Exploitation? Exploitation is making use of and benefitting from resources (e.g. water, fish, forestry and soil).
The exploitation of resources is necessary for people’s survival. The overexploitation of resources may, however, have serious consequences. Overexploitation happens when resources are used too quickly or too much. This may result in resources becoming depleted (seriously reduced in quantity) or exhausted (extinct/wiped out completely).
The world’s resources must also benefit future generations of people. To slow down overexploitation, the world’s natural resources must be exploited in a fair and equal way, so that all can benefit now and into the future.
Sustainable exploitation is the use of resources in such a way that they will be available and usable in the future.
How to Think Sustainably
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The Christmas trees above are real, while the one on the right is artificial. Does your family put up a real or an artificial tree at Christmas? Which do you think has more of an impact on natural resources?
