Natural environment

Natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally, meaning not significantly altered by human influence. It includes physical, chemical and other natural forces and substances that humans have not created or significantly altered. The natural environment is contrasted with the built environment, which comprises the areas and components that are strongly influenced by humans.

Overview

The natural environment includes land, water, air, natural resources, flora, and fauna, and their interactions. These elements are interconnected and form an ecosystem. The natural environment can be classified into different types such as forest, desert, grassland, mountain, ocean, and polar regions, each with its unique characteristics and biodiversity.

Importance

The natural environment is essential for human survival as it provides the basic necessities of life: air, water, food, and shelter. It also offers other resources such as medicinal plants, timber, and minerals. The natural environment also plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide through photosynthesis.

Threats

The natural environment faces numerous threats due to human activities. These include deforestation, pollution, overfishing, and climate change. These activities disrupt the balance of ecosystems, leading to loss of biodiversity and degradation of natural resources.

Conservation

Conservation of the natural environment is crucial to maintain biodiversity and ensure the sustainability of natural resources. This can be achieved through practices such as sustainable farming, recycling, and renewable energy use. Legislation and international agreements also play a role in protecting the natural environment.

See also

• Environmental science
• Environmentalism
• Natural resource management
• Sustainability

References

Natural environment Resources
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