Alternative energy:  energy from an uncommon resource, such as wind or solar power

 

Bioaccumulation:  the build up of toxins in an organic organism

 

Biodegradable:  can be broken down by natural processes

 

Compostable:  object that can be broken down into water, carbon dioxide and natural biomass, leaving no toxins behind

 

Conservation:  the preservation, restoration, or protection of the planet’s natural resources and ecosystem

 

Deforestation:  cutting down large amounts of trees in one area

 

Degradable:  an object that will somewhat break down over time, but not necessarily by a natural process

 

Eco-tours:  tours to places with undisturbed natural resources.  The goal of these tours is to teach people about the environment while having very little impact on nature.

 

Endangered species:  a species at risk of becoming extinct

 

Extinct:  no longer exists on earth

 

Fossil fuels:  bits of fossil materials that can be burned to produce energy (petroleum, natural gas, coal)

 

Greenhouse effect:  gasses trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere, causing the temperature of the entire planet to rise

 

Hydropower:  power generated by the flow of moving water

 

Idling:  a car is stopped but the engine is still running, producing greenhouse gases

 

Jute:  shiny vegetable fiber that can be spun into a strong, biodegradable thread

 

Keystone species:  a species that plays a critical role in an ecosystem’s population

 

Leachate:  rainwater and other liquid that comes from garbage

 

Marine debris:  any man-made object discarded, disposed of or abandoned that enters the marine environment

 

Natural resource:  materials found in nature

 

Organic:  any living thing or any product produced by living things

 

Ozone layer:  a form of oxygen gas that comes together in the earth’s upper atmosphere and shields us from too much exposure to ultraviolet light

 

Pollutants:  any substance that causes air, water, or land to be impure

 

Queen bee:  responsible for laying ALL of the eggs for a bee hive. These eggs will grow up to be the worker bees that pollinate the food we eat and the flowers we love. Without a queen, a hive cannot survive.

 

Renewable energy:  energy from natural resources that will never run out, such as the wind, the sun, the waves

 

Solar power:  power generated by the energy of the sun.

 

Sustainability:  to keep in existence

 

Threatened species:  a species likely to become endangered if nothing is done to improve its status

 

Upcycling:  waste materials being used to make new materials (example:  making a leather bracelet from an old belt)

 

Vermicomposting:  composting organic materials using earthworms

 

Wind power:  using large propellers to generate energy from the wind and create electricity

 

Xeriscaping:  creative landscaping or gardening that saves water using drought-resistant plants and decreases soil erosion by using natural drainage patterns

 

Yellowstone National Park:  the first national park and the greatest conservation success story in history.

 

Zero waste:  an idea and philosophy that promotes complete sustainability of a resource, and reducing the amount of packaging and waste we use.  Zero waste ideas look to lessen the amount of things going to landfills and creating products that can be reused.

 

 

Check out this awesome website for some great ECO-vocabulary!  Planet Pals