Term: Anthropocentrist
Definition: A person who believes humans are the most significant entity in the universe and evaluates environmental issues primarily from a human-centered perspective.
Term: External costs
Definition: Costs of economic activities that are not included in the price of goods or services and are borne by society, such as pollution and environmental degradation.
Term: Ecosystem services
Definition: Benefits that humans obtain from ecosystems, such as clean air, water filtration, pollination, and climate regulation.
Term: Sustainable development
Definition: Economic development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Term: Biocentrist
Definition: A person who believes that all living things have intrinsic value, regardless of their usefulness to humans.
Term: Environmental policy
Definition: Laws, regulations, and policies aimed at protecting the environment from harm caused by human activities.
Term: Ecolabeling
Definition: A labeling system for products that are environmentally friendly or sustainably sourced, helping consumers make informed choices.
Term: IPAT model
Definition: An equation representing how human impact on the environment (I) is the product of population (P), affluence (A), and technology (T).
Term: Sensitivity factor
Definition: A variable in the IPAT model representing the vulnerability of an environment to human activities.
Term: Replacement fertility
Definition: The total fertility rate at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next, typically 2.1 children per woman.
Term: Overgrazing
Definition: Occurs when animals graze a land area so heavily that the vegetation is damaged and the ground becomes susceptible to erosion.
Term: Monoculture farming
Definition: The agricultural practice of growing a single crop species in a field or farming system over a long period.
Term: Factory farms
Definition: Large industrial operations where animals are raised in confined conditions for maximum production at minimal cost, often raising concerns about animal welfare and environmental impact.
Term: Sustainable irrigation
Definition: Irrigation practices that aim to use water efficiently and conserve water resources to maintain agricultural productivity in the long term.
Term: Inorganic fertilizers
Definition: Man-made chemical compounds that are applied to soils to provide essential nutrients for plant growth, often leading to environmental problems like water pollution if overused.
Term: Ecological footprint
Definition: A measure of the human demand on Earth's ecosystems, representing the amount of natural resources required to sustain a person or population.
Term: Species richness
Definition: The number of different species represented in an ecological community, landscape, or region.
Term: Endemic species
Definition: Species that are native to and found only in a particular geographic region.
Term: Extirpation
Definition: The local extinction of a species from a particular area, though it still exists elsewhere.
Term: Intrinsic value
Definition: The inherent worth of something, regardless of its utility to humans or other beings.
Term: Ecological reserve
Definition: Areas designated to protect and preserve natural environments and biodiversity, often limiting human activities to maintain ecological balance.
Term: Carrying capacity
Definition: The maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustainably support, given the resources available.
Environmental Ethics
Definition: The study of moral principles guiding human interactions with the environment. It includes perspectives like anthropocentrism (focusing on human welfare), biocentrism (valuing all living things), and ecocentrism (valuing entire ecosystems). Anthropocentrism evaluates actions based on human health, economic costs/benefits, and aesthetic concerns.
Term: Human Population Growth
Definition: The rapid increase of the human population in relation to Earth's carrying capacity. This growth can lead to issues such as resource depletion, habitat destruction, and environmental stress, differentiating it from natural population dynamics.
Term: Soil Conservation
Techniques like crop rotation rejuvenate soil nutrients.
Contour farming, on the other hand, mitigates water runoff and erosion on sloped terrains. The introduction of shelterbelts, or windbreaks, can reduce soil erosion caused
by winds
Term: Biological Control
Definition: The use of natural predators, parasites, or diseases to manage pest populations, reducing the need for chemical pesticides. Pros include reduced environmental harm, but cons include the risk of unintended ecological impacts.
Term: Biodiversity Benefits
Definition: Biodiversity provides essential benefits to humans, including ecosystem services (e.g., water filtration, pollination), agricultural support (e.g., genetic diversity for crops), and medical contributions (e.g., discovery of medicinal compounds).
Human Population Growth versus Carrying Capacity
: Humans, unlike most organisms,
can modify their environment and artificially create resources. However, unchecked
human population growth can strain resources, social systems, and natural
environments.
Benefits and Risks of Biological Pest Contr
Introducing natural predators or parasites
to control pests is environmentally friendly compared to chemical alternatives. However,
such methods come with their challenges, such as potential harm to non-target species
or unforeseen ecological interactions
Value of Biodiversity
Biodiversity has multifaceted benefits. Economically, industries like
agriculture and pharmaceuticals rely on diverse biological resources. Ecosystem
services, such as water purification and pollination, depend on healthy, diverse
ecosystems. Furthermore, diverse environments offer humans cultural, recreational, and
spiritual experiences.