Deforestation

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Deforestation Noun

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[dee-for-es-tay-shun]

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Deforestation

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The intentional, large-scale removal of trees and clearing of forests for non-forest use, such as agriculture or development.

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Example: This image shows a large area where trees have been cut down, leaving only stumps, which is the direct result of deforestation.

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Rainforest Noun

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[rayn-for-est]

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Rainforest

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A dense forest, typically in a tropical region, characterized by consistently high rainfall and significant biodiversity.

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Example: This diagram shows the four main vertical layers of a rainforest: the emergent layer, canopy, understory, and forest floor, with photographic examples of animals.

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Habitat Noun

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[hab-i-tat]

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Habitat

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The natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism, providing food, water, and shelter.

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Example: This image shows a forest and pond habitat where various animals like bears, deer, and fish find the food, water, and shelter they need to live.

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Sustainable Adjective

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[suh-steyn-uh-buhl]

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Sustainable

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Pertaining to methods that do not deplete natural resources, thereby supporting long-term ecological balance and viability.

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Example: This diagram shows a sustainable cycle where trees cut down for biomass energy are replaced by new trees, which absorb the CO2 released during burning.

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Resource Extraction Noun

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[ree-sors ek-strak-shun]

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Resource Extraction

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The process of withdrawing valuable materials like minerals, fossil fuels, and timber from the natural environment for human use.

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Example: This image shows large-scale surface mining, a form of resource extraction where machinery removes massive amounts of earth, which requires clearing entire forests.

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Clear-cutting Noun

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[kleer-kut-ing]

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Clear-cutting

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A logging practice in which most or all trees in a designated area are uniformly cut down at once.

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Example: This image shows an area of forest where all the trees have been cut down (right), contrasted with the original, uncut forest (left).

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Selective cutting Noun

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[si-lek-tiv kut-ing]

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Selective cutting

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A logging method where only specific trees, often mature or of a certain type, are harvested from a forest.

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Example: Selective cutting is a forestry practice where specific trees are chosen and cut down, leaving the rest of the forest stand intact to regenerate.

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Soil Erosion Noun

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[soil ih-roh-zhun]

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Soil Erosion

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The displacement of the upper layer of soil, a process often accelerated by the removal of plant root systems.

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Example: This image shows a hillside where the area without vegetation is severely eroded, while the grass-covered area remains intact, demonstrating how plant loss leads to soil erosion.

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Landslide Noun

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[land-slide]

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Landslide

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The rapid movement of rock, debris, or earth down a sloped section of land, often triggered by soil instability.

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Example: This diagram shows a cross-section of a hill where saturated soil and weak earth cause a large section to collapse, rotate, and slide downhill.

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Global Warming Noun

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[gloh-buhl wor-ming]

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Global Warming

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The long-term heating of Earth's climate system observed since the pre-industrial period due to human activities.

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Example: This diagram shows how greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap heat that is radiated from the Earth, causing the planet's overall temperature to rise.