A natural resource is something valuable that comes from the Earth and can be used by people, without being made in a factory. Trees, water, coal, iron ore, and oil are all natural resources. They exist in nature, and humans extract or harvest them to build things, create energy, or support life.

Some natural resources, like sunlight and wind, are renewable: we can use them over and over without running out. Trees are renewable too if we replant forests after cutting them down. But other resources, like oil and coal, are nonrenewable: once we use them up, they're gone. These formed over millions of years from ancient plants and animals, so we can't just make more.

Countries with abundant natural resources often become wealthy by selling them. Saudi Arabia exports oil, Chile exports copper, and Canada exports timber. But having natural resources isn't everything: a country also needs the knowledge, infrastructure, and systems to use them wisely.

The challenge with natural resources is balancing our need for them today with preserving them for the future. When we waste water, strip-mine mountains carelessly, or pollute rivers, we damage resources that can't easily be restored. Learning to use natural resources sustainably means figuring out how to meet our needs without destroying what future generations will need.