Natural Resources

Definition

Natural resources are materials or substances that occur naturally in the environment and can be used for economic gain. They include things like water, minerals, forests, and fossil fuels.

Related terms

Nonrenewable Resources: These are natural resources that cannot be replenished or take millions of years to form, such as coal, oil, and natural gas.

Renewable Resources: These are natural resources that can be replenished or replaced relatively quickly by natural processes, such as solar energy, wind power, and timber from sustainably managed forests.

Exhaustible Resources: These are natural resources that can be depleted over time if not managed properly. Examples include fish stocks in the ocean or groundwater reserves.