Natural environment

	Main Article	Discussion	Related Articles  [?]	Bibliography  [?]	External Links  [?]	Citable Version  [?]
	This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer. [edit intro]

(PD) Photo: Alan Liefting
Devils Punchbowl, New Zealand

The natural environment, commonly referred to simply as the environment, is a term that encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region of Earth.

Terminology and concept[edit]

The concept of the natural environment can be broken down into a few key components:

• Complete ecological units that function as natural systems without massive human intervention, including all vegetation, animals, microorganisms, soil, rocks, atmosphere and natural phenomena that occur within their boundaries.

• Natural resources and physical phenomena that do not originate from human activity and lack clear-cut boundaries, such as air, water, and climate.

The natural environment is contrasted with the built environment, which comprises the areas of Earth that are strongly influenced by humans.