Natural environment

Natural environment means all living and non-living things that are naturally on Earth.

Two aspects are usually included::

• Ecological units which are natural systems without much human interference. These include including all vegetation, microorganisms, soil, rocks, atmosphere, and natural events.
• Universal natural resources and physical phenomena which lack clear-cut boundaries. These include climate, air, water, energy, radiation, electric charge, and magnetism.

In contrast to the natural environment is the built environment. There man has changed landscapes to make urban settings and agricultural land. The natural environment is greatly modified and diminished. Instead, a more simplified human environment largely replaces it.

Etymology

The roots of Natural Environment can be simply defined. 'Natural' can be classified

• EEA multilingual environmental glossary
• EU Environment Directorate-General
• Rehbar Development Foundation — Development Foundation/Organization working on Environment, Education and Health