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Natural environment
From Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium
Devils Punchbowl, New Zealand
The natural environment, commonly referred to simply as the environment, is a term that encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region of Earth.
Terminology and concept
The concept of the natural environment can be broken down into a few key components:
- Complete ecological units that function as natural systems without massive human intervention, including all vegetation, animals, microorganisms, soil, rocks, atmosphere and natural phenomena that occur within their boundaries.
- Natural resources and physical phenomena that do not originate from human activity and lack clear-cut boundaries, such as air, water, and climate.
The natural environment is contrasted with the built environment, which comprises the areas of Earth that are strongly influenced by humans.
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