B - Convention on Biological Diversity

Dictionary of Key TermsAAcidification - acidifi cation of the environment caused by atmospheric deposition of sulphur and nitrogenoxides. One of the main causes of damage to forest stands.Adaptation - the process of alteration of the organism during its onthogenesis during the life-span; characteristicsincurred by adaptation to the living conditions. It documents the previous experience of the organism with theenvironment; where the factors of the environment are mainly constant, adaptation is a guarantee of survival.Adaptations are classifi ed to morphological, physiological and ethological.Adventive species - additional, actively or passively relocated species from some other area or biocenosis,introduced by humans and escaped or domesticated in the new area.Agenda 21 - the final document from the UN Conference on the Environment and Development in Rio deJaneiro, 1992. It is an action plan of sustainable development for the 21 st century.Agrocenosis - an annual or shorter community on fields or other agricultural land. In case of inadequatemanagement, it undergoes very rapid succession (change into a fallow area).Allochthonous - non-indigenous, alien populations, organisms or non-living natural objects that developed orevolved at a different site from which they actively or passively moved to the site of their current occurrence.Alochthonous organisms that suppress indigenous organisms or cross-breed with them and thus impair theoriginal gene pool are considered to be undesirable.Alpine zone - high mountain vegetative zone above the forest line (in the Czech Republic, above 1,400 m a.s.l.).Animal or plant species - also a lower systematic unit (Act No. 114/1992 Coll., ).Anthropogenic - created, changed or affected by humans or their activities.Applied research - Research aimed at socially and economically important issues (also “oriented research”).Atmospheric deposition - deposition of an atmospheric substance on the surface of the Earth. It is measuredas an amount (t, kg, mg, μg) per unit of the surface of the Earth during a time period. Atmospheric deposition isclassified as dry, wet and acid.Autochthonous - original indigenous population, organisms (plants, animals) or non-living natural objects(rocks, minerals) developed at the site of their current occurrence.Awareness raising - includes various educational and training activities aimed at the general public or targetgroups of the population (children, farmers, senior officers). Publishing activities include bulletins and journalsintended for communication with the general public, technical and popular publications, methodical documentsfor environmental education, etc. Events intended for the general public include celebrations of the Earth Day andother important days (Day for Biological Diversity, Day without Cars, World Water Day, etc.), ecological evenings,excursions and trips in nature, exhibitions, fairs, concerts, film festivals, presenting the Prizes of the Minister ofthe Environment, organization of competitions – e.g. competitions for the best thesis in this area, etc.BBank vegetation - tree stands and bushes along water courses (willows, alders, ashes, maples), strengthenbanks, improve the microclimate, provide a refuge for animals, have a landscaping and aesthetic value.Basic research - Research activities aimed at obtaining fundamentally new finding enriching humanknowledge.121