2019-02-18 GC Agenda Att 1 to Item 8 - Draft Environment Strategy

Glossary
ADAPTATION
The process of adjustment required to actual or projected climate change and its effects including
changes required by plants, animals and people to become better suited to their environment.

BIODIVERSITY
The variety of life represented by genetics, species and ecosystems, including the related ecological
processes.

BUILT ENVIRONMENT
The buildings, facilities and infrastucture that make up urban areas.

CATCHMENT
Area of land bounded by natural features such as hills or mountains from which rainwater flows and
collects to a low point.

CLIMATE CHANGE
Natural or human induced changes to the climate caused by increased levels of greenhouse gases in
the atmosphere.

COASTAL FORESHORE
Foreshore area between high and low mean spring tide.

COASTAL PROCESSES
Natural processes including tides, waves, ocean currents, and sand movement, deposition and erosion.

CORE PROTECTED AREAS
Public lands with a legally secured mechanism to protect the conservation values of the land.

ECOLOGICAL LINKAGES
Areas of habitat or scattered vegetation between habitat areas that help provide connectivity for plants
and animals across the landscape, aiding species movement and gene exchange.

FRAGMENTATION
Clearing of native vegetation creating fragmented or disconnected habitat areas.

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
Gas emissions that contribute to the greenhouse effect and climate change. Gases include carbon
dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N20), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride
(SF6) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Encompasses living and non-living things that occur naturally. It includes the physical and biological
environments and processes in which plants, animals and people depend on and interact within.

PROTECTED HABITAT


Noosa Shire Environment Strategy                                                                  Page 46