Q.Types of natural resources with suitable examples.

Natural resources are the free gifts of nature; they are classified mainly into renewable resources (solar, wind, water, forests) and non-renewable resources (coal, petroleum, minerals), and also into biotic (living — plants, animals) and abiotic (non-living — land, water, minerals) resources.

This 5-mark question in the AP Intermediate 2nd-year Economics environment unit asks for the types of natural resources with examples.

Types of natural resources

1. Renewable resources. These can be renewed or replenished by nature within a short time and are not easily exhausted if used carefully. Examples: solar energy, wind, water, forests, soil fertility.

2. Non-renewable (exhaustible) resources. These are available in fixed quantity and get used up over time; they cannot be quickly replaced. Examples: coal, petroleum, natural gas, minerals like iron and gold.

3. Biotic resources. Resources obtained from living things. Examples: plants, animals, forests, fisheries.

4. Abiotic resources. Resources obtained from non-living things. Examples: land, water, air, minerals.

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