Natural Resources

Natural resources refer to objects, relationships, or capacities of value that exist in a form or environment that originated without human intervention. Businesses, whether providing products or services, typically consume or otherwise rely on natural resources in their conversions from raw materials to finished goods. The value of natural resources derives from different modes of usage: direct consumption, indirect servicing, and/or enjoyment through nonuse. Traditional direct use or consumption of natural resources would include activities such as mining, forestry, and commercial fishing. Examples of indirect use, when natural resources provide a beneficial service, include flood mitigation by wetlands and fisheries production provided by freeflowing rivers. As many indirect-use services are enjoyed without direct cost, their value is generally only appreciated when the service is interrupted, ...