Conservation The management and care of the biosphere, to avoid imbalances caused by habitat destruction and extinction. Conservation programmes fight to save animal and plant species through measures such as setting up reserves or creating seed banks.

Deforestation The removal of forests by humans, either to clear land or to use trees for fuel or building. The destruction of forests puts many species in danger.

Domestication The process of taming wild animals and managing plants. Crops are sown and harvested by farmers. Domestic animals are chosen to provide wool, milk, eggs or meat, or to work on farms.

Endangered In danger of becoming extinct. Endangered species have such small populations that they are at risk of dying out altogether.

Extinction The process whereby every member of a group, species or subspecies dies out (becomes extinct). Extinctions occur naturally, but in recent years, human action has led to a dramatic rise in the rate of extinction in plant and animal species.

Hunting The act of chasing and killing animals for sport or for food.

Introduced species A species introduced to a new environment by humans. An introduced species that causes damage in some way to its new environment is known as an invasive species. Some have hunted native species to extinction. For example, rats arrived on islands in Oceania with European settlers. The rats killed whole populations of birds that had previously had no predators. Other invasive species compete with native species for food. For example, rabbits imported into Australia compete with marsupials.

Ivory A hard, creamy-coloured substance that forms the tusks of animals such as elephants and walruses. They are killed for their tusks, which are made into ornaments.

Livestock Animals kept by humans for wool, meat, eggs, milk or hides.

Microclimate The climate of a small area, such as a town. Towns are generally warmer than the countryside because of warm air given off by houses, offices and factories. Together with an easy food supply and convenient nesting spaces, warmer temperatures attract birds and other animals into towns during the winter.

Native species A species of plant or animal that occurs naturally in an area.

Pesticides Chemicals designed to kill pests. The use of chemical pesticides can upset the balance of natural pest-controlling agents such as insects that feed on pests. Pesticides can also harm other animals by putting poisons into the food chain.

Pests Living things that cause humans injury or inconvenience because of their behaviour or numbers. For example, locusts destroy crops, while rats have become pests in some places, eating human food and spreading diseases.

Poaching Hunting animals illegally for food, sport or to sell their body parts.

Reserve A special area of land set aside to protect wildlife. Nature reserves are guarded by wardens against hunters and poachers. Breeding programmes are carried out among the most endangered animals, to try to increase their numbers.

Seed bank A place where plant seeds are stored as a way of preserving endangered species. The seeds of many wild plants, which may have undiscovered medicinal benefits, are being stored in this way.

Traditional Chinese medicine An ancient form of medicine that mainly consists of massage, acupuncture and aromatherapy. However, some remedies use parts of endangered animals, such as seahorses, tiger paws and rhinoceros horns. This has led to the illegal hunting of these vulnerable animals.

Urbanization The growth of urban areas as a result of people moving to cities. Urbanization hugely alters the wildlife of an area, but many species have adapted to suit the urban habitat. Birds use roofs, gutters and chimney pots as roosting and nesting sites, instead of cliffs and trees. Rubbish also attracts rats, foxes and larger animals such as jackals or polar bears, which scavenge from dumps.

Consultant: Chris Jarvis