A renewable resource is a resource which is replaced naturally. Examples are: oxygen, fresh water, solar energy, timber, and biomass.

There are three types of resources in the world: renewable, non-renewable, and perpetual. Perpetual resources are not affected by human use of them. Examples are sunlight and wind.

Renewable resources are those that are replenished through biogeochemical and physical cycles. By contrast, non-renewable resources do not replenish themselves, or, as in the case of fossil fuels, do so only at a very slow rate.



A Forest. Photo Credit: ClickART Image Pak.

Renewable resources are seldom perfectly renewable. If their levels are heavily decreased, they may not be able to completely replenish themselves. For example, if a species is nearly eradicated, it may not be able to avoid extinction.

Renewable resources can also be lost through pollution. Though water renews itself, if it is polluted, it is no longer useful for human use. Urban sprawl, cultivation, irrigation, grazing, deforestation, fishing, hunting, and habitat destruction can all be causes of the destruction ...more

A substance of economic value that can be replaced or replenished in the same amount or less time as it takes to draw the supply down