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Natural Resources Value Worksheet

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Natural Resources Value Worksheet

Andre, Jayden, and Nia are traveling across the United States. At each stop, they notice how people use nearby natural resources. Read the information and complete the activities. Think about economic value, effects on nature, and community traditions.

A Snapshot from Three Stops

The travelers collect these notes. Revenue is money earned by selling goods or services. The figures are made up for this worksheet.

Stop

Resource and use

Local work or income

Other value

Pine Ridge

Forest wood is harvested under local rules.

Logging, carpentry, and furniture sales; $240,000 yearly revenue for local businesses.

The forest provides wildlife habitat and a place for community walks.

Clearwater Bend

River water supports farms and a small fishing business.

Farmers and fishing guides earn income; $90,000 yearly revenue for local businesses.

The river is a habitat for fish and a gathering place for an annual community celebration.

Windy Mesa

Wind turns turbines that generate electricity.

Technicians maintain turbines; the energy cooperative earns $180,000 yearly revenue.

Wind power generates electricity without burning fuel while it operates.

Investigate the Resources

1.Which resource from the road trip is renewable because it can be replenished naturally in a relatively short time: coal, wind, or minerals?

Coal
Wind
Minerals

2.Use the Road Trip Notes. Which stop has the greatest yearly revenue for local businesses, and how much greater is it than the stop with the lowest revenue?

3.At Pine Ridge, name one way the forest creates economic value and one way it benefits nature.

4.Clearwater Bend holds an annual celebration at the river. What kind of value does this show, and what detail supports your answer?

5.Why might a community choose wind power even if building and maintaining turbines costs money? Give one benefit from the notes.

6.Imagine that too many trees are cut at Pine Ridge without allowing the forest to recover. Name one possible effect on nature and one possible economic effect.

7.Money and jobs connected to a resource are part of its value.

8.Benefits such as wildlife habitat are part of a resource's value.

9.Importance to community traditions is part of a resource's value.

10.True or false: A natural resource can have economic value and benefits for nature at the same time. Use one example from the notes to support your choice.

TrueFalse

11.Jayden suggests limiting fishing during the season when fish lay eggs. Explain one way this rule could protect the resource and one way it could help people in the future.

12.Choose one road-trip resource and suggest a practical way the community could use it while conserving it. Explain why your idea balances people's needs with care for the resource.