Resource Sustainability (HL IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS))

Resource Sustainability

Renewable natural capital

• Renewable natural capital includes natural resources that can be replaced or regenerated at a rate equal to or faster than they are being used

• Living species and ecosystems:

  • These include forests, wetlands, coral reefs and grasslands, which can regenerate through natural processes

  • These systems are able to do this as they harness solar energy and use photosynthesis to convert it into biomass

    • E.g. forests provide fuel wood for many communities and are harvested for timber

      • They have the capacity to regenerate through seed dispersal and natural growth

      • This allows new trees to replace the ones that have been harvested

    • Wetlands play a vital role in maintaining water quality, regulating floods and providing habitat for diverse species

      • They can self-sustain and regenerate, through natural processes like sedimentation and nutrient cycling

      • They can even regenerate after disturbances such as droughts or human activities like mining or construction

• Non-living systems:

  • These include renewable resources such as groundwater and the ozone layer

  • These can be replenished through natural processes

    • E.g. groundwater is recharged by precipitation and infiltration

      • This ensures that it can be sustainably used as a freshwater resource

    • The ozone layer can also regenerate itself naturally

      • This can occur if the emissions of ozone-depleting substances are significantly reduced

      • This allows the stratospheric ozone concentration to recover over time

Non-renewable natural capital

• Non-renewable natural capital includes natural resources that cannot be replaced or regenerated at a rate equal to or faster than they are being used

  • This is because these resources are either irreplaceable or can only be replenished over geological timescales (i.e. extremely long periods of time)

• Fossil fuels:

  • Coal, oil and natural gas are finite resources formed over millions of years from the remains of plants and animals

    • Once extracted and burned for energy production, they cannot be replaced within human timescales

  • Although not a fossil fuel, uranium, used in nuclear power plants, is also considered as non-renewable natural capital

    • Uranium reserves are also not replenishable within human timescales

• Soil:

  • Soil is a renewable resource to some extent

  • However, it can become non-renewable when it is degraded or eroded at a faster rate than it can be naturally replenished

    • Unsustainable agricultural practices, such as excessive tilling and deforestation, can lead to soil erosion and depletion

    • Urbanisation and construction activities can result in the permanent loss of fertile soil

    • This effectively removes its ability to regenerate in these areas

• Minerals:

  • These include various elements and metals extracted from the Earth's crust

  • These are finite and cannot be replenished within human timescales

    • Rare-earth minerals used in electronics, e.g. lithium, have finite reserves

    • Precious metals, e.g. gold and silver, will have to be recycled or obtained from existing stockpiles once natural reserves have been completely extracted

Sustainable and unsustainable use of natural capital

• It is crucial to manage and use renewable natural capital sustainably to ensure its long-term availability

Sustainable use of renewable natural capital

• Forest management:

  • Implementing sustainable forestry practices, e.g. selective logging, reforestation and maintaining biodiversity

  • This preserves the integrity of forest ecosystems

  • This ensures continued provision of timber, non-timber forest products and ecosystem services

• Fisheries management:

  • Strategies can help maintain fish populations at sustainable levels

  • This allows for continued fishing activities and the preservation of marine biodiversity

  • These include:

    • Setting catch limits

    • Implementing seasonal fishing restrictions

    • Establishing marine protected areas

• Renewable energy:

  • Harnessing renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and hydroelectric power

  • This helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels and minimises environmental impacts, providing a sustainable energy alternative

Unsustainable use of renewable natural capital

• Deforestation:

  • Examples of unsustainable use include:

    • Unsustainable logging practices

    • Large-scale conversion of forests for agriculture or infrastructure development

  • Clearing forests at a rate faster than their regeneration can contribute to:

    • Habitat loss

    • Soil erosion and desertification

    • Climate change

• Overfishing:

  • Excessive fishing beyond the natural reproduction rate of fish populations can:

    • Depleted fish stocks

    • Disrupt marine ecosystems

    • Impact the livelihoods of fishing communities

• Water extraction:

  • Excessive withdrawal of groundwater from aquifers can result in:

    • Freshwater depletion

    • Saltwater intrusion

    • Long-term water scarcity

  • When water is used beyond its natural replenishment rate, it becomes unsustainable