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Natural Resources
The biosphere currently supplies the basic needs for more than six billion humans in
the form of natural resources. The human population continues to grow, and the
growth is not evenly distributed throughout the world. An increase in human
population growth increases the need for natural resources to supply the basic needs of
the population, and can have adverse impacts on biodiversity.
The consumption rate of natural resources is also not evenly distributed.
Figure 16
on
the next page shows the global consumption of natural resources per person. The
natural resource consumption rate is much higher for people living in developed
countries than for people living in developing countries. People who live in developing
countries tend to rely mostly on agriculture instead of industry for income, and tend to
make less income than people who live in developed countries.
As developing countries increase the number and types of industry within their
borders, their standard of living, the available amount of goods and money, also
increases. To sustain the use of these goods, the rate of natural resource consumption
must therefore also increase. Because of the rising human population growth and an
increased rate of consumption of natural resources, a long-term plan for the use and
conservation of natural resources is important.
Get It?
Compare
the per capita use of resources of people in North America to Africa by
using Figure 16 on the next page.
LESSON 3
CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY
FOCUS QUESTION
What methods are used to conserve biodiversity?
Disciplinary Core Ideas
Crosscutting Concepts
Science & Engineering Practices
3D THINKING
C
C
C
S
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P
D
C
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COLLECT EVIDENCE
Use your Science Journal to
record the evidence you collect as
you complete the readings and
activities in this lesson.
INVESTIGATE
GO ONLINE
to find these activities and more resources.
Applying Practices:
Microbeads, Mega-Problem
HS-LS2-7.
Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for
reducing the
impacts of human
activities
on the environment and biodiversity.
Lesson 3 • Conserving Biodiversity
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