Natural resources include the raw materials mankind derives from the functioning
ecosystems of the planet Earth as well as the products and services that are derived
from them. Natural resources include a wide variety of entities and products, such
as metals, water, fossil fuels, and biological products of many kinds. Natural
resources are essential to the economic and spiritual well-being of mankind and
life on Earth.
There are three special reasons why we should give particular attention to natural
resources. First, what we call natural resources are part and parcel of the Earth’s
functioning ecosystems, which are essential to life on Earth. Second, natural
resources provide mankind with what scientists call “ecosystem services”—things
we take for granted, such as water for our needs, protection for our coastal lands,
and supplies of fish and other products. Third, natural resources are inherently
limited; we must take care to use them wisely.
For the foregoing reasons, what we now call “sustainable development” is very
important when dealing with natural resources. Sustainable development, briefly
stated, is the use of natural resources with a view of preserving essential natural
resources for future generations. Sustainable development is a concept that permits
economic growth and use of resources but mandates the wise usage of resources to
ensure their future availability. When we consider the scope of application of
sustainable development applied to our political and economic systems, we may
divide sustainable development into two levels: domestic sustainable development
and sustainable development at the international level.