critical habitat
Essential species territory
Critical habitat is an area designated as essential for the survival or recovery of a threatened or endangered species.
The term has specific legal meaning under environmental laws like the U.S.
Endangered Species Act, where designation triggers protections against federal actions that might destroy or harm the area: The court ruled that the dam project would damage critical habitat for the salmon.
Law conserving threatened wildlife
- designationFormal name or title
- federal protectionGovernment-provided security status
- recovery planScheme for restoration
- listingRecorded item in catalog
delisting · consultation · mitigation · protected area · environmental impact · compliance · petition
Life found nowhere else
- threatened speciesWildlife at extinction risk
- endangered speciesOrganisms facing extinction risk
- keystone speciesOutsized ecological impact organism
- native speciesOrganisms originating in a region
flora · fauna · genetic diversity · wildlife corridor · migratory species · pollinators · apex predators · rare species
Maintaining something's condition
- restorationReturning something to condition
- stewardshipResponsible care of entrusted things
- land trustOrganization preserving private acreage
- recovery programSystematic return to wellness
captive breeding · rewilding · monitoring · sanctuary · reserve · refugia · threat assessment · degradation
Waterlogged land ecosystem
- estuaryTidal mixing zone
- coral reefCalcium carbonate marine ecosystem
- old-growth forestLong-undisturbed mature woodland ecosystem
- spawning groundReproductive habitat for fish
nesting site · breeding ground · migration corridor · feeding area · wintering ground · buffer zone · ecotone · watershed
Endangered Species Act
Law conserving threatened wildlife
- designationFormal name or title
- federal protectionGovernment-provided security status
- recovery planScheme for restoration
listing · delisting · consultation · mitigation · protected area · environmental impact · compliance · petition
endemic species
Life found nowhere else
- threatened speciesWildlife at extinction risk
- endangered speciesOrganisms facing extinction risk
- keystone speciesOutsized ecological impact organism
native species · flora · fauna · genetic diversity · wildlife corridor · migratory species · pollinators · apex predators · rare species · vulnerable species
preservation
Maintaining something's condition
- restorationReturning something to condition
- stewardshipResponsible care of entrusted things
- land trustOrganization preserving private acreage
recovery program · captive breeding · rewilding · monitoring · sanctuary · reserve · refugia · threat assessment · degradation · encroachment
wetland
Waterlogged land ecosystem
- estuaryTidal mixing zone
- coral reefCalcium carbonate marine ecosystem
- old-growth forestLong-undisturbed mature woodland ecosystem
spawning ground · nesting site · breeding ground · migration corridor · feeding area · wintering ground · buffer zone · ecotone · watershed · floodplain
critical habitatbuilt environment
Human-created physical surroundings
industrial zone · urban area · urban sprawl · suburban development · concrete jungle
critical, critically, critic, critics, criticism, criticisms, criticize, criticizes, criticized