Registered Environmental Manager (REM) Practice Exam

What distinguishes a renewable resource?

1. A resource that is limited in availability

2. A resource that forms quicker than it is consumed

3. A resource that requires human intervention to exist

4. A resource that is only available in remote locations

The correct answer is: A resource that forms quicker than it is consumed

The distinction of a renewable resource lies in its ability to regenerate or replenish itself at a rate that meets or exceeds the consumption rate. This means that a renewable resource forms faster than it is consumed, ensuring sustainability and long-term availability. For example, solar energy, wind energy, and biomass are renewable resources because they can continuously be harnessed and replenished through natural processes. The other options do not accurately represent the characteristics of renewable resources. A resource that is limited in availability implies a finite nature, which is contrary to the concept of renewability. Resources that require human intervention to exist can include managed resources like forests, but this does not define all renewable resources. Lastly, the notion that a resource is only available in remote locations does not pertain to renewability; renewable resources can be found in various environments, often in urban areas as well as remote locations. Thus, the defining attribute of renewable resources is indeed that they regenerate faster than they are consumed.