Earth's Vital Resources: Biodiversity and Environmental Elements

Natural Resources: Definition and Global Significance

Natural resources are all components and elements of nature that serve living beings to meet their needs and promote the development of our communities.

A Mega-Diverse Nation: Global Biodiversity Highlights

This country stands out as a mega-diverse nation, boasting remarkable biodiversity statistics:

• 4th in the world for life zones (84 of 117 global zones).
• Among the top 17 mega-diverse countries.
• 4th in forest area.
• Home to 25,000 species of flora (10% of the world total), with 30% of these species being endemic.
• 5th globally in the total number of species.
• 1st in the world for known and utilized plant species (4,400 species used for 49 different purposes).
• 1st in the world for native domesticated species.
• Possesses 2,000 species of fish (10% of the world total).
• 2nd in birds, 3rd in amphibians, and 3rd in mammals globally.

Classification of Natural Resources

Natural resources are broadly classified into three main categories:

Renewable Natural Resources

These are resources that, with proper care, can be maintained or even increased. They are further divided into two types:

• Apparent Renewable Resources: Such as water, soil, and air.
• True Renewable Resources: Including flora and fauna, which possess the ability to reproduce.

Non-Renewable Natural Resources

These resources exist in specific, finite quantities and can be depleted if overexploited.

Major non-renewable natural resources include:

• Minerals
• Metals
• Oil
• Natural Gas
• Underground water reservoirs

Infinite or Inexhaustible Natural Resources

These resources are not exhausted, regardless of the extent of human productive activities. Examples include:

• Solar energy
• Ocean wave energy
• Wind energy
• Nuclear or atomic energy

Environmental Components: Understanding Our Surroundings

The environment comprises a set of extrinsic factors, which can be categorized as:

• Physical Factors
• Biological Factors
• Human and Socioeconomic Factors

Physical Factors (Abiotic)

Also known as abiotic, inanimate, inert, or inorganic components of the non-living world. Related disciplines that study these aspects include glaciology, geology, geotectonics, hydrology, climatology, pedology (soils), geomorphology, oceanography, physiography, and geography, among others.

Physical aspects cover nutrients, solar energy, rocks, minerals, water, air, soil, light, moisture, planets, the sun, moon, asteroids, comets, stars, and galaxies.

Key climatic elements include: humidity (HR), precipitation (pp.), atmospheric density, and wind patterns.

Biological Factors (Biotic)

These are biotic, animated, or organic components related to the living world, constituted by the relationships between living beings and their coexistence. A very representative example of these relationships is the feeding relationships between different species.

In summary, biological aspects encompass all living beings: humans, plants, animals, and microorganisms.

Human and Socioeconomic Factors

These factors include:

• Occupation, Employment, or Work: Involving exposure to chemical, physical, or biological agents.
• Urbanization: Encompassing the urban environment and economic development.
• Disasters: Such as wars and floods.