WEBVTT

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The geography of natural resources Natural resources like water, minerals and forests

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are essential for life and civilization.

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These materials found naturally in the environment shape human settlements, economies and cultures.

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They can be renewable like forests and water or non-renewable like oil and minerals.

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Their distribution, influenced by geography and climate, is uneven.

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For instance, rivers like the Nile have supported agriculture and dense populations for centuries.

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While mineral-rich regions like Chile and the UAE have built industries around copper

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and oil, respectively, the UAE, with its vast oil reserves, transformed from an agrarian

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society into a global economic power.

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However, the nation also harnesses resources like limestone, gypsum and renewable solar

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energy to diversify its economy.

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Globally, the impact of natural resources extends beyond the economy.

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For example, the Amazon rainforest not only supports biodiversity, but also sustains indigenous

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cultures.

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Conversely, overreliance on a single resource can create vulnerabilities, as seen with

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ancient civilizations like the Maya, where resource mismanagement led to decline.

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Today, responsible resource management is critical for sustainability.

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Countries like the UAE are investing in renewable energy and technology to reduce dependence

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on non-renewable resources, ensuring a balanced, resilient future.

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Natural resources are more than economic assets.

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Here the foundation of human progress and ecological balance.