Lession 1 Environmental Interrelation

Define “Environment”

The environment refers to everything around us, including living things like plants, animals, and humans, as well as non-living things such as air, water, soil, and climate. It shapes how organisms live, grow, and interact with each other.

Interrelatedness Is a Core Concept

Interrelatedness means that every part of the environment is connected. When one part changes like temperature, rainfall, or the number of certain species it affects the others. Nothing in nature exists alone; everything influences something else.

What is an ecosystem?

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms, along with their physical environment, interacting as a system. It includes various biotic and abiotic components that exchange energy and matter.

The interaction among abiotic and biotic environment in an ecosystem is very complex. There are 3 types of interaction. What are they?

Interactions between the biotic and abiotic environment can be grouped into:

1. Physical interactions – how organisms respond to temperature, sunlight, water, etc.

2. Chemical interactions – nutrient cycles like carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles.

3. Biological interactions – relationships between living things, such as predation, competition, and symbiosis.

How does population growth affect the environment?

As the human population grows, demand for land, water, energy, and food increases. This leads to deforestation, pollution, loss of biodiversity, and higher carbon emissions. The environment becomes stressed and ecosystems struggle to stay balanced.

What is food security? How does the environment affect food security?

Food security means having enough safe, nutritious food for everyone at all times. The environment affects food security through climate, water availability, soil health, and biodiversity. Droughts, floods, climate change, and land degradation can reduce crop yields and make food harder to access.

In what way does the environment affect human health?

The environment directly affects human health through the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. Pollution can cause respiratory diseases, contaminated water can cause infections, and climate change can increase heat-related illnesses or spread new diseases.

Explain “Sustainability Concept”

Sustainability means using resources in a way that meets today’s needs without harming the ability of future generations to meet theirs. It focuses on balancing environmental protection, economic growth, and social well-being so that humans and nature can thrive long-term.