Topic 7.1: Natural Resources — Uses and Management Questions

A village uses a nearby forest for building timber and firewood. Define the term natural resource.

Define the term sustainable yield.

A textbook lists sunlight, timber, oil, and iron ore. Classify each as renewable or non-renewable.

An open pit mine is developed on a hillside above a river used for drinking water and irrigation. Outline two environmental impacts of this extraction.

A country plans to expand solar farms, open a new copper mine, and increase fish catches. State which one is a non-renewable resource.

A forest is clear-cut to supply timber for export. Outline two short-term economic benefits of this activity.

A country introduces certification for sustainably harvested timber. Outline one advantage of this approach.

A fishery has declining catches and smaller average fish size. Outline two management strategies that could improve sustainability.

Explain one long-term environmental impact of large-scale deforestation.

Suggest one reason why mining projects often face opposition from local communities.

The Galápagos Islands are transitioning from diesel-powered electricity generation to renewable energy sources.

Table 1 shows per capita material use for two countries. Identify which country is more likely to be a high income country.

A government reports that total material extraction increased from 27 billion tonnes in 1970 to 92 billion tonnes in 2020. Calculate the percentage increase.

A coastal town depends on tourism and fishing. Offshore oil drilling begins nearby. Explain how one oil spill could affect both the ecosystem and the local economy.

A low income region discovers valuable minerals. Mining brings rapid growth, but after 8 years the region has high inequality, corruption scandals, and weak investment in education. Suggest one term used to describe this pattern and give one reason it can happen.

A government is deciding whether to allow deep sea mining for battery metals. Apply the precautionary principle to justify one decision the government could make.

Explain why freshwater is considered a renewable resource but can still become scarce.

Table 1 shows energy consumption per person in two regions. Identify which region is likely to have higher environmental impact.

Explain why maximum sustainable yield can be difficult to estimate accurately in real ecosystems.

Australia's energy mix is changing as the country transitions toward renewable energy sources.