People often use nature and environment interchangeably as if they meant the same thing. However, there’s a big difference between local environment and nature as a whole. In fact, both play a major role in the way the other functions. Knowing the difference between nature and the environment can help you learn more about your impact.
The difference between nature and the environment is that nature means any occurrence in the natural world, whereas the environment encompasses any occurence that revolves around a specific location. And anything eco-friendly, is almost bound to be nature-friendly and will therefore impact on its surrounding environment.
In this article we dive into everything you need to know about the differences between nature and the environment.
Are Nature and the Environment the Same?
Natural and environmental aren’t the same thing, but they are related. Natural surroundings typically refer to anything that occurs naturally, such as plants, soil, and bodies of water. On the other hand, environmental is anything in or around an area, like roads, man-made lakes, and natural rivers.
It’s important to distinguish between the similarities and differences in nature and the environment.
The five primary factors are:
1. Not all environments are natural.
Artificial environments, such as those in man-made cities, is obviously unnatural. These types of environments incorporate components derived from nature, including some building materials. But they can’t occur in nature. Buildings, sidewalks, and cars are three examples.
2. There are many environments that are all natural.
Forests, jungles, deserts, oceans, and mountains are all natural environments. One of the primary reasons we combine our urban environments with nature is to make us feel less stressed. Places like Central Park and Hyde Park in London are prime examples. And Garden cities were invented for this specific purpose. There are natural and unnatural environments, but we often use environment as a blanket term for nature, which it is not.
3. Environmentally-friendly often refers to something that’s nature-friendly.
The same applies to the term eco-friendly. Environmentally-friendly includes activities surrounding the likes of renewable energy and recycling waste products. Even building a road can be friendly to a man-made environment but not a natural environment.
4. Many environments have a negative impact on nature.
Busy cities typically emit an excess of carbon into the atmosphere. While carbon is a naturally occurring element, excessive amounts can melt ice, heat lakes, and lead to dehydration. Gas-consuming factories are also environments that have a negative effect on nature.
5. Any environment includes sounds, sights, or smells.
Sometimes an environment stimulates or invades all our senses. For example, a sporting event or a rock concert is loud, filled with lights, and has unique smells. It can be invasive. But the natural world, whereas it will have sounds, sights and smells, is more likely to be relaxing, unless you are caught in a violent storm.
The Main Factors that Influence Environment.
Now we have covered the difference between nature and the environment, it’s time to look at the influence environments have on our lives.
Each factor plays a role in nature’s development. The main factors that affect environment are,
- natural pollution
- unnatural pollution
- solid waste pollution
- deforestation
- changes in climate conditions
- global warming
Each of these factors is influenced by artificial sources. That being said, climate conditions and global warming are natural processes that are accelerated by external factors.
Natural Pollution
Ash and volcanic discharge are examples of natural pollution. They can cause respiratory failure in animals, dilute the oxygen for plants, and introduce toxins into water supplies.
Unnatural pollution
Unnatural pollution includes burning fossil fuels, spraying herbicides, and smoking.
Solid waste pollution
This type of pollution often includes litter, feces, and trash dumps. While dumps are often good because they hold everything in one location, they disrupt small natural ecosystems. But decomposition lets anaerobic and aerobic bacteria grow.
Deforestation
Cutting down trees removes countless nests and hiding places for local animals. It also limits carbon reduction, which increases global warming. Deforestation occurs when companies cut down large clusters of trees to clear land for new buildings, or to use the lumber for manufacturing products.
Changes in climate conditions
Climate conditions include rising temperatures, increasing sea levels, melting icebergs, and more or less windy days. These conditions can damage a natural setting, but they can also benefit it . Wind and rain can help seeds spread and germinate.
Global warming
Global warming is the natural and unnatural progression of the earth’s increasing temperature. It happens on land, air, and sea. As greenhouse gases get trapped in the atmosphere, the sun’s UV rays heat the environment. The ever-increasing heat causes drastic changes throughout nature.
Why Planting Trees is Important
NASA explains why planting trees is imporatnt to counter deforestation and lower carbon in the atmosphere by up to 25%.
Reducing waste pollution and lowering fossil fuel consumption will have a positive effect on each of the factors that influence environment. Every part of these environmental progressions is integrated with the natural world.
While they are different, it is essential for mankind to ensure that nature and the environment can work together.
What Is the Relationship Between Nature and the Environment?
The relationship between nature and the environment is determined by what and who influences the environment. For example, humans build roads, and by driving gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles on the roads they harm the environment through carbon emissions. On the other hand, planting trees reduces carbon molecules, and preserves the atmosphere.
So, how do nature and the environment affect each other?
Reducing natural areas of land is bad
Replacing natural areas of land with man-made environments damages the natural ecosystem. Clear-cutting (a concentrated form of deforestation), paving over the soil, and placing tall buildings that shade plants can ruin natural environments. Nature works with itself, so making less of it has a ripple effect.
Trees provide long-term benefits for nature.
Trees consume carbon naturally and they also produce oxygen. Not only does this reduce the greenhouse gas effect, but it also helps animals thrive. In natural environments seeds drop and get blown on the winds. So, plants and trees appear and populate by themselves, as if by magic, but additional seeding can pay dividends.
Sudden natural disasters can devastate natural and man-made environments.
Tsunamis, earthquakes, thunderstorms, mudslides, and hurricanes can wreak havoc. In some cases, they can change everything about a location. These natural phenomena can invite new growth while removing old inhabitants.
Environments need Nature, but Nature needs no Environment.
Man-made environments need nature for sunlight, water, food, and building materials. But nature does not need any input from man to create life-sutaining environments. It can get along just fine without mankind.
Adding natural features to a man-made environment can improve it greatly.
Although they maybe added artificially, the introduction of natural elements is incredibly helpful. For example, natural or contrived, rivers allow fish to spawn, breed, and relocate with seasonal changes.
How Do the 3 Environmental Types Relate to Nature?
There are 3 environmental types.
- Air – Anything above the land, including the atmosphere, influences the heat and UV rays penetrating land and water.
- Water – The water sources provide much-needed hydration to billions of lifeforms.
- Land – Land provides homes to countless plants and animals.
Nature is better off without artificial environments. Many man-made energy sources cause problems in the natural world. These energy sources influence the 3 natural environments, all of which affect planet Earth.
Air
An atmospheric environment is anything above the land. This includes every layer of the atmosphere along with anything that lives in it. Volcanic eruptions send ash into the atmosphere. It has a short-term negative impact on nature. In the long run, it can promote plant growth through nitrogen and carbon.
The biggest man-made impact on the atmospheric environment is greenhouse gas production (carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide). However, greenhouse gases are naturally produced by natural disasters, plants, and melting glaciers.
Water
A water environment includes oceans, rivers, lakes, and streams. These environments are crucial in every natural setting. Plants, animals, and bacteria need water to survive and thrive, which is why most communities settle near water sources.
Saltwater and freshwater environments host different life forms. Oceans and brackish waters have saltwater fish and plants, but freshwater fish and plants would quickly die in too much salinity.
Land
A land environment includes anything not in the water or atmosphere. Mountains, forests, and all other land environments host a variety of life forms. These elements are important for natural and artificial habitats.
Summary of the 3 Environmental Types
Although they are separate, the 3 environments influence each other. Many elements of land environments affect the water and air environments. If the atmosphere is ruined, there’s no doubt the life forms on the land and in the sea will be damaged. It’s important we take measures to improve each environment to improve the natural world.
How Do Natural and Man-Made Environments Differ?
Natural and man-made environments are very different from each other. A natural environment refers to anything which evolves by natural process. This includes plants, lakes, soil, animals, and rocks. On the other hand, man-made environments consist of paved walkways, artificial illumination, machines, and buildings.
There are many differences between nature and the environment. Here’s a brief look at how man-made environments differ from natural environments:
Man-made Lakes are used as Reservoirs.
Natural bodies of water, such as rivers and oceans, form from rain and plate shifts. But, man-made reservoirs are made to water plants and hydrate populations. Many reservoirs have fish added to them.
Natural processes are cyclically beneficial.
Nearly everything that happens in nature has benefits for other parts of the ecosystem. Even devastating wind storms spread seeds, and wildfires create compost fertiliser. But many environments don’t benefit nature in the same way.
When Man-made Environments replace and disrupt Nature.
It’s very rare that cities, towns, factories, and other man-made environments don’t cause problems for nature. Even planting trees in yards doesn’t redress the damage caused. However, in certain instances man’s efforts can improve natural environments.
Nature and Man create differing environments.
It’s obvious that skyscrapers and vehicles are man-made, and don’t benefit nature. But nature can create reservoirs and landbridges which benefit mankind. There are massive differences between nature and the environment in terms of how these structures are formed.
Many man-made environments are denegrated because of the harmful effects they have on nature. Quite rightly so, but there are times when they do help nature. For example, many cities have increased tree planting efforts and recycling. Environmental improvements and changes can greatly improve natural surroundings.
That being said, it’s essential to remember that not all environmental changes are man-made. By natural disasters, nature can create sudden and extreme environmental changes to man-made and natural environments.
What Environmental Alterations Affect Nature?
Greenhouse gases, earthquakes, earth’s orbital rotation, man-made environments, and weather patterns, all affect nature. Many of these changes are natural, but they don’t always provide natural benefits. Too many greenhouse gases can melt glaciers, causing sea levels to rise and countless species to become extinct.
Greenhouse gases
Contrary to popular belief, greenhouse causes occur naturally. Not only that, but they take the same toll on climate change and global warming as the gases produced by man-made machines. However, there’s no doubt that mankind is increasingly accelerating the production of greenhouse gases.
Earthquakes
Fault lines and shifting tectonic plates create mountains and valleys. They also tear down artificial environments, such as buildings, bridges, and roadways. Most earthquakes are natural. The only time mankind produces minor earthquakes is during nuclear tests.
Earth’s orbital rotation
The EPA states that the Earth’s gradual rotational shift affects ocean waves, wind patterns, and day cycles. These shifts also influence where the sun shines, direct heat, and UV rays. This process takes thousands of years for minor shifts, so it’s not likely to alter too much during a generation.
Man-made environments
These environments are the most effective alterations because they’re so rapid. We’ve made non-stop changes to nature in the last few centuries that it’s increasing global warming and climate change. We are also influencing extreme temperatures and weather patterns across the world.
Weather patterns
Extreme heat, freezing temperatures, wind, rainstorms, and all other weather patterns affect nature. Some weather patterns, such as wind, sunlight exposure, and rain, are being used to create new forms of energy. Utilising renewable energy prevents excessive carbon emissions.
Rising carbon levels have affected natural environments for millions of years
What Are Natural Environmental Changes?
Natural environmental changes are anything that happens naturally that alters an environment. This common term refers to natural disasters, gradual erosion, and other components that change artificial and natural environments. These effects aren’t always good, but they’re not necessarily bad either.
When discussing the difference between nature and the environment, it’s important to note that there are multiple ways an environment can be affected by unnatural and natural causes. If something happens naturally, it will occur with or without man’s input. On the other hand, anything unnatural occurs with it.
Environmental changes in nature are often seen as neutral because they can’t ruin the planet as a whole. For example, a devastating volcanic eruption can harm the local environment, but the ash eventually breaks down into vital nutrients to grow new plants. These changes rarely have infinitely bad effects on the world.
Nevertheless, environmental changes can affect all species.
How Does Environmental Change Affect Natural Selection?
The environment affects natural selection by limiting or creating water sources, food sources, food chain disruptions, and natural shelters. Natural selection is a process that occurs through environmental changes from artificial and natural sources. It’s an inevitable scenario, but many species are affected too soon or too rapidly.
UC Berkeley claims climate change has had a negative impact on most species on earth. Climate change is a natural phenomenon that alters the Earth’s temperature, but it’s accelerated by man-made environments. Less water, a thinner atmosphere, and warming sea temperatures are all environmental changes that expedite natural selection.
Another thing to consider is how one element of environmental change affects another. For example, the thinning Ozone layer allows UV rays to warm the earth, while carbon production from mankind traps the heat under the upper atmosphere. These increased temperatures raise ocean levels by melting icebergs, thus forcing beach-dwellers from their habitat.
The rising sea temperatures also take a negative toll on coral reefs, which house millions of creatures. Coral reefs rely on the ocean’s temperature. When it gradually increases by a couple of degrees, it’s similar to what happens when a human’s internal temperature increases. This fever effect devastates coral reefs, their inhabitants, and many local communities.
Benefits of Environmental Change
Not all environmental changes ruin natural selection. Here are some of the benefits:
- Environments that were once too cold for some species are becoming their new homes (coastal environments, mountainous terrain, etc.).
- Desalinisation is creating freshwater opportunities by removing salt from saltwater.
- Man-made land bridges are giving local animals a way to move across busy roadways without stepping into traffic.
Nevertheless, natural selection is increasing at a staggering rate. Predators are having to fight over food and water, which reduces their population. Excessive hunting is also an unnatural process that is often seen as natural selection. But there are countless opportunities for Man to improve natural environments.
Can Artificial Environmental Changes Improve Nature?
Artificial environmental changes can improve nature by reducing carbon footprint and utilising renewable resources. For example, solar power, wind power, and geothermal energy are all examples of artificial environment changes. They provide electricity without burning fossil fuels and taking a negative toll on nature.
Let’s take a deeper look at a handful of ways artificial input can improve our natural surroundings:
Recycling
While the goal is to eliminate waste production, it may not be entirely possible, so recycling can help nature. Recycling allows us to reuse the materials designated for other items. This includes reusing shoe laces or tyres for artificial bark, melting plastic from bottles to create more bottles, or turning old paper bags into new ones.
Proper waste disposal
Using garbage cans, recycling plants, and compost bins prevent man-made waste from being dumped in nature’s garden. Failure to maintain proper waste disposal plants will lead to excessive solid waste pollution. However, using herbicides and pesticides will cause air pollution, which is another form of waste.
Renewable energy sources
Numerous renewable energy sources are making fossil fuel consumption much lower. The most common renewable sources include solar power, wind power, hydro power, and geothermal energy. They use UV rays, wind, water, and steam (and sometimes the earth’s natural interior heat) to produce electricity.
Reduced fossil fuel burning
Vehicles, factories, and many other man-made machines burn fossil fuels. These fuels emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, causing global warming issues. By switching to electric machines, we can drastically lower fossil fuel emissions.
Waste reduction
Producing less trash means there’s less clutter and litter. Too much litter in the environment ruins nature because it kills plants and animals. It also makes it more difficult for animals to find new homes. Reducing waste production by using biodegradable materials is the best way to prevent artificial environmental change.
While we can’t make these changes overnight, there are many ways to incorporate artificial environmental changes to improve the natural world. For instance, you can limit the number of prepackaged goods you purchase or pick up litter when you walk in the park. These small habits make massive changes when they compound.
Final Thoughts
People sometimes treat them as the same. But nature and the environment aren’t the same, even though they work hand-in-hand.
We have the ability, and if we strive to reduce our carbon footprints we will drastically reduce the negative impact on natural resources and the natural environment. And if we have the will, we may be able to make the world a better place for the human race and all other species.
FAQs
How does deforestation contribute to climate change and environmental degradation?
Deforestation leads to the release of stored carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect and climate change. Additionally, it diminishes biodiversity and disrupts ecosystems, leading to environmental degradation.
What is the significance of biodiversity in maintaining a healthy environment?
Biodiversity is crucial for maintaining a healthy environment as it ensures the balance of ecosystems. Diverse ecosystems are more resilient to changes, provide essential services like pollination and water purification, and support overall ecosystem stability.
How can individuals contribute to environmental conservation in their daily lives?
Individuals can contribute to environmental conservation through simple actions such as reducing waste, conserving water and energy, supporting sustainable practices, and participating in community initiatives focused on preserving nature.
Why is it important to address plastic pollution for the well-being of the environment?
Plastic pollution poses a severe threat to the environment by contaminating oceans, harming wildlife, and disrupting ecosystems. Addressing plastic pollution is essential to safeguard the health of ecosystems and protect the well-being of both wildlife and humans.
What role do renewable energy sources play in mitigating environmental impacts and climate change?
Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, play a crucial role in mitigating environmental impacts and combating climate change. These sources produce clean energy, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and decreasing the carbon footprint associated with energy production.
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