Make use of what you have learnt previously to try to complete the following definition concerning NATURAL RESOURCES.

People need natural resources such as plants,......................................,

soil, ........................................... and water to survive. All of this is obtained from

nature. Examples of fossil fuels are gas and coal while minerals such as salt, rocks, gold, silver, iron and calcium are formed in the earth by nature.

Study the sketch of a production line for the manufacturing of cars and list the natural resources that you think may be necessary for the production of a modern motor vehicle.

Figure 1

Natural resources:

Are you able to think of other resources besides natural resources that are also

utilised in the production of cars? (Take another look at the sketch on page 1.)

Utilisation of natural resources by our predecessors

Our predecessors and the people of early civilisations were very aware of their dependence on natural resources. From the earliest times, people settled where they had access to food and water. They lived as nomads, wandering around in search of grazing, food and water. In time they became farmers and settled down for longer periods of time in places where the natural resources were adequate. Eventually people discovered mineral resources, e.g. iron and copper. This made it possible to produce objects for adorning themselves and for domestic wares, as well as weapons like arrowheads that helped them to hunt animals for food and defend themselves against their enemies.

Although we are less aware of our dependence on natural resources, we do need many different resources for our survival.

Competition time! See who is able to draw up the longest list of uses of plants as a natural resource.

Forestry as a natural resource

Forestry is the important resource that enables you to write and communicate successfully day after day. For this, thousands of trees are felled every day, merely to produce enough paper to produce daily newspapers. Although people plant plantations, they are better suited to some climatic regions than to others and are therefore spread out across the country.

Figure 2

Forestry in South Africa and Namibia

LO 1

GEOGRAPHICAL ENQUIRY

The learner will be able to use enquiry skills to investigate geographical and environmental concepts and processes.

We know this when the learner:

1.1 with guidance, selects and uses sources of useful geographical information [finds sources];

1.6 identifies and explores possible solutions to problems [answers the question];

1.7 demonstrates knowledge and under-standing of the issue through projects, discussion, debate and charts [communicates the answer].

Natural resources:

ACTIVITY 1

ACTIVITY 3