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Beginner · 3 min

Compare use with renewal

A renewable resource is replenished through natural processes on a timescale relevant to its use. This does not mean that any rate of use is sustainable. A forest can lose trees faster than they regrow, and a water store can be depleted when withdrawals exceed replenishment. Compare rates and local conditions rather than relying only on the label renewable.

Practice

When can a renewable resource decline?