Does Taking Plants and Minerals Count as Theft?

Mineral and plant resources in the world belong to non-sentient beings, and their owners are all sentient beings, including animals. Therefore, all sentient beings may excavate and utilize them, but they must not affect or hinder others' usage. As long as mineral and plant resources are not exhausted, the enjoyment of other sentient beings is not cut off, and the usage does not exceed the prescribed limit, then no theft is committed. Naturally occurring substances in mountains may be excavated by some sentient beings, which is permissible. However, if the roots are also dug out, causing the substance to become irreplaceable and leading to its extinction, this constitutes theft, infringing upon the rights and interests of all sentient beings.

Some mineral and plant resources are regulated by the state, stipulating that only the state may extract, develop, and utilize them. What belongs to the state is the property of all citizens. If individuals take such resources for themselves, they are stealing from the state and all citizens. Certain mountainous areas, forest farms, etc., are contracted to groups or individuals, thus belonging to those groups or individuals. If these groups or individuals do not permit others to freely excavate or use the mountain resources, violation constitutes theft of the group's or individual's property. If private excavation is permitted, it does not constitute theft.

In residential areas, if residents are required to conserve water and a maximum monthly water usage per household is stipulated, exceeding this limit is prohibited. If residents exceed the locally or nationally prescribed water limit, it constitutes theft—specifically, theft of the state's public resources. Even though residents pay for the excess water and do not use it freely without cost, they have privately appropriated additional water volume. This is because clean water resources are limited and scarce for the nation and the entire world, belonging to protected resources owned publicly by the state and the global community. Any portion used excessively by individuals constitutes theft of public resources.