Geography and Ecosystems in Urban Neighbourhoods

Flashcards on key terms related to the relationship between people and nature in urban neighbourhoods.

Ecosystem Services

Benefits provided by ecosystems to humans, including provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services.

Provisioning Services

Services that provide resources such as food, water, and raw materials.

Regulating Services

Benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes like temperature, flooding, and air quality.

Cultural Services

Non-material benefits obtained from ecosystems, including aesthetic, recreational, and educational experiences.

Supporting Services

Services necessary for the functioning of all other ecosystem services, such as soil formation and photosynthesis.

Urban Ecosystems

Geographic areas where communities of living and non-living environments interact to form life.

Community Spirit

The sense of belonging and connectedness among members of a community.

Sustainability

The ability to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Human-Wildlife Conflict

Disputes that arise when wildlife interacts with human activity, potentially leading to harm.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Sense of Place

The feelings and perceptions individuals associate with a particular location.

Urban Agriculture

Growing, harvesting, and distributing food in urban settings.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants use sunlight to synthesize foods with carbon dioxide and water.

Evapotranspiration

The process of water evaporation from soil and transpiration from plants.

Soil Erosion

The wearing away of a landscape's surface caused by wind, water, and human activity.

Wildlife Encounters

Interactions between humans and wild animals that can result in conflict or coexistence.

Conservation Efforts

Actions taken to protect and preserve natural resources and biodiversity.

Ecosystem Restoration

The process of aiding the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded.

Urban Planning

The process of designing and regulating land use in urban areas.

Greening Initiatives

Efforts aimed at increasing green spaces and the presence of nature in urban environments.

Environmental Awareness

Understanding of and concern for environmental issues and the effects of human activity.

Habitat Fragmentation

The process where large habitats are divided into smaller, isolated patches.

Public Engagement

Involvement of the public in decision-making processes and environmental conservation.

Wildlife Corridors

Natural habitat patches that connect wildlife populations, allowing them to migrate and mix.

Sense of Well-being

The state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy, often enhanced by nature and community.

Environmental Protection Laws

Regulations established to safeguard natural environments from degradation.