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v. t. e. Human impact on the environment (or anthropogenic environmental impact) refers to changes to biophysical environments [1] and to ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources [2] caused directly or indirectly by humans. Modifying the environment to fit the needs of society (as in the built environment) is causing severe effects [3][4 ...
Freshwater ecosystems are a subset of Earth's aquatic ecosystems. They include lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, springs, bogs, and wetlands. [1] They can be contrasted with marine ecosystems, which have a larger salt content. Freshwater habitats can be classified by different factors, including temperature, light penetration, nutrients, and ...
Ecological footprint analysis is widely used around the world in support of sustainability assessments. [9] It enables people to measure and manage the use of resources throughout the economy and explore the sustainability of individual lifestyles , goods and services , organizations, industry sectors , neighborhoods, cities, regions, and nations.
Some wetlands are a significant source of methane emissions [6] [7] and some are also emitters of nitrous oxide. [8] [9] Nitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 300 times that of carbon dioxide and is the dominant ozone-depleting substance emitted in the 21st century. [10] Wetlands can also act as a sink for greenhouse ...
Ecosystem services are the various benefits that humans derive from healthy ecosystems. These ecosystems, when functioning well, offer such things as provision of food, natural pollination of crops, clean air and water, decomposition of wastes, or flood control. Ecosystem services are grouped into four broad categories of services.
I = (PAT) is the mathematical notation of a formula put forward to describe the impact of human activity on the environment. I = P × A × T. The expression equates human impact on the environment to a function of three factors: population (P), affluence (A) and technology (T). [1] It is similar in form to the Kaya identity, which applies ...
Wetland conservation. Wetland conservation is aimed at protecting and preserving areas of land including marshes, swamps, bogs, and fens that are covered by water seasonally or permanently due to a variety of threats from both natural and anthropogenic hazards. Some examples of these hazards include habitat loss, pollution, and invasive species.
Water resources are natural resources of water that are potentially useful for humans, for example as a source of drinking water supply or irrigation water. These resources can be either freshwater from natural sources, or water produced artificially from other sources, such as from reclaimed water or desalinated water (). 97% of the water on Earth is salt water and only three percent is fresh ...