Environmental Foundations: Ecosystems and Human Impact

Defining the Environment

The word environment is derived from the French word meaning 'to surround'. Thus, it refers to the sum total of conditions that surround humans at a given point in space and time. It is a composite term for the conditions in which organisms live. In other words, the environment is the totality of all physical, social, and biological factors that comprise the natural and man-made surroundings.

Types of Environment

Considering its basic structure, the environment may be divided into two broad types:

• Physical Environment: This can be further subdivided into three basic realms of the Earth:
  • The lithosphere (solid)
  • The hydrosphere (liquid)
  • The atmosphere (gas)
• Biotic Environment: This component consists of plants and animals, including humans as an important factor.

Human Impact on the Environment

Of all organisms existing on Earth, humans are often considered the most intelligent, skilled, and civilized creatures. We are both the creators and the molders of our environment. With tremendous scientific and technological advancement, humanity has, to a large extent, succeeded in controlling and dominating nature. In this process, however, humans are interfering with nature and disrupting both their biotic and abiotic environment.

Why Environmental Health Matters

Our shared environment is vitally important for all living things, including humans. We are an integral part of the environment. We need water and food, which only come from a healthy environment. We need shelter, and the materials for it come directly from the environment. As animals, our numbers and actions significantly affect our environment, often negatively. It is therefore crucial for individuals and governments to behave more consciously toward the environment, as our very lives depend upon its health.

Understanding Ecosystems

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the non-living components of their environment, interacting as a system. These biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components are linked together through vital nutrient cycles and energy flows.