Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources

A natural or physical resource is defined as materials or

substances occurring in nature (gifts of nature) which can
be exploited for economic gain.
They are divided into two categories: RENEWABLE &
NON-RENEWABLE.
Renewable resources are replaced naturally over a long
period of time or result from natural processes (e.g. wind,
sunlight, livestock or animals).
Non-renewable resources are resources that CANNOT be
replaced and would eventually be exhausted or run out
(e.g. minerals such as oil, gold or coal).
NATURAL RESOURCES
RENEWABLE AND NON-RENEWABLE
RENEWABLE NON-RENEWABLE
LAND PETROLEUM
FOREST (TREES/TIMBER) BAUXITE
WATER GOLD
WIND DIAMOND
SUNLIGHT NATURAL GAS
ANIMALS ASPHALT
LIMESTONE
MARBLE
COAL
A study of renewable and non-renewable resources is
important since it helps us to conserve and preserve
our resources, especially the non-renewable ones.
BAUXITE
PETROLEUM
RESOURCES USES CARIBBEAN COUNTRY
Limestone Construction, cement
manufacture
Barbados, Jamaica, T&T
Bauxite Aluminium production Guyana, Jamaica
Gypsum Cement manufacture, food
additive, ingredient in
plaster, soil conditioner,
fertiliser component
Jamaica, T&T
Petroleum Fuel T&T, Barbados, Belize
Natural Gas (LNG) Fuel T&T
Diamonds Jewellery, industrial
applications
Guyana
Gold Jewellery, artefacts,
industrial applications
Guyana
Asphalt Road construction T&T
Marble Flooring, construction Jamaica
Location and uses of non-renewable mineral
resources in the Caribbean:
Renewable resources are available throughout the
Caribbean in varying degrees.
The following are renewable resources found in the
Caribbean:
AGRICULTURAL LAND
MARINE LIFE
WATER
FORESTS
BEACHES

Location and uses of renewable resources
in the Caribbean:
Although the Caribbean countries may be small, we
were fortunate to have rich, fertile soils which yield
valuable mineral deposits, in some cases.
Uses of Land:
Agriculture farming and forestry
Housing
Mining bauxite, gold, diamonds, petroleum, asphalt
Building of industrial plants
Transport construction of roads
LAND
The productive use of agricultural land in
some Caribbean Countries:
CARIBBEAN COUNTRY AGRICULTURE
BELIZE Forestry, sugar cane, citrus, rice,
coconuts, food crops
BARBADOS Sugar cane, ground provisions, bananas
DOMINICA Bananas, coconuts, citrus, forestry
GRENADA Nutmegs, cocoa, bananas, sugar cane
GUYANA Sugar cane, rice, forestry, cattle rearing
HAITI Sugar cane, ground provisions, bananas
JAMAICA Coffee, cocoa, sugar cane, bananas,
citrus
ST. LUCIA Bananas, cocoa, coconuts
ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES Arrowroot, bananas, ground provisions
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Citrus, cocoa, coffee, ground provisions,
bananas, rice, coconuts
POOR PLANNING on the part of governments which
allows fertile land to be used for housing and industries
instead of agriculture.
QUARRYING AND MINING for various minerals which
result in the vegetation and topsoil being removed without
reafforestation (planting trees).
DEFORESTATION the indiscriminate removal of forest
trees over a wide surface exposes the valuable topsoil to
erosion.
POOR FARMING TECHNIQUES such as shifting
cultivation, mono-cropping, overgrazing of animals and
ploughing.
MISUSE OF LAND
The following are conservation techniques:
1. Replanting of vegetation after mining and quarrying
2. Controlled logging which ensures that only a few
mature trees are removed
3. Use of fertilizers and humus to maintain soil fertility
4. Crop rotation should replaced mono-cropping.
5. Pastures should be subdivided to allow for rotation
of grazing.
6. Ploughing of hillsides should be done along the
contours.
CONSERVATION OF LAND
Our survival as human beings depend to a significant
degree on the existence of vast areas of forests.
Role of the forest:
1. Promotes Rainfall
2. Prevents Soil Erosion
3. Prevents Flooding
4. Maintains the Composition of the Atmosphere
5. Reduces Noise Pollution
6. Wind Protection
7. Medicinal Remedies
8. Recreation hiking or zip-lining
9. Logging
FORESTS
Causes of Deforestation:
1. Forest or bush fires
2. Shifting cultivation
3. Excessive logging activities
4. Housing
5. Removal of vegetation for mining purposes
Conservation of forests:
1. Government designate Forest Reserves
2. Control cutting of trees
3. Reafforestation or replanting programme
4. Education or sensitizing the population
5. Strict and severe penalties for illegal logging
All living things depend on water for survival. It covers
approximately 75% of the surface of the earth.
USES OF WATER:
1. Water Sustains Life
2. Water as a Solvent
3. Water as a Cooling Agent
4. Transport
5. Economic provides jobs (Cruise ships, fishing, etc)
6. Recreation swimming, sailing, fishing, skiing, water
polo, diving, surfing, etc.
7. Provides food Fish, crab, shrimp, lobster, oyster, conch
8. Provides Hydroelectric Power
WATER
WATER CYCLE
We can conserve water by reducing its wastage:
1. Consumers should turn off taps when not in use and
repair leaking taps.
2. Use buckets instead of hoses.
3. Use containers for bathing and washing dishes.
4. Government can install water meters.
5. Leaking mains should be reported and repaired
promptly.
6. Sea water should be made potable (drinkable) through
desalination.
7. Factories should recycle water.
8. Shopping malls, restaurants, other businesses and
public washrooms should use automatic taps.
CONSERVING WATER
NON-RENEWABLE FUEL RESOURCES
(FOSSIL FUELS)
RENEWABLE FUEL RESOURCES
Crude Oil and petroleum products
(gasoline and diesel fuel)
Solar Energy
Natural gas Wind Energy
Coal Geothermal Energy (Volcanoes, hot
springs, geysers)
Uranium (nuclear energy) Biogas (LFG)
Solid Biomass (wood, agricultural
waste, crops)
Hydroelectric Power
NATURAL ENERGY RESOURCES
They are called fossil fuels because they were formed
millions of years ago through temperature and pressure
of organic matter (dead plants and animals).
Petroleum comes in various forms including crude oil,
natural gas and pitch. It is the most widely used source
of energy in the world.
Crude oil is brought to the surface of the earth through
drilling activities both on land and offshore.
FOSSIL FUELS
BY-PRODUTS USES
GASOLINE Fuel for internal combustion engines
AVIATION FUEL Fuel for aeroplanes
KEROSENE Fuel for light, heat; solvent
LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS
(LPG/LNG)
Fuel for cooking
FUEL OIL Electricity generation; heating fuel
LUBRICATING OIL Motor vehicles
DIESEL OIL Fuel for: trucks, buses, cars; pesticides,
plastics
GREASE & WAX Candles, soap, polish, wax paper
BITUMEN Road surfacing, roofing, pesticides and
paints
PETROLEUM
Natural gas (LPG & LNG) is becoming more popular as
an alternative source of fuel since it is environmentally
friendly and effective.
USES OF NATURAL GAS:
1. Generation of electricity
2. Source of fuel for cars, buses, trains, ships
3. Industrial uses and manufacturing operations
4. Fuel to generate heat for homes and buildings during
winter

NATURAL GAS
Nuclear energy is generated by the use of uranium and
plutonium.
The first use of nuclear energy was fot the manufacture
of nuclear (atomic) bombs.
It is now also used by several countries in the world to
generate electricity and used in medical science such as
x-rays.
NUCLEAR ENERGY
Solar energy is energy generated from the Sun. It is one
of the largest sources of energy available to humanity.
There are hopes that it would replace petroleum and
fossil fuels which are non-renewable because solar
energy:
Is available throughout the world
Is non-exhaustible (renewable)
Is a free resource
Is noise free
Does not produce any pollutants

SOLAR ENERGY
1. Drying crops
2. Cooking food
3. Distillation of water
4. Solar powered calculators and watches
5. Transmission of satellite images
6. Generation of electricity on a small scale
7. Heating water (solar water heaters)
USES OF SOLAR ENERGY
Energy from the wind has been used since the dawn of
time. Even today, many countries still used windmills
to generate electricity for pumping water, operating
electrical equipment and supplying electricity to
homes.
Advantages:
1. Wind is renewable
2. It is a free resources
3. It does not produce pollution
Disadvantages:
1. It depends on the force of the wind which may be non-
existent at times
2. Windmills have to be strategically placed which may
result in deforestation
WIND ENERGY
TRADITIONAL VS MODERN WINDMILL
Geothermal energy comes from heat within the earth.
For example:
Hot springs
Volcanoes
Geysers
There are sources of hot springs and volcanoes in St.
Vincent, St. Lucia, Guadeloupe, Grenada and
Montserrat which have the potential for harnessing
geo-thermal energy.
GEO-THERMAL ENERGY
Hydroelectric power is electricity generated by using
the energy of falling water. It is a renewable resource
and is widely used in USA, Canada, France, Sweden,
Japan and Russia.
The Kaieteur Falls in Guyana is ideal for hydroelectric
power generation. However, it is too remote from
populated areas and has been a deterrent in tapping
this source of energy.
HYDROELECTRIC POWER
Ramsawak, Rampersad and Ralph Umraw. 2012.
Modules in Social Studies with SBA Guide. La
Romaine, Trinidad: Caribbean Educational Publishers.
CXC. 2012. Social Studies for CSEC: A CXC Study
Guide. UK: Nelson Thornes Ltd.
REFERENCES