Chalter 1 Vocabulary

An attitude of active care and concern for natural lands; the ethical and moral framework that informs our public and private actions; ex.- recycling, not littering, composting

Property whereby a process can be continued indefinitely without depleting the energy or material resources on which it depends; the practical goal toward which our interactions with the natural world should be working; ex.- solar power, wind turbines

This is the sum of goods and services provided by natural and managed ecosystems, provided free of charge and essential to human life and well-being

This refers to the accelerating interconnectedness of human activities, ideas, and cultures, especially evident in economic and information exchange; Kyoto Project

The taking of a biological resource that does not exceed the capacity of the resource to reproduce and replace itself; ex.- crabbing without depleting crabs

Development that provides people with a better life without sacrificing or depleting resources or causing environmental impacts that will undercut the ability of future generations to meet their needs; reforestation, using recycled materials

Scientists who study ecology (the study of any and all aspects of how organisms interact with each other and with their environment)

placement of low-income or minority communities in proximity of environmentally hazardous or degraded environments, such as toxic waste, pollution and urban decay; ex.- American Indians

Originally, the results of scientific work based on peer-review research; however, the term has come to mean “science” that supports a particular viewpoint, and has clear political overtones

Information presented as valid science, but unsupported by peer-reviewed research; often, politically motivated and biased results are selected to promote a particular point of view

The diversity of living things found in the natural world; usually refers to the different species, but also includes ecosystems and the genetic diversity within a given species; ex.- rainforest, coral reef

Large areas of land and water are damaged by activ- ities such as urbanization, agriculture, and overfishing; cutting down trees, bottom trolling

an increase in the earth’s average atmospheric temperature that causes corresponding changes in climate and that may result from the greenhouse effect; caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and other pollutants; ex.- burning fossil fuels, pollution