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| This glossary includes a
plain language explanation of environmental words and concepts. Where possible additional
words and concepts have been included to enhance environmental understanding. |
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| Acid rain Polluted air from factories and power stations often
has sulphur dioxide in it. When this combines with rain water, you get acid rain. Acid
rain damages plants and buildings, and can affect your health.
Alien species
Plants and animals which do not arrive
naturally in an area - they are brought in by humans. Alien plants often force indigenous
species out of the area. Rooikrans is a good example of alien species in the Cape.
Aquifer
Rock formations under the ground that
carry water - this water can be recovered and used for washing and cooking.
Assessment
A study to carefully check something.
(see Environmental Impact Assessment)
Audit
A way of measuring how well something
is working (see Environmental audit)
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| Biodiversity The rich variety of plants and animals that live in
their own environment. Fynbos is a good example of rich biodiversity in the Cape.
Biota
The living organisms that are found in
a particular place.
Brown haze
Air pollution caused by traffic and
factories. Part of brown haze is smog, which forms when water vapour mixes with pollution
particles in the air. You can often see brown haze over Cape Town in winter.
Built environment
Physical surroundings created by human
activity, e.g. buildings, houses, roads, bridges and harbours.
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| Cape Metropolitan Area The area that the Cape Metropolitan Council covers.
There are six municipalities in the Cape Metropolitan Area: City of Cape Town, City of
Tygerberg, Blaauwberg Municipality, Helderberg Municipality, Oostenberg Municipality and
South Peninsula Municipality. These municipalities are also called Metropolitan Local
Councils. Figure 1.1 in Part A and C of this report display a map of the Cape
Metropolitan Area (or "CMA").
Cape Metropolitan Council (CMC)
The Cape Metropolitan Council is the
local government structure that provides services for the Cape Metropolitan Area. Also
called "CMC".
Carrying capacity
The maximum number of users that can be
supported by a resource, e.g. the maximum number of cattle that can feed on one farm.
Catchment
Area of land that collects rain water
into a river or stream, which then carries the water to a lake or the sea.
Catchment management
Controlling and protecting catchment
areas.
Conservation
Protecting, using and saving resources
wisely, especially the biodiversity found in an area.
Consumption
Using something, e.g. by eating or
burning.
Contamination
Polluting or making something impure.
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| Deforestation Destroying forests and woodlands, leading to climate
changes, the death of animals and soil erosion.
Degradation
The lowering of the quality of the
environment through human activities, e.g. river degradation, soil degradation.
Development
The process of changing something so
that it moves forward, improves or grows (see Economic development and Environmental
development).
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| Ecology The scientific study of the relationship between
living things (animals, plants and humans) and their environment.
Economic development
Developing the economy of a region or
country, e.g. expanding economic activities, improving work skills, creating jobs.
Ecosystem
The relationship and interaction
between plants, animals and the non-living environment.
Ecotourism
Planning and managing tourism in a way
that is sensitive to the natural environment. Ecotourism also involves helping the natural
environment to be sustained by the economic benefits of tourist activities, e.g. camping
facilities, hiking, horse trails, and game-watching.
Endemic species
Plants and animals that are found no
where else in the world.
Environment
Our surroundings, including living and
non-living elements, e.g. land, soil, plants, animals, air, water and humans. The
environment also refers to our social and economic surroundings, and our effect on our
surroundings.
Environmental
To do with the environment.
Environmental audit
A detailed assessment to check if an
organisation is following the law, its environmental policies and its Environmental
Management System (EMS). The results of the audit help the organisation to improve its
environmental policies and management system.
Environmental development
Taking steps to develop and improve the
environment by carrying out responsible environmental policies.
Environmental Equity
Equal protection of people, groups and
communities from environmental hazards.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
A study of the likely effect on the
environment of proposed activities or development. Also called "EIAs". EIAs help
bodies like local authorities to decide if they should accept proposals, e.g. to develop a
piece of land for housing.
Environmental management
Making sure that environmental concerns
are included in all stages of development, so that development is sustainable and does not
exceed the carrying capacity of the environment.
Environmental Management System (EMS)
The structures, plans and processes
that are developed to manage the environment in an area. Also called "EMS".
Environmental policy
Guidelines and rules for managing and
protecting the environment (see Integrated Metropolitan Environmental Policy).
Environmental sustainability
Maintaining the environment in a
responsible way to keep it healthy for future generations.
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| Fynbos Low-growing and evergreen vegetation found only in
the South Western Cape. Fynbos is known for its rich biodiversity.
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| Globalisation: The process of becoming part of the world economy.
Governance:
The manner and function of governing an
area.
Greenhouse effect
The gradual increase in the temperature
of the earth, caused by the sun's rays reaching the surface of the earth and being trapped
by pollution in the air.
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| Habitat The physical environment that is home to plants and
animals in an area, and where they live, feed and reproduce.
Hazardous waste
Waste that is a threat to the
well-being of people, plants and animals, e.g. hazardous waste from factories, detergents,
pesticides and vehicles.
Hydrology:
The properties, distribution and
circulation of water on Earth.
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| Indicator A mark or a measure that helps you to know if you
are succeeding in reaching your goals. Indicators are often used in a State of Environment
Report to measure how we are managing our resources.
Indigenous species
Plants and animals that are naturally
found in an area.
Infrastructure
The network of facilities and services
that are needed for economic activities, e.g. roads, electricity, water, sewerage.
Integrated
Mixing or combining all useful
information and factors into a joint or unified whole (see Integrated Environmental
Management).
Integrated Environmental Management
(IEM)
A way of managing the environment by
including environmental factors in all stages of development. This includes thinking about
physical, social, cultural and economic factors, and consulting with all the people
affected by the proposed developments. Also called "IEM".
Integrated Metropolitan Environmental
Policy (IMEP)
The environmental policy being
developed for the Cape Metropolitan Area. Also called "IMEP". The IMEP is a good
example of Integrated Environmental Management.
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| Landfill site Places like quarries and mines, used for disposing
household and industrial waste, and hazardous waste.
Land-use
The use of land for human activities,
e.g. residential, commercial, industrial use.
Landscape
The patterns and structure of a
specific geographic area or place, including its natural, physical, built and
socio-economic environments.
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| Mariculture Growing sea-plants and animals in their natural
environment in the sea or on land-based sea farms.
Marine
Of the sea, or to do with the sea.
Marine Protected Area (MPA)
An area where some types of fish or
plants are protected. Also called "MPA".
Metropolitan
Of or to do with a large town or city,
e.g. metropolitan government.
Metropolitan Local Councils (MLCs)
There are the six municipalities that
make up the Cape Metropolitan Area and that fall under the Cape Metropolitan Council. Also
called "MLCs" (see Cape Metropolitan Area and Cape Metropolitan
Council).
Metropolitan open space system (MOSS)
A planned network to ensure open spaces
in cities and towns for things like conservation, agriculture, and recreational and
cultural enjoyment. Also called "MOSS".
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| National park Land kept for protecting plants, animals and
scenery, and for human enjoyment. In the Cape Metropolitan Area, the Cape Peninsula
National Park includes Table Mountain and other mountains and wetlands ending at Cape
Point.
Natural environment
Our physical surroundings, including
plants and animals, when they are unspoiled by human activities.
Network
A system of things that are all
connected and dependant on each other, e.g. roads, telephone lines.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
Groups and bodies, outside of the
government, that are involved in advice, support, funding and development work. Also
called "NGOs".
Nuclear power
The energy generated by nuclear power
stations, that leads to nuclear waste.
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| Over-utilisation Over-using resources - this affects their future use
and the environment.
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| Policy A framework or basis for action to overcome
identified problems and to achieve stated goals and objectives. A policy helps you make
decisions and manage an organisation or structure. Policies are based on people's values
and goals (see Integrated Metropolitan Environmental Policy).
Pollution
Harming or contaminating the natural
environment as a result of human activities, especially through household and chemical
waste, e.g. substances, noise, dust, smells.
Population growth
An increase in the number of people,
e.g. when the birth rate is higher than the death rate, when more people arrive in a city
to live than leave the city.
Poverty
A situation where people cannot achieve
a minimum standard of living.
Process
Development usually happens through a
process - a number of planned steps or stages.
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| Recycling Collecting, cleaning and re-using waste materials.
Resources
Parts of our natural environment that
we use and protect, e.g. land, forests, water, wildlife, minerals (like sand for
building).
Resource management
Controlling and running resources in a
planned and responsible way.
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| Stakeholders People and organisations that are involved or
interested in an area or an issue, e.g. residents, councillors, business people, trade
unions.
State of Environment (SoE) Report
A progress report on environmental
issues and conditions, that helps in the drawing up of environmental policies. Also called
an "SoE" report.
Stormwater drainage
The system of underground pipes that
removes rain and other water from the ground, roads and roofs to rivers, lakes and the
sea.
Sustainable
Something that is protected and
maintained so that it can be used in the future.
Sustainable development
Development that is planned to meet the
needs of present and future generations, e.g. the need for basic environmental, social and
economic services. Sustainable development includes using and maintaining resources
responsibly.
Sustainability
Being able to meet the needs of present
and future generations by the responsible use of resources.
Sewage
Household or industrial liquid waste
that is carried away in sewers and drains.
Socio-economic environment
That part of the environment which has
its origins or being in human activities (e.g. social, economic, cultural and political
objects and processes).
Soil erosion
The loss of soil through the washing,
wearing and falling away of the soil.
Spatial planning
Working out the best use of space for
development, e.g. houses, factories, roads and sportsfields.
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| Urbanisation Migration of people from rural to urban areas - this
can lead to overpopulation and unemployment in urban areas. Urbanization is the main
process driving the creation and ongoing remaking of cities.
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| Vegetation The different types of plants found in an area.
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| Waste management A control system to limit, collect and dispose of
waste, through clear policies and environmental standards, e.g. reducing plastic packets.
Wastewater
Water left over after it has been used,
e.g. in homes, gardens and factories.
Water supply
Water which is collected and stored,
usually in dams, to be sent for use in cities and towns.
Wetlands
An area of land with water mostly at or
near the surface, resulting in a waterlogged habitat, e.g. vleis, swamps.
World heritage site
A natural area that is internationally
recognised as very important for the conservation of biodiversity, e.g. a habitat for
plants or animals that are in danger of dying out. World heritage sites are often used as
areas for ecotourism to help create jobs.
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| Zoning The control of landuse by only allowing land
development in fixed areas or zones.
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