Natural Resources – Life that is increasingly developed and developing requires humans to have various necessities of life ranging from primary to tertiary. All human needs depend on natural and non-living resources. Living Natural Resources are such as plants and animals. Meanwhile, non-living natural resources are such as petroleum, coal, natural gas and others which do not experience increase but continue to decrease.
Natural resources are limited, so humans must be wise in protecting these natural resources. Besides that, its use must also be based on considerations.
Definition of Natural Resources
Natural resources (SDA) are everything that can be found in nature and can be used for the benefit of human life. So, for humans Natural resources are something that is very important, whether in the form of inanimate objects such as oil, gas and coal or in the form of living things such as plants and animals.
From the brief explanation above, we can understand that natural resources are something that enables humans to survive in this life. Besides that, humans themselves are also part of Sumber Day because humans can do something useful for their country. Thus, humans are a natural resource for a particular country.
For example, humans can advance their country by developing technology, advancing the economy, or by developing Science.
Types of Natural Resources
Based on the definition of natural resources, namely everything in the environment or on the surface of the earth or on other planets that can be used for human needs. So, Natural Resources can be divided into two parts as follows:
1. Renewable Natural Resources

Natural resources that can be renewed are the types of natural resources that will not run out because they always exist even though some of them are destroyed. For example, plants, animals, sunlight and micro-organisms. Everything will always exist and be replaced by others.
2. Non-Renewable Natural Resources

These non-renewable natural resources are limited in number and will run out at a time. Why is it limited? because the formation process takes a very long time, even millions of years, then this can be sure to run out. Examples are minerals such as copper or precious metals, petroleum, gas and others.
Natural Resources by Type
1. Biotic natural resources or biotic natural resources. It is a type of natural resource that comes from living things such as plants and animals. These living natural resources are further divided into two, namely:
– Natural resources that are erasasla from animals such as food in the form of eggs, fish, meat, and so on.
– Vegetable natural resources, namely SDA derived from plants such as vegetables, wood, and others.
2. Non-living or abiotic natural resources. This is all that is buried in inanimate objects such as soil, water, mining products, air, sunlight and so on.
Division of Natural Resources based on their Shape
Based on their shape, natural resources can be divided into four types, as follows:
1. Material Natural Resources
These are natural resources in the form of inanimate objects and they can be easily encountered directly by humans in nature. For example, it is obtained through mining and processing and is useful for human life.
2. Natural Resources Energy
These are natural resources capable of generating energy or energy and are beneficial for human survival. Examples are Gas, water, petroleum, air, coal and others.
3. Natural Resources Space
There is also the name of natural resources of space This is SDA in the form of space, place, environment, area, all of which can be utilized for human survival. These natural resources are influenced by geography, topography, and relief such as canyons, valleys and mountains.
4. Natural Resources of Time
SDAW is a natural resource that is influenced by time, such as seasons. Examples of Natural Resources Time is water, where its existence is influenced by seasons. In the dry season, it is very difficult to get it, and if it is in the rainy season, its existence is very easy to find.
The division of natural resources based on use power and economic value
Based on their usefulness, natural resources are divided into several divisions. Here we see an explanation of usability.
– Economic natural resources: Gold, petroleum, silver, coal and tin
– Non-economic natural resources: Water, sunlight and water.
Distribution by Location
The division is based on location, SDA is divided into two, namely as follows:
– Aquatic natural resources: These are natural resources that are only found in waterways such as oceans and lakes. For example: fish, seaweed, coral reefs, shrimp, crabs and others.
– Terrestrial natural resources: This is the opposite of aquatic, namely natural resources that are only obtained in land areas such as forest products, mining products, and others.
Examples of Natural Resources

There are quite a lot of natural resources in Indonesia, both biological and non-living. Indonesia has the availability of rich natural resources so it needs a good management system so that the needs of the Indonesian people are achieved evenly. Natural resources in Indonesia can be obtained on land, oceans, the bowels of the earth or in the air.
Based on its availability, natural resources are divided into two, namely SDA that can be renewed and SDA that cannot be renewed. Natural resources that can be renewed are in the form of plants, water, air, sunlight and animals, which are always available and replaced at any time. Meanwhile, what cannot be renewed is limited natural resources such as oil, natural gas and others that cannot be replaced quickly. Even though it can add up again, it will take a long time to take millions of years.
1. Renewable Natural Resources
As we have clearly stated above, this is an unlimited natural resource because it is inexhaustible and utilized for human needs. The following are forms of utilization of renewable natural resources:
a. Foodstuffs
Foodstuffs are foodstuffs that can be used to meet human needs to continue their lives. Some examples of foodstuffs are as follows:
- Soybean: Used as a raw material for making tofu
- Wheat: Used as a base for flour
b. Clothing material
Clothing is a clothing material that is made to meet human needs. Here are some of the natural resources used to make clothes:
- The cotton used to make cotton cloth
- Fibers from silkworm cocoons used for the manufacture of silk fabrics.
- Fleece is used to make woolen fabrics.
c. As a household material
Some examples of natural resources used to make household appliances:
- Teak wood, rattan which is used in making cabinets, chairs, and others\
- Sangon wood is used as a material for making household furniture
d. As traditional medicine and products for treatment
- Seaweed which is made as a cosmetic ingredient
- Aloe vera is used as shampoo
- African leaves are used as a traditional medicine for cholesterol and diabetes
e. Building material
Renewable natural resources can also be used as materials for the manufacture of building materials. Here are a few examples:
- Clay is used to make bricks, tiles
- Sand, used to make concrete blocks and building materials
2. Natural Resources that cannot be renewed
As explained above, SDA that cannot be renewed is a limited natural resource due to non-renewable availability. Although it can be renewable, this natural resource takes a lot of time, so this is considered a limited natural resource and one day it can run out in a period of human life.
Also see: 15+ Benefits of Petroleum Oil for Humans
Examples of non-renewable natural resources such as earth, natural gas, coal. The following is an example of the use of non-renewable natural resources.
- Coal, petroleum and natural gas are used as fuel
- Mining items such as gold and silver are used for jewelry
- Aluminum mining goods are used as kitchen utensils and even aircraft fuselages
- Iron mining goods are used as building tools and house fences
- Copper mines were used as cables, and wires
- Nickel mining goods as material for metal alloys
Non-Muslims usually made statues of bronze mining products and used them as material for making medals
Above are all metal mining goods, now we take a look at non-metal mining goods available and their uses.
- Gypsum is used as a material for wall paint
- Sulfur is used for medicine
- Diamonds are used as jewelry
- Graphite and carbon are used for making pencils
- Asphalt for paving
- Asbestos is used for the roof of the house
Natural Resources in Indonesia
As a vast country and stretches between Sabang and Marauke, Indonesia has enormous natural wealth. It remains now whether the government can manage properly and wisely for the prosperity of the Indonesian state or not. Next, we look at the natural resources in Indonesia.
1. The best quality gold mine in the world
Indonesia turns out to have a very large gold mine with the best quality gold content in the world. Gold is a precious metal that is loved by all people because of its high and dominant price that never goes down. The gold mine is a freeport in Papua. This is a gold mine of the world’s best gas quality.
2. Coal Mine
Indonesia is also rich in coal. There are several coal mines, namely in Sumatra and Kalimantan. The coal in Indonesia is also said to be a mine with the largest quantity in the world.
Also see: Organic and Inorganic Waste
Now this coal mine has been managed by a domestic company, namely PT Bukit Asam.
3. Natural gas
Furthermore, the most extraordinary thing is natural gas. Indonesia is a country with large natural gas reserves. This is truly a country of extraordinary treasures. The largest natural gas and gas sector in Indonesia is located in the Natuna Block and the Cepu Block.
4. Tropical rain forest
Apart from gold, natural gas and coal mines, Indonesia still has many treasures that lie above the earth’s surface. This treasure trove is a tropical rain forest that stretches wide in the plains of Indonesia including Sumatra, Kalimantan, and other islands.
One of the functions of tropical rainforests is as the world’s lungs that will provide a lot of oxygen and clean carbon dioxide in the air so that Indonesia’s air is clean. In addition, tropical rainforests also function as a habitat for various animals and animals, this is also very important as a balance of life for living things, namely humans and animals.
5. Underwater wealth
Indonesia’s ocean is vast, even many times wider than the mainland. Indonesia is located between two oceans, namely the Indian and Pacific Oceans, so it is only natural that its underwater wealth is very much. This is truly a miracle entrusted by Allah to the Indonesian nation.
The Indonesian sea not only produces a variety of fish but also produces many other non-fish marine products such as seaweed and pearls.