less economic growth and worse development outcomes than countries with fewer resources.
  • Economists have studied the natural resource curse in many oil-rich nations.

Variants and Related Words

• Resource (noun): A stock or supply of money, materials, staff, or other assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization in order to function effectively. (Note: This is the singular form and has a broader meaning than just natural supplies).
• Natural capital (noun): The world's stocks of natural assets, which include geology, soil, air, water, and all living things. It is a related economic concept.

Synonyms

• Raw materials: The basic material from which a product is made (e.g., iron ore, timber). This is a subset of natural resources.
• Commodities: A raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold, such as copper or coffee. Many commodities are derived from natural resources.

Related Phrases

• Conservation of natural resources: The sustainable use and protection of natural resources.
  • The national park was established for the conservation of natural resources.
• Natural resource management: The management of natural resources such as land, water, soil, plants, and animals.
  • She studied natural resource management at university.

Noun

1. resources (actual and potential) supplied by nature