A Natural Resource is part of the natural environment. This includes renewable and non-renewable primary raw materials, physical land, environmental media (water, soil, air), flowing resources (such as geothermal energy, wind, tidal and solar energy) and Biodiversity.

It is irrelevant whether the resources serve as source for the production of products or as sinks to absorb emissions (water, soil, air).

UBA Glossar zum Ressourcenschutz