Renewable and Non-renewable Resources

A natural resource may be defined as any material given to us by nature which can be transformed in a way that it becomes more valuable and useful. For an example wood is used for making furniture. Yarn obtained from cotton is used for weaving cloth. Likewise, various machine, tools and household goods are made of metals. Now furniture, clothes, machine, tools are more valuable than their raw form i.e. wood, cotton and metal, respectively. Thus, water, minerals, forests, wildlife as well as human beings are resources. 

Renewable and Non-renewable Resources

Basically the natural resources are are classified into two types;

1. Renewable Resources
2. Non-renewable Resources.

1. Renewable Resources:

Resources, which can be renewed or replaced along with their exploitation and are always available for use. Hence they are called renewable resources. For instance, forests are renewable. If trees are felled, they can be grown by afforestation. Likewise, solar energy and wind energy are examples of renewable resources.

2. Non-renewable Resources:

Resources, which once used in unlimited way, will be exhausted for ever are called non-renewable resources. They cannot be easily replaced. Thus, their exploitation at large scale will result in their fast depletion. The resources like iron ore, coal, mineral oil etc are the examples of non-renewable resources.