The Meaning of Nature: Clarification for strengthened protection and management
NatureScot
February 27, 2025
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has published a discussion paper on The Meaning of Nature to help strengthen its protection and management.
Nature sits at the heart of many important laws and policies. However, there is often a lack of understanding of what it covers. The terms “nature” and “biodiversity” are frequently used interchangeably, overlooking the fact that nature includes everything natural in the world – both geodiversity (the variety of non-living natural elements such as rocks and soils) and biodiversity (the variety of life).
In a changing world facing widespread environmental degradation and the unsustainable use of resources, it's important to ensure that environmental initiatives apply to the whole of nature.
Find out more: IUCN Issues Paper No. 5 The Meaning of Nature
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