Depleting natural resources

A country that unwisely uses its valuable natural resources to meet short-term needs is creating significant problems for future generations. Destroyed forests and lost topsoil will take many generations, if ever, to replace. Some countries, originally exporters of food, have been forced to use their limited financial resources to import food to support their population. In rare circumstances, when all financial resources have been exhausted, countries have had to rely on international relief organizations. Heavy contamination of soils and rivers will take many years and considerable expense to cleanup. Money required to perform such cleanup and protect the health of the population must be diverted from other actions that may have contributed better to the overall economic well-being of the nation.