Template:/box-header
The
natural environment comprises all naturally occurring surroundings and conditions in which living things grow and interact on
Earth. These include complete
landscape units that function as natural
systems without major
human intervention, as well as
plants,
animals,
rocks, and
natural phenomena occurring within their boundaries. They also include non-local or universal natural
resources that lack clear-cut boundaries, such as
air,
water and
climate.
The concept of the natural environment can be distinguished by components:
As human population numbers increase and as humans continue to evolve, human activity modifies the natural environment at a rapidly increasing rate, producing what is referred to as the built environment. The potential of the natural environment to sustain these anthropogenic changes while continuing to function as an ecosystem is an issue of major worldwide concern. Key environmental areas of interest include climate change, water supply and waste water, air pollution, waste management and hazardous waste, and land use issues such as deforestation, desertification, and urban sprawl.
Template:/box-footer
Invasive species are widespread
non-indigenous species. The introduction of these non-indigenous species can be accidental or intentional. It can be damaging to the local
ecosystem as invasive species compete resources with local species. Most of the time the non-native species cannot survive in the new environment and died out. However, there is a chance that they managed to survive and no natural
predator in the new environment. This can wipe out local species as the population of the invasive species increases, thus negatively affecting
biodiversity.
Scientists propose several mechanisms to explain invasive species, including species-based mechanisms and ecosystem-based mechanisms. It is most likely a combination of several mechanisms that cause an invasive situation to occur, since most introduced plants, biotic and animals do not become invasive.
Template:/box-header
- ... that each year in 22,500 cemeteries across the United States approximately 30 million board feet (70,000 m³) of hardwoods are buried as caskets?
Template:/box-footer
