Natural resources can be defined as:

The correct definition of natural resources is that they are raw materials supplied by nature. This definition encompasses all naturally occurring substances that can be utilized to support life and economic activity. Natural resources include things like water, minerals, forests, and fossil fuels, which are extracted or harvested directly from the environment without human intervention in their initial form.

Processed materials used for industry, products created by human interventions, and utilities provided by governments do not fit the definition of natural resources because they either involve transformation or are the result of human manufacturing and management. Understanding natural resources in this manner highlights the importance of conservation and sustainable practices, as these resources are foundational to both the environment and human society.