| Description: | The Earth's natural resources are vital to the survival and development of the human population. Some of these resources, such as minerals, species, and habitats, are finite and once they have been exhausted or destroyed, they are gone forever. Others, such as air, water, and wood, are renewable - although we generally rely on the Earth's natural systems to regrow, renew, and purify them for us. Although many effects of over-exploitation are felt locally, the growing interdependence of nations and international trade in natural resources make their management a global issue. |
