There are two types of renewable resources: those that are renewed intrinsically and those that are renewed extrinsically.  A resource that is renewed intrinsically regrows from within itself.  A resource that that is renewed extrinsically is renewed from a source outside of itself.

A forest renews intrinsically.  If it is harvested it renews by regrowing from within itself.  Because an intrinsically renewed resource renews from within itself, it can be destroyed by over-harvesting.

A water spring is renewed extrinsically.  If it is harvested it is renewed with water that comes from rain somewhere else.  An extrinsically renewed resources is only ever available at a limited rate.  An extrinsically renewed resource cannot be destroyed by over-harvesting; however, it can be destroyed by destroying the source from which it is renewed.

Examples of intrinsically renewed resources include:

• timber from a forest
• fish from a wild fishery
• energy from biomass
• fruit from plants

 Examples of extrinsically renewed resources include:

• energy from sunlight
• energy from wind
• energy from geothermal
• water from a well.

This page is linked from:

The Tragedy of the Commons

sustainable use of an intrinsically renewed resource

Unsustainable resource extraction

Living sustainably

Carrying capacity of an ecosystem

limits to the use of resources

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