What is a Resource?
The dictionary definition of a resource is:
"..something that can be used; an asset"  (Australian Basic School Dictionary)

What is a Renewable Resource?
A renewable resource is something that can be produced again and again. For example when we cut down trees to get wood to make paper, more trees can be planted to replace the ones that have been used.

What is a Non-Renewable Resource?
Non-renewable resources can't be replaced once they have been used. Some non-renewable resources, such as oil, were formed millions of years ago and are mostly found beneath the Earth's surface. Others such as the Earth's original forest cover, which supports all sorts of ecosystems and biodiversity, are found on the Earth's surface.

To get at the underground non-renewable resources, we have to either drill (petroleum oil and gas) or mine (coal and metal ore). Once these resources have been used-up there are no more. We can't make more oil, we can't make metal ore, and we can't plant oil or metal ore into the ground and hope it will grow.

There are only certain amounts of non-renewable resources on and in the Earth, and the total amount of each resource is known as a reserve.

What is a Metal Ore?
The dictionary definition of an ore is:
"..rock with metal or other useful substances in it." (Australian Basic School Dictionary)

For example, aluminium comes from an ore called bauxite and iron comes from iron-ore.

Biodiversity and Ecosystems
Biodiversity is the variety of life: the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, and the ecosystems of which they are a part. Australia is one of the most diverse countries on the planet. It is home to more than one million species of plants and animals, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. Department of the Environment and Water Resources

An ecosystem is a natural unit consisting of all plants, animals and micro organisms in an area functioning together with all tthe non-living physical factors of the environment
Wikipedia

Ecosystems and the biodiversity they contain are resources - they provide us with food, water, oxygen and clean water.

How Much of the Earth's Resources have we used?
In 2000 the World Watch Institute released its "Living Planet" Report that looked at what had happened around the Earth over a period of 30 years. Here are just a couple of statistics:

• In 1970, around 64% of the world's original forest cover was still in existence. In 2000, around 53% remained.
• In 1970, the world was burning around 4,800 million tons of oil equivalent. In 2000 it was close to 8,000 million tonnes.
  
  This means that we are using up our resources faster and faster.
  
  Can we Conserve our Resources?
  Resource conservation is all about saving the Earth's resources, so that they are available for others to use for a long time into the future. If everyone on the planet was to consume the same kinds and amounts of resources as people living in Australia, we would need at least another two or even three more Earths to support us all.
  
  We need to find clever ways of either not using precious resources, or finding more environmentally-friendly alternatives. What can you do every day to help save our resources? For more information and ideas visit the websites and sources listed below.
  
  Sources:
  
  Australian Department of the Environment and Water Resources
  
  Department of Environment and Climate Change
  
  Friends of the Earth International
  
  Gould League
  
  Sydney Water
  
  World Watch Institute
  
  World Wildlife Fund