Unit 7: Environmental Protection Vocabulary

A collection of vocabulary terms and definitions focused on environmental issues, protection actions, and biodiversity based on the Unit 7 lecture notes.

globe

the earth or the world

Protection

the act of protecting or state of being protected

reduce

to make something smaller or less in amount, degree, or size

reuse

to use something again

stop

to prevent or halt something from happening

plant

the action of putting seeds or plants in the ground to grow

save

to protect or conserve something from being wasted or destroyed

volunteer

to offer to do something without being paid, or a person who does so

pick up rubbish

to collect or gather waste materials from the ground

cut down trees

the act of felling or removing trees

build a campfire

to create a fire at a campsite for warmth or cooking

Problem

a matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful and needing to be dealt with

serious

very bad and causing people to be worried or afraid

pollution

the presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance or thing that has harmful or poisonous effects

pollute

to make something, such as water or air, dirty or harmful

Loss

the state of no longer having something or the act of losing it

carbon

a chemical element that exists in all living things

carbon dioxide

a gas produced by burning carbon and organic compounds and by respiration

carbon footprint

the total amount of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, produced by our activities

release

to allow a substance to escape or move out from a place

rubbish

waste material, refuse, or litter

plastic rubbish

waste material made specifically from plastic

single-use

designed to be used only once before being thrown away

single-use products

items intended to be used only once and then discarded

litter

waste products that have been disposed of improperly, without consent, at an unsuitable location

habitat

the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism

ecosystem

a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment

species

a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals

endangered species

a species of animal or plant that is seriously at risk of extinction

endanger

to put someone or something at risk or in danger

marine

relating to or found in the sea

wildlife

animals that live independently of people in natural conditions

coral

a hard stony substance secreted by certain marine creatures as an external skeleton

dupon

a large plant-eating sea mammal, commonly known as a sea cow

diverse

showing a great deal of variety; very different