Environment

23 May 2002

A combination of the various physical and biological elements that affect the life of an organism. Although it is common to refer to 'the' environment, there are in fact many environments eg, aquatic or terrestrial, microscopic to global, all capable of change in time and place, but all intimately linked and in combination constituting the whole earth/atmosphere system.

Development

23 May 2002

A process of economic and social transformation that defies simple definition. Though often viewed as a strictly economic process involving growth and diversification of a country's economy, development is a qualitative concept that entails complex social, cultural, and environmental changes. There are many models of what 'development' should look like and many different standards of what constitutes 'success'.

Environmentally-sound

23 May 2002

The maintenance of a healthy environment and the protection of life-sustaining ecological processes. It is based on thorough knowledge and requires or will result in products, manufacturing processes, developments, etc. which are in harmony with essential ecological processes and human health.

Proper resource pricing

23 May 2002

The pricing of natural resources at levels which reflect their combined economic and environmental values.

World Commission on Environment and Development

23 May 2002

Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1983 to examine international and global environmental problems and to propose strategies for sustainable development. Chaired by Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland, the independent commission held meetings and public hearing around the world and submitted a report on its inquiry to the General Assembly in 1987.

Sustainable development

23 May 2002

Sustainable development has as many definitions as subscribers. In essence, it refers to economic development that meets the needs of all without leaving future generations with fewer natural resources than those we enjoy today. It is widely accepted that achieving sustainable development requires balance between three dimensions of complementary change:

• Economic (towards sustainable patterns of production and consumption)

• Ecological (towards maintenance and restoration of healthy ecosystems)

• Social (towards poverty eradication and sustainable livelihoods)

World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)

23 May 2002

The World Summit on Sustainable Development takes place from 26 August - 4 September 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Governments, UN agencies, and civil society organisations will come together to assess progress since the UN Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio in 1992 (hence the title 'Rio + 10' for the Johannesburg meeting).

Sustainable development is defined in the report from the Rio meeting as being 'economic progress which meets all of our needs without leaving future generations with fewer resources than those we enjoy'.

National conservation strategies

26 September 2001

Plans that highlight country-level environmental priorities and opportunities for sustainable management of natural resources, following the example of the World Conservation Strategy published by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) in 1980. Though governments may support preparation for the strategies, they are not bound to follow IUCN's recommendations.

Biocultural Reserves

8 August 2001

Term coined by Daniel Janzen to describe national parks and protected areas that fully involve local people in the management and education activities conducted within them.

Reptile

10 April 2001

Common name applied to members of the vertebrate class Reptilia, which includes snakes, lizards, turtles, crocodilians, the tuatara, and numerous extinct fossil species. Among the existing forms are about 2,500 species of snakes, 3,000 of lizards, nearly 250 of turtles and tortoises, and 21 species of crocodilians. They are distributed throughout the temperate and tropical regions of the world; being cold-blooded (dependent on the environment for warmth; see below), very few reptiles can develop or live in colder regions.