Explain when a renewable resource can become a nonrenewable resource.
A renewable resource can become a nonrenewable resource when it is overexploited or consumed at a rate that exceeds its natural replenishment rate. This can happen when a resource is extracted faster than it can be replaced, leading to depletion of the resource over time.
For example, if a forest is clear-cut for timber at a faster rate than new trees can grow, the forest can eventually be depleted to the point where it becomes a nonrenewable resource. Similarly, if groundwater is pumped from an aquifer at a rate that exceeds the recharge rate, the aquifer can be depleted and become a nonrenewable resource.
In these cases, the once renewable resource is no longer able to regenerate or replenish itself, turning it into a nonrenewable resource. This highlights the importance of sustainable management practices to ensure that renewable resources remain available for future generations.