Environment

Acid rain: causes, chemistry, effects and responses Acid rain Acid rain is precipitation with elevated acidity (pH below about 5.6) produced when air pollutants form acids in the atmosphere. This article explains its formation, impacts, histo…

Afrotropic (Afrotropical realm): geography, biodiversity and conservation Afrotropic The Afrotropic is the Earth's tropical and subtropical ecozone covering Sub‑Saharan Africa, Madagascar, parts of Arabia and nearby islands; noted for high biodiversity, endemism an…

Air pollution: causes, effects, history, and responses Air pollution Air pollution is contamination of the atmosphere by harmful particles and gases. This article explains common pollutants, sources, health and environmental impacts, history, and wa…

Anti‑nuclear movement Anti-nuclear movement Social and political movement opposing civil and military uses of nuclear technology, focused on safety, waste, proliferation, environmental and economic concerns.

Battery recycling: processes, materials, and environmental importance Battery recycling Battery recycling recovers metals and reduces pollution by collecting, processing, and reusing components from spent batteries. This article explains types, hazards, methods, and h…

Biodiesel: renewable diesel fuel from plant and animal lipids Biodiesel Biodiesel is a renewable alternative to petroleum diesel made by chemically converting vegetable oils, animal fats, or waste lipids. This article covers feedstocks, production, use…

Biofuel: sources, conversion methods, uses and key distinctions Biofuel Biofuel: renewable fuels made from recent biological material. Covers types (solid, liquid, gas), feedstocks, production methods, historical use, applications, and environmental an…

Biome: major ecological divisions of Earth’s landscapes and waters Biome A biome is a large ecological unit defined by characteristic plants, animals, climate and soils. This article describes biome types, structure, mapping, dynamics, and conservation…

Biosphere reserve Designated areas under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere program combining conservation, research and sustainable use through a three‑zone model that supports both people and nature.

Blue Flag (beach and marina environmental award) Blue Flag beach The Blue Flag is an international award for beaches and marinas that meet standards for water quality, safety, environmental management and public education, administered by the Fo…

Brackish water — definition, ecology, uses, and management Brackish water Brackish water is a mix of seawater and freshwater with intermediate salinity. This article explains its range, environments, ecological role, causes, human uses and methods for tr…

Brownfield land: formerly developed sites and their reuse Brownfield land Brownfield land are previously developed properties—often industrial or commercial—that may be contaminated and require assessment and cleanup before safe reuse and redevelopment.

Brundtland Commission (World Commission on Environment and Development) Brundtland Commission UN commission (1983–1987) that linked environmental protection with economic and social development and popularized the widely used definition of sustainable development.

Bushfire: causes, behavior, impacts and management Bushfire A bushfire is a wildfire that occurs in the scrub, woodland or grassland of Australia and New Zealand. This article explains causes, behaviour, ecology, risks, notable events and m…

By-product A by-product is a secondary material or output generated incidentally during manufacturing, processing, or biological activity; it can be waste, a useful raw material, or a feedsto…

Carbon footprint: definition, measurement, and ways to reduce it Carbon footprint Comprehensive overview of the carbon footprint concept: what it measures, common sources, how it is calculated, its history and uses, and practical strategies and limits for reduct…

Carbon sink Natural or engineered systems that absorb and store more carbon than they emit, helping regulate atmospheric CO2 over years to millennia.

Carrying capacity The maximum population size an environment can support sustainably; a key concept in ecology, conservation, and resource management influenced by resources, space, and human activi…

Carsington Water: reservoir, recreation area and water-supply scheme Carsington Water Carsington Water is a large man-made reservoir in Derbyshire, England, managed by Severn Trent Water. It stores over 35,000 megalitres and serves water supply, flood management, wi…

CITES — Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species CITES CITES is an international treaty that regulates trade in wild animals and plants to prevent species over-exploitation. It uses permit systems and appendices to control imports, exp…

Compost: organic soil amendment and the process of decomposition Compost Compost is the product of decomposed organic matter used to improve soil structure, supply nutrients, and reduce waste. This article explains how compost is made, its benefits, com…

Confluence (hydrology): where rivers and waterways meet Confluence A confluence is the location where two or more waterways join, typically where a tributary meets a larger river. It influences flow, sediment, ecosystems, navigation and has cultur…

Conservation: protecting nature, resources, and cultural heritage Conservation Conservation is the practice of protecting and managing natural, cultural and built resources to sustain ecosystem functions, human wellbeing and cultural identity across generatio…

Conservation Biology: science, practice and policy Conservation biology Conservation biology is the interdisciplinary science focused on preserving biodiversity, protecting species and habitats, and guiding management and policy to prevent extinction a…

Conservation movement (nature conservation) Conservation movement A broad social and political effort to protect natural resources, species, habitats and biodiversity through management, policy, science and public engagement.

Conservation status of species Conservation status Conservation status indicates the likelihood that a species will persist in the wild, based on population trends, range, threats and reproductive success; it guides conservation pr…

Controlled burn (prescribed fire): purposes, methods, and history Controlled burn A controlled burn (prescribed fire) is an intentionally set, carefully managed outdoor fire used to reduce fuel, restore ecosystems, and lower wildfire risk under trained supervisi…

Critically endangered species Species judged to face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. Covers definition, assessment criteria, main threats, conservation approaches and notable examples.

Crop rotation: practice, benefits, history and planning Crop rotation Crop rotation is the planned sequence of different crops on the same land to maintain soil fertility, interrupt pest cycles, and support sustainable production across seasons and y…

Cyclone Sidr: 2007 Bay of Bengal Storm and Its Impact on Bangladesh Cyclone Sidr Cyclone Sidr was a very severe November 2007 Bay of Bengal cyclone that struck southwestern Bangladesh, killing thousands, causing extensive damage and prompting major relief, reco…

Dark-sky preserve A dark-sky preserve is a protected area managed to reduce artificial light and skyglow to support astronomy, wildlife, cultural appreciation and outdoor recreation; standards and n…

Deep Green Resistance Deep Green Resistance (DGR) is a radical environmental movement founded in 2011 that argues industrial civilization is unsustainable and promotes strategies for ecological defense…

Deforestation: Causes, Consequences and Restoration Deforestation Deforestation is the large‑scale removal of trees for agriculture, wood products, urban expansion and other uses. This article explains drivers, ecological and climate effects, and…

Desertification: causes, impacts and prevention Desertification Desertification is the persistent loss of biological productivity and soil quality at dryland margins. This article explains where it occurs, major causes, effects, and approaches…

Disaster: Causes, Types, Impacts, and Management Disaster An overview of disasters: definitions, main types and causes, how hazards become disasters, impacts, phases of disaster management, risk reduction, resilience, governance and emerg…

Disposable product — single-use items, materials, uses, and environmental impacts Disposable product Overview of disposable products—items intended for single or limited use—covering common materials, history, applications, environmental concerns, waste management, and alternative…

Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge A national wildlife refuge protecting tidal marshes, mudflats and uplands in South San Francisco Bay; important for migratory birds, endangered marsh species, habitat restoration,…

Drought: causes, types, impacts and responses Drought Drought is a prolonged shortage of water relative to normal local conditions. This article explains types, causes, measurement, impacts on people and ecosystems, and options for mi…

Eco-nationalism Eco-nationalism is an ideology linking environmental protection with national identity and sovereignty, promoting local stewardship of nature, energy independence, and policies tha…

Eco-socialism: Principles, History, and Contemporary Perspectives Eco-socialism Eco-socialism combines socialist economics with strong ecological goals, arguing for collective ownership, ecological restoration, and systemic critique of capitalism to address so…

Ecological footprint A metric that estimates human demand on Earth's ecosystems in global hectares, comparing consumption to the planet's biocapacity and indicating whether societies live within or bey…

Ecological succession: processes, stages, and ecological significance Ecological succession Ecological succession describes how biological communities change after disturbance or over time. Covers primary vs secondary succession, stages, driving processes, examples, human…

Ecological yield The harvestable growth of an ecosystem over time and how it relates to sustainable use, measurement, limits and management across forests, water, soil and other renewable resources…

Ecology: the science of organisms, environments, and their interactions Ecology Ecology examines how living organisms interact with each other and their physical surroundings across scales, from microbes to biomes, informing conservation, resource management,…

Ecomuseum: community-centred museums that preserve place and identity Ecomuseum An ecomuseum interprets and conserves the cultural and natural identity of a place through community participation, in-situ displays, and local development rather than a convention…

Ecoregion (ecological region): definition, characteristics and conservation Ecoregion An ecoregion is a geographically distinct area with characteristic natural communities and species; it is a practical unit for ecological classification, biodiversity assessment, a…

Ecosystem: structure, function, and importance Ecosystem An ecosystem is a community of organisms and their physical environment interacting through energy flows and nutrient cycles; this article outlines components, processes, types, an…

Ecosystem services: benefits humans derive from nature Ecosystem services An overview of ecosystem services: what they are, how they are classified, their history, examples of provisioning and regulating functions, threats, and how they inform policy and…