Human impact on the environment

( " Arise " from the Greek anthropos "man" and the verb stem gen- meaning ) Anthropogenic is a term for the Incurred by the people, Caused, Produced or Affected. For example, plastics are anthropogenic, since they are only made ​​by man.

In human intervention in the environment and in human-induced environmental problems, the term is often used anthropogenic, eg

• Anthropogenic landfill (landfill ),
• Anthropogenic landscape or anthropogenic biome,
• Anthropogenic geomorphology ( Erdoberflächenstruktur )
• Anthropogenic greenhouse effect.

As opposed to anthropogenic, the term is often used of course. Many environmental impacts can also of course be determined by both anthropogenic as, a clear distinction is not always possible. For example, a forest fire, for example, have been caused ( eg lightning ), both by people and by a natural cause.

The increased needs of the people, especially since industrialization in the so-called developed countries have caused global anthropogenic changes to damage of ecosystems and led to a decline in biodiversity and thus biodiversity. This period of human intrusion is also called the Anthropocene.

Anthropogenic changes but do not necessarily lead to a reduction of habitat or species diversity. The result is by extensive human use of cultural landscapes that are home to a variety of valuable biotopes. The resulting species-rich Magerrasen rely on being used by humans.