Environemntal Studies Unit 12 – Human Communities and the Environment

Key vocabulary terms from BCOM204 Unit 12 covering population dynamics, health, resettlement, disaster management, environmental ethics, communication, and impact assessment.

Population Growth Rate

The change in population per unit area over a given time, calculated as (Population at end – Population at start) ÷ Population at start.

Population Density

The number of people living per unit area or volume of an environment.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size that available environmental resources can sustainably support.

Demography

The multidisciplinary study of human populations, covering size, structure, and distribution.

Closed Population

A population with no immigration or emigration; numbers change only through births and deaths.

Overpopulation

A condition in which a population exceeds the carrying capacity of its environment.

Doubling Time

The period required for a population to double in size.

Natality (Birth Rate)

The number of live births per 1,000 people in a population in one year.

Mortality (Death Rate)

The number of deaths per 1,000 people in a population in one year.

Immigration

Movement of people into a population from other regions.

Emigration

Movement of people out of their original population area to another area.

Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime.

Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR)

The number of women who die per 100,000 live births in a given period.

Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)

The number of deaths of infants under one year per 1,000 live births in a year.

Malnutrition

Poor nutrition resulting from insufficient or unbalanced food intake, often linked to overpopulation.

Brain Drain

Loss of skilled workers who migrate from one area or country to another for better opportunities.

Resettlement

The process of settling displaced people in a new location.

Rehabilitation

Restoration of displaced people’s lifestyle and environment to their former state.

Displacement

Forced movement of people from their homes due to disasters, development projects, or other causes.

Natural Disaster

A harmful natural event such as an earthquake, flood, or drought that impacts lives and property.

Man-made Disaster

A disaster resulting from human activities, e.g., industrial accidents or pollution events.

Complex Emergency

A crisis involving a mix of natural and human-made hazards, often with violence and large-scale humanitarian needs.

Pandemic

The widespread outbreak of an often-novel disease affecting large human (and sometimes animal) populations across regions.

Disaster Prevention

Actions taken in advance to avoid or eliminate the adverse effects of hazards.

Disaster Preparedness

Measures that ready communities to respond effectively when a disaster strikes.

Disaster Response

Immediate, short-term actions to save lives and meet basic needs after a disaster.

Disaster Recovery

Long-term rebuilding and restoration activities following the initial disaster response phase.

Environmental Ethics

A branch of philosophy exploring moral relationships between humans and the natural environment.

Anthropocentrism

An environmental philosophy that places humans at the center of importance, often justifying nature’s exploitation.

Libertarian Extension

Environmental view granting equal moral status to humans, animals, and the broader environment.

Holism

The philosophy that the environment functions as an integrated whole rather than as separate parts.

Social Ecology

An environmental ethic studying the interdependence between people and their environment.

Deep Ecology

An environmental ethic asserting intrinsic value in all living beings, independent of their utility to humans.

Ecofeminism

An ethic comparing Earth to a woman, linking environmental exploitation with the oppression of women.

Environmental Communication

All forms of mediated exchange that shape public discussion and understanding of environmental issues.

Advocacy Campaign

Organised effort—often by activists or NGOs—to influence public opinion or policy on environmental matters.

Guerrilla Gardening

Illegal cultivation of plants on unused or neglected land to create urban green spaces and raise land-rights awareness.

Green Consumers

Shoppers who boycott products from environmentally harmful companies and reward eco-friendly businesses.

350.org

A global organisation aiming to end fossil-fuel use and promote renewable energy through community action.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

A formal process that predicts and evaluates a project’s potential environmental and social effects before approval.

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

A government document detailing the anticipated environmental consequences of a proposed project.

Screening (EIA Step)

Initial determination of whether a project requires a full Environmental Impact Assessment.

Scoping (EIA Step)

EIA phase that identifies key environmental issues and alternatives to be studied in detail.

Environmental Management Plan (EMP)

A non-technical summary outlining mitigation measures and monitoring plans for a project’s environmental impacts.