This chapter introduces us to the valuable elements and resources provided by nature that are essential for life on Earth. These are referred to as nature's treasures.

Examples of these treasures include pure air, fertile soil, sunlight, water, and diverse plants and animals.

All living beings, including humans, are part of nature and rely on these resources for survival and well-being.

Air

Air is one of the most vital treasures of nature, essential for the survival of most living beings.

We need air for breathing. The part of the air that our body needs for its functions is oxygen. Holding our breath for even a short time becomes difficult because our body needs a continuous supply of oxygen.

We can survive without food or water for some time, but not without oxygen for more than a few minutes.

Air is present all around us, even though we cannot see it. We can feel its presence when it moves.

Moving air is called wind. Wind can be a gentle breeze or a strong storm. Wind has energy and can be used to do work, such as rotating a paper pinwheel (firki) or turning the wings of a windmill.

Windmills harness wind energy to grind flour, pump water, or generate electricity in wind farms.

Composition Of Air

Air is not a single substance; it is a mixture of several gases. The main components of air are:

• Nitrogen: Approximately 78%
• Oxygen: Approximately 21% (essential for respiration)
• Argon, Carbon Dioxide, and other gases: Approximately 1% (in small quantities)

The quality of air is important for health. Polluted air, often caused by smoke from vehicles and industries, can be harmful to living beings.

Water

Water is another incredibly important and precious natural treasure, without which life is not possible.

Uses Of Water

Water is used for a vast number of activities in our daily lives:

• Drinking (essential for survival)
• Cooking food
• Bathing and personal hygiene
• Washing clothes and utensils
• Gardening and growing crops (agriculture)
• Industrial processes
• Electricity generation (hydroelectric power)

Sources Of Water

Water covers about two-thirds of the Earth's surface. However, most of this water is saline (salty) seawater, which is not suitable for most human uses.

We rely on freshwater sources, which are limited. Freshwater is found in:

• Ice sheets and glaciers (difficult to access)
• Rivers, lakes, and ponds (surface water)
• Underground water (wells, tube wells)

Only a very small fraction of the Earth's water is easily accessible freshwater. This makes it a precious resource that needs to be used carefully.

Conserving Water

With increasing population and demand, freshwater is becoming scarce in many parts of the world. It is crucial to conserve water and use it judiciously to avoid wastage.

Ways to reduce water wastage in daily activities:

• Turn off taps while brushing teeth, washing hands, or washing dishes.
• Fix leaky taps and pipes immediately.
• Use a bucket and mug instead of a shower for bathing.
• Water plants efficiently without letting water run off.
• Reuse water where possible (e.g., using water from washing vegetables to water plants).

Besides wastage, freshwater sources are also threatened by pollution caused by throwing trash and dumping waste from homes and industries into rivers, lakes, etc. Polluted water is harmful to all living beings and unusable for consumption. We must take action to prevent water pollution.

Water Harvesting

Water harvesting is a method of collecting and storing rainwater for later use. This is an ancient practice in India.

Examples of traditional water harvesting structures include stepwells (known as Bawadi or Vav) found in states like Rajasthan and Gujarat. These collect rainwater and water seeping from surrounding areas, serving as a vital water source in dry regions.

Rainwater harvesting helps increase the availability of freshwater and reduces dependence on other limited sources.

Extra Information: World Water Day is observed on 22nd March to raise awareness about freshwater and advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

Water is continuously circulated on Earth through the water cycle (evaporation, condensation, precipitation), in which the Sun plays a vital role.

Energy From The Sun

The Sun is the primary source of energy for almost all life on Earth.

Importance Of Sunlight

Sunlight is essential for:

• Plants: Plants use sunlight to make their food through photosynthesis. Without sunlight, most plants cannot survive, which would impact all other living beings that depend on plants for food (directly or indirectly).
• Heat and Light: The Sun provides warmth and light, making the Earth habitable and influencing weather patterns.
• Water Cycle: Solar energy drives evaporation, a key process in the water cycle.

Life as we know it would be impossible without the Sun's energy.

Uses Of Solar Energy

We can directly or indirectly harness solar energy for various purposes:

• Drying: Sunlight is used to dry clothes, crops, food items (like chillies, raw mangoes), etc., through evaporation.
• Generating Electricity: Solar panels (photovoltaic cells) convert sunlight directly into electricity. These are seen on rooftops, street lights, and traffic signals.
• Heating: Solar cookers use sunlight for cooking, and solar water heaters use it to heat water.

Sun As Main Source Of Energy

The energy flows through ecosystems originating from the Sun. Plants capture solar energy to produce food. Animals get energy by eating plants (herbivores) or other animals that eat plants (carnivores/omnivores). Humans get energy by consuming both plants and animals. This entire cycle of energy transfer is possible because of the Sun.

Extra Information: In some cultures, offering water to the Sun is a traditional way of expressing gratitude for its life-giving energy.

Forests

Forests are large areas densely covered with a variety of trees, plants, and other vegetation.

Importance Of Forests

Forests are incredibly valuable natural treasures because they:

• Are natural homes (habitat) for a vast diversity of wild animals, birds, and insects, providing them with food and shelter.
• Provide us with numerous products like wood, medicines, fruits, honey, rubber, and more.
• Help in maintaining the quality of air by taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.
• Help in water conservation by promoting groundwater recharge and regulating water flow.
• Protect the soil from erosion; plant roots hold the soil together.
• Contribute to the water cycle through transpiration.

The diversity of life forms in a forest (biodiversity) ensures that different animals have food and that the ecosystem is healthy.

Conservation Of Forests

Unfortunately, forest cover is decreasing significantly due to human activities like deforestation (cutting down trees on a large scale) for agriculture, construction, and other purposes.

Deforestation has severe consequences, including loss of habitat for animals, soil erosion, changes in climate patterns, and impact on the water cycle.

Since it takes many years for forests to regrow, it is vital to preserve and protect existing forests and make efforts to plant new trees (afforestation).

Responsible use means taking only what is needed and allowing forests time to regenerate.

Extra Information: India has a history of forest conservation movements like the Chipko movement, where local people, especially women, hugged trees to prevent loggers from cutting them down. Events like Van Mahotsav promote tree plantation and forest awareness.

Soil, Rocks And Minerals

Soil, rocks, and minerals are important components of the Earth's crust and valuable natural resources.

Soil

Soil is the loose upper layer of the Earth's surface where plants grow. It is essential for supporting plant life and, therefore, the entire food chain.

Soil is composed of small rock particles, decayed organic matter (from dead plants and animals), water, and air. Earthworms and other small organisms also live in the soil and help in its formation and aeration (mixing and creating air spaces).

Soil is formed very slowly over thousands of years through the weathering and disintegration of rocks by natural agents like the Sun's heat, water (rain, ice), and living organisms.

Different places have different types of soil depending on the type of rock it formed from and the climate. Soil samples from various locations can differ in color, texture (sandy, clayey), and contents (pebbles, roots, organisms).

Soil provides air and water to plant roots and is crucial for agriculture and forest ecosystems. It is a precious, slowly formed resource.

Rocks

Rocks are solid, naturally occurring combinations of minerals. They make up the Earth's crust.

Rocks are used extensively in construction (houses, buildings, roads, dams) and for making various objects. Examples of rocks used in construction include granite, sandstone, marble, and laterite.

Historically, humans have used rocks for making tools like hand axes and arrowheads.

Rocks form over geological timescales (thousands to millions of years), highlighting the need for their responsible use and conservation.

Minerals

Rocks are composed of one or more minerals. Minerals are naturally occurring solid substances with a specific chemical composition and structure.

Minerals are vital resources from which important metals are extracted (e.g., iron from iron ore minerals, aluminum from bauxite mineral, gold, copper).

Minerals are used in manufacturing countless products essential to modern life, including vehicles, electronics (like mobile phones), jewelry, cosmetics, and more.

Like rocks, minerals are non-renewable and take vast amounts of time to form. Mining extracts them from the Earth's crust.

Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels are a major source of energy today, but they are also non-renewable resources.

Types Of Fossil Fuels

Common fossil fuels include:

• Coal
• Petroleum (which is processed to produce fuels like petrol, diesel, kerosene, LPG)
• Natural Gas (used as cooking fuel, for electricity, and as Compressed Natural Gas - CNG for vehicles)

Formation Of Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels were formed over millions of years from the remains of ancient plants and microorganisms that were buried deep underground and subjected to immense heat and pressure.

Uses Of Fossil Fuels

• Transportation: Petrol, diesel, CNG are used to power vehicles.
• Electricity Generation: Coal and natural gas are burned in power plants to generate electricity.
• Cooking: LPG and natural gas are common domestic cooking fuels (replacing older fuels like wood and dung cakes).
• Industries: Used as fuel and raw materials in various industries.

Impact Of Fossil Fuels

While essential for modern life, the use of fossil fuels has significant drawbacks:

• Limited Quantity: They are finite resources and are being used up much faster than they are formed.
• Pollution: Burning fossil fuels releases pollutants into the air, including smoke and carbon dioxide ($CO_2$). $CO_2$ is a greenhouse gas contributing to climate change.

Over-reliance on fossil fuels is a major cause of air pollution. Conserving fossil fuels and exploring cleaner, alternative energy sources (like solar, wind, electric vehicles) are crucial to mitigate these issues.

Ways to conserve fossil fuels:

• Use public transportation, carpool, walk, or cycle for nearby places.
• Use fuel-efficient vehicles and maintain them properly.
• Switch off engines when idling.

Natural Resources: Renewable And Non-Renewable

Nature provides us with resources that can be categorized based on whether they can replenish themselves.

What Are Natural Resources?

Natural resources are resources that come directly from nature and are used by living beings for survival and to meet their needs. Examples: air, water, sunlight, forests, soil, rocks, minerals, fossil fuels.

What Are Human-Made Resources?

Human-made resources are things created by humans using natural resources or by modifying natural resources to make life more comfortable. Examples: furniture (made from wood from forests), electric bulbs (made from minerals, glass, etc.), vehicles (made from metals, fossil fuels, etc.).

Renewable Resources

Renewable resources are natural resources that can replenish or restore themselves through natural processes within a relatively short period of time. Even if they are used, nature can produce more of them.

Examples: Air, water (through the water cycle), sunlight (constantly available), forests (can regrow if managed sustainably), some forms of energy like wind and solar energy.

Sustainable use of renewable resources is still important to ensure they are not depleted faster than they can regenerate.

Non-Renewable Resources

Non-renewable resources are natural resources that are found in limited quantities and are not replenished or formed within a reasonable human timescale (it takes millions of years). Once used up, they are essentially gone.

Examples: Fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, natural gas), minerals, rocks (formed over geological time), soil (forms very slowly).

Since these resources are finite, their conservation and efficient use are critical for future generations. This involves reducing consumption and finding alternative renewable sources.

Resources We Use

Using Natural Resources In Daily Life

We use natural resources constantly in our daily lives. Almost every activity, directly or indirectly, involves the use of natural resources.

Examples:

Activity	Natural resource
Washing clothes	Water
Making clay toys	Soil (clay), Water
Collecting firewood	Forests (wood)
Making kites	Forests (bamboo/wood for frame), Air (for flying)
Having breakfast	Plants/Animals (food), Water (for cooking/drinking), Soil (for growing food), Sunlight (for growing food)
Driving a car	Petroleum (fossil fuel), Minerals/Rocks (for making car parts and roads), Air (for engine)

Responsible Use And Conservation

Since natural resources are essential for our survival and are often limited, we must use them responsibly and avoid wasting them.

Conservation of natural resources is necessary to ensure that our current needs are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (sustainable development).

As quoted by M.K. Gandhi, "Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need but not for every man’s greed." This highlights that the resources are sufficient if shared and used wisely, but cannot sustain excessive consumption driven by greed.

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