RENEWABLE RESOURCES: CHARACTERISTICS, EXAMPLES, IN MEXICO, SPAIN, COLOMBIA - ENVIRONMENT - 2025

The renewable resources are all factors that satisfy a human need and can be replenished at a rate equal to or greater than consumption. Among the renewable resources are renewable energies and renewable materials and elements.

However, there are no infinite resources since if they are subjected to extreme overexploitation or their natural cycle is affected, they will disappear. That is why today the importance of sustainable development is highlighted, starting from a rational use of resources.

Hydroelectric plant in Venezuela. Source: en: User: Davidusb

In any case, renewable resources are characterized by responding to natural cycles, either biogeochemical cycles or biological cycles. Among these resources are renewable energies such as solar, wind, hydraulic, wave energy and geothermal energy.

Likewise, they are renewable material resources such as biological organisms and their derivatives (biodiversity) or inorganic elements (water, soil, oxygen, hydrogen).

Where are renewable resources found?

Eolico Park. Wind energy is an example of a renewable resource. Source: Delatfrut

All the countries of the world, depending on their geographical location and natural history, have certain renewable resources. These are economically valuable and fundamental for the development of nations.

For example, Mexico is one of the countries considered megadiverse, that is, it has great biological diversity. This country has a special wealth in agriculture and livestock, being the center of domestication of species such as corn and beans.

These living organisms represent biological resources that this country has, for food, medicinal and industrial purposes. Mexico also has renewable energy sources, especially solar energy.

In Europe, the case of Spain stands out, since it is the country with the greatest biodiversity on this continent and is one of those that has promoted renewable energies the most.

Continuing through Latin America, countries like Colombia, Peru and Venezuela are also megadiverse countries. Their territories are covered in more than 50% by tropical forests, which assigns them a wealth of very important biological resources.

On the other hand, these countries cover their electricity demand with hydroelectric energy by 65%, 40% and 70% respectively. Peru specifically, is another center of origin and diversity of agricultural species, such as potatoes.

Already in the extreme south of the American continent, Argentina is a country that stands out for its wealth in renewable agricultural and livestock resources.

characteristics

Cyclical production

Renewable resources in their production follow regular cycles at rates that exceed human consumption. In this sense, the production cycle of the resource makes it possible to replace the quantities that have been consumed and renew them.

Renewable energies

Renewable energy resources obey regular sources such as solar energy or secondary sources also originated by solar energy. In the case of geothermal energy, it responds to the heat released by the magma center of the planet.

Both solar energy and that provided by the molten center of the Earth, are finite energies in the very long term. However, on a human scale both sources of energy are continuous and therefore renewable.

Usage rate and renewal capacity

Not all renewable resources exist in nature in quantities similar to solar energy, to be considered inexhaustible on a human scale. Some, such as biodiversity or soils, depend on the rate of use or consumption.

Although these resources follow replenishment cycles, sustainable use is required because an oversized consumption rate transforms them into non-renewable resources.

For example, a medicinal plant if it is extracted from nature at rates higher than the reproduction of its populations, it becomes extinct. In this sense, the resource would be lost, with no possibility of renewal.

Sustainable use

Therefore, today we start from the principle that all resources must be subjected to sustainable use. This implies maintaining a balance based on your replacement rate, in order to avoid your depletion.

Examples

- Energies

Solar energy

Solar energy is exhaustible in a cosmic period, since within 5 billion years the sun will go out, but on a human scale it is replenished day by day in a regular cycle.

On the other hand, it is a clean energy (it does not generate polluting waste) and can be used to drive steam engines or produce electrical energy.

Wind power

Wind energy responds to the force of winds, which in turn obey atmospheric currents. These are generated by differential solar heating of the earth's surface.

The winds are capable of driving blades that in turn move turbines with generators that transform this movement into electrical energy.

Wave energy

It is the energy generated by the force of the sea waves and for which there are various technological options and can be transformed into mechanical energy or accumulated as electrical energy. In some cases the thrust of the waves activates turbines and in others it allows water to accumulate in reservoirs that later activate turbines by gravity.

Hydraulic energy

Hydraulic energy combines the water cycle, driven by the evaporation of water, solar energy and the force of gravity. Water evaporates from existing reservoirs (oceans, lakes, rivers), is carried by air currents, and then condenses and precipitates.

When the water falls in the upper levels, it drains by gravity, is accumulated in dams and forced to pass through turbines. In this way the energy of falling water is transformed into mechanical energy which in turn is converted into electrical energy.

Geothermal energy

In the process of condensation of the cosmic dust that formed the planet during the constitution of the solar system, high temperatures and pressures acted. During millions of years, the earth's crust was cooling and consolidating, but its center still remains in a state of very hot semi-fluid matter.

In this earth's core there are extremely high temperatures that emit heat through the earth's layers to the surface. Today there are technologies to take advantage of this heat from underground layers, generating steam to move turbines.

Biofuels

From plant matter it is possible to obtain ethanol (alcohol), which is a fuel that can be used for various purposes. One of the most common uses is as an additive in gasoline.

- Materials

There are a series of natural resources that respond both to biogeochemical cycles and to biological cycles that guarantee their periodic renewal.

Water

Water is a vital resource, being required by humans for direct consumption, agriculture and breeding, and industrial uses. Water follows a biogeochemical cycle and living beings consume it, use it in their physiological processes and excrete it in the form of vapor or liquid.

On the other hand, the water that is found in natural reservoirs and is not consumed by living beings, evaporates and passes into the atmosphere. As it rises to the upper layers of the atmosphere and decreases the temperature, it condenses and precipitates, forming rain.

The water flows through the land to the oceanic depressions so it is a resource that is cyclically renewed, being available in general terms for use.

Oxygen

Like water, oxygen fulfills a biogeochemical cycle, in which photosynthetic organisms play the fundamental role. The earth's atmosphere was initially poor in oxygen, but later this element increased its concentration due to the process of photosynthesis.

From this moment on, the vast majority of organisms on the planet are aerobic and therefore oxygen became a fundamental resource for them.

Hydrogen

Similar to oxygen, hydrogen is an element that follows a biogeochemical cycle, which is an indissoluble part of the water cycle. The uses of this resource are diverse and for example, together with oxygen, it forms part of the fuel for spacecraft.

Likewise, it is used as liquid hydrogen and has the advantage that as a waste it produces only water, so it is not polluting.

Floor

Soils are a fundamental resource to the extent that they support agricultural and livestock activities. In this sense, the factors that assign the value of the soil resource are basically its fertility and moisture retention capacity.

This in turn is determined by its structure, organic matter content, cation exchange capacity, pH and other variables.

Thus, any significant alteration in these factors or variables deteriorates the soil as a natural resource. In some cases, deficiencies or alterations can be corrected and the resource is renewed as a loss of fertility that can be solved by adding fertilizers.

However, a serious alteration such as the erosion of the fertile layer is much more difficult to solve and the resource would be irretrievably lost.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the totality of living organisms that exist on the planet and represents a fundamental natural resource for human beings. We are part of biodiversity and to live we need to consume other living organisms or their derivatives.

We use plants, animals, bacteria and fungi to make medicines that cure our diseases. In addition, we use materials from living things for construction, such as wood, or to make writing paper.

Nowadays, great importance is given to the wealth in genetic resources of a country due to the potential it represents for food, medicine and industry. On the other hand, living beings are a fundamental part of biogeochemical cycles that guarantee other renewable resources such as water and oxygen.

The biodiversity resource responds to a biological cycle of reproduction that allows its renewal and that works as long as said cycle is not exceeded by the rate of consumption. Therefore it is a renewable resource, as long as it is subjected to a rational and sustainable use.

Crops

Sowing sugar cane. Source: José Reynaldo da Fonseca

Cultivated plants are part of biodiversity, but they differ from wild plant diversity in that they depend on human management to survive. The crops come from wild species that have been selected and manipulated by humans to enhance certain characteristics as a resource.

Unlike the rest of biodiversity, different crops are a renewable resource to the extent that they are used. If a crop stops being produced, in most cases it will be destined to disappear because it has lost the ability to survive in the wild.

Many cultivated species suffer a process of genetic erosion (loss of their genetic diversity) as part of their varieties disappear. For example, non-commercial maize varieties are disappearing because they are not cultivated, as certain hybrids demanded by agribusiness are prioritized.

To avoid the loss of resources in this way, germplasm banks are created where seeds of these little-cultivated varieties are kept.

Breeding animals

As with crops, human beings have domesticated animal species for more than 10,000 years. This in order to provide themselves with food or other resources, such as skins or motive power or transport.

Similarly, livestock due to domestication have lost many of the characteristics that allowed them to survive in the wild. In this sense, those species or races that are no longer the object of breeding tend to disappear.

Bioplastics

One type of renewable resource that is currently gaining popularity are bioplastics, as substitutes for plastics derived from petroleum. Bioplastics are produced from plant products and in this sense are renewable and biodegradable resources.

Renewable resources in Mexico

Renewable energy

Mexico is among the 10 countries in the world with the highest growth rate in wind power generation. Likewise, this country is a leader in Latin America in the use of solar energy.

Biodiversity

Mexico is one of the 17 megadiverse countries, hosting between 10 and 12% of the planet's species. This constitutes a very valuable accumulation of renewable resources for the economy of this country.

Only in plants this country has more than 26,000 species and 34% of its territory is covered by forests.

Agriculture and farming

Vegetable

Regarding agricultural resources, it is enough to mention that Mexico is one of the centers of origin and domestication of many cultivated plants. Around 120 cultivated species were originally domesticated in Mexico such as corn (Zea mays) and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris).

Animal

Mexico has reached a high production in cattle (meat and milk), poultry (meat and eggs), pigs, goats and sheep. It also has an important production of turkey or turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), with almost 4 million of this species endemic to the United States and Mexico.

On the other hand, it is the second largest producer of pigs in Latin America and in beekeeping (honey) it has more than 2 million productive hives.

Renewable resources in Spain

Renewable energy

Spain has made significant progress in the development of renewable energies, especially hydroelectric, wind and solar energy, and in 2018 it reached the goal of generating 40% of its electrical energy through renewable energies. Also, of the total primary energy used in this country, 13.9% are renewable.

Biodiversity

As a Mediterranean country and given its proximity to Africa, Spain is the country with the greatest biological diversity in Europe. It has about 10,000 plant species and more than 36% of its geography is covered with forests.

Agriculture and farming

Vegetable

Traditionally, this country has had a fairly developed agricultural sector and has important resources in areas such as vegetables, olive (Olea europaea) and vine (Vitis vinifera).

Animal

In animal production, pigs stand out, with breeds with a designation of origin such as the Iberian pig. In the sheep sector there is also a long productive tradition with breeds such as the La Mancha sheep and the Merino sheep.

Iberian pig in Spain. Source: Fregenal01

While in the case of bovine production there are various breeds originating in Spain such as the Asturian mountain, the Avilanian-black Iberian, the Galician blonde and others.

As for horse breeding, the Andalusian horse or Spanish purebred horse is recognized, which is among the oldest breeds. There are also other pure autochthonous breeds such as the Losino horse, the Galician purebred or the Asturcón.

Other breeds are the Monchino, the Pottoka, the Jaca Navarra, the Mallorcan and the Menorcan. The marsh horse breed typical of the natural area of ​​the Doñana marshes in Andalusia, is in danger of extinction.

Renewable resources in Colombia

Renewable energy

Colombia generates 65% of its electricity through hydroelectric energy and has 140 MWp of solar energy installed. On the other hand, in terms of wind energy it reaches a power of 19.5 MW, which is only 0.4% of its theoretical potential.

Biodiversity

Colombia is another of the 17 countries considered megadiverse, with more than 40,000 species of plants and 456 species of mammals. In palms it has the greatest diversity in the world with around 270 species and about 55% of the national territory is covered by tropical jungle ecosystems.

Agriculture and farming

Vegetable

Colombia has a thriving agricultural sector with diverse crops, including native species such as the Solanum phureja potato or Creole potato. This country has achieved high product quality in areas such as coffee (Coffea arabica) and cocoa (Theobroma cacao).

There is also a valuable gene pool in non-traditional fruit crops such as the South American sapote (Quararibea cordata).

Animal

Colombia has promoted a highly genetic bovine livestock sector based on obtaining pure breeds adapted to its specific conditions. Similarly, it has an important production of poultry (meat and eggs) and pigs.

Renewable resources in Peru

Renewable energy

The main source of renewable energy in Peru is hydroelectric, for which there is great potential in this country. More than 40% of the electricity demand is covered with this energy source and only 3.2% is covered with solar and wind energy.

Biodiversity

Peru is one of the 12 countries with the greatest diversity of ecosystems, as well as one of the 17 megadiverse countries in number of species. Its flora is made up of around 25,000 species, having more than 50% of its surface covered with forests.

Agriculture and farming

Vegetable

Peru is an important center of origin and domestication of cultivated plants, with around 128 species of domesticated native plants. One of these crops is the potato (Solanum tuberosum), of great global importance and of which there are about 2,000 varieties in this country.

Potato varieties (Solanum tuberosum). Source: Scott Bauer, USDA ARS

In the Lake Titicaca region there are 200 wild potato species that represent an important genetic bank for the improvement of commercial varieties.

Animal

In Peru, cattle, pigs, goats and birds are produced and there are three native domesticated species (the alpaca (Vicugna pacos), llama (Lama glama) and guinea pig (Cavia porcellus)). It also stands out in the breeding of Paso horses, with a denomination of origin of Peruvian Paso Horse, an export product.

Renewable resources in Venezuela

Renewable energy

As an oil country, Venezuela has focused its energy policy on the use of this fossil fuel, with little development of renewable energy. The exception is hydroelectric energy, which in this country represents 70% of electricity production.

In 2012, it began to enter the generation of wind energy with the installation of two wind farms.

Biodiversity

Venezuela ranks seventh among the megadiverse countries on the planet, with around 20,000 species of plants and is the fifth country in the world in diversity of birds.

Due to its geographical location, it is influenced by the flora of the Caribbean, the Andes, the Guiana and the Amazon and more than 50% of the Venezuelan territory is covered by tropical forests.

Agriculture and farming

Vegetable

As an Amazonian country, Venezuela has a high genetic diversity in native crops. Among these are pineapple (Ananas comosus) and cassava (Manihot esculenta). In the case of cacao (Theobroma cacao), Venezuela is the country with the largest genetic reserve of Creole cacao or fine cacao.

On the other hand, some cultivated species introduced in colonial times have developed in this territory a high diversity of varieties such as mango and bananas.

Animal

The Venezuelan plains have traditionally been cattle ranchers since the colony, dominating today the cattle breeds derived from the Bos indicus species. There is a breed of Creole cattle derived from the animals brought by the conquerors, it is the so-called lemon Creole.

Other items are the production of poultry (meat and eggs), pigs and goats. In pigs it is the third largest producer in Latin America.

Water

Venezuela is the second country in the world in water reserves per capita and the first in America.

Renewable resources in Argentina

Renewable energy

Along with Mexico, Argentina is among the 10 countries in the world with the highest growth rate in wind power generation. Currently only 4.8% of electricity demand is covered with renewable energy.

However, there is a national plan (RenovAry Plan) that aims to cover 20% by 2025, through wind, solar, bioenergy and hydroelectric projects.

Biodiversity

Argentina has more than 10,000 species of plants, in addition to a great variety of ecosystems that range from tropical, temperate to cold environments. It also has a diversity of birds, including penguins (Spheniscidae) and rhea (Rhea spp.) As well as an important diversity of marine fauna.

Agriculture and farming

Vegetable

Historically Argentina has been a country with high productivity in cereals, especially wheat (Triticum spp.). Soybeans (Glycine max) have recently been incorporated as an oleaginous legume, an area of ​​which it is the third country in production.

Likewise, this country has stood out for having an important wine industry with the production of good quality wines.

Animal

Argentina is one of the largest producers of beef in the world, ranking third in this area. In addition, it has an important production of sheep mainly for wool, an area in which it ranks fifth in the world.

References

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