Natural resources are the essential materials and substances found in nature that support life and human activities. These resources include water, air, soil, minerals, forests, and fossil fuels. They are broadly classified into renewable resources, such as sunlight, wind, and water, which naturally replenish over time, and non-renewable resources, like coal, oil, and natural gas, which take millions of years to form and are limited in supply.
The overexploitation of natural resources has led to serious environmental issues, including deforestation, water scarcity, and climate change.