| Title | Definition |
|---|---|
| Salinity |
(1) The relative concentration of dissolved salts, usually sodium chloride, in a given water. (2) A measure of the concentration... read more |
| Salinization |
The buildup of salts in soils |
| Soil |
(1) The loose top layer of the Earth, usually consisting of disintegrated rock with an admixture of organic matter and soluble salts, dynamic in nature, and serving as a natural medium for the... read more |
| Soil and Water Mitigation |
Measures applied that significantly reduce the amount of potential soil erosion and sedimentation from resource management activities |
| Soil fertility |
The potential of the soil to supply nutrient elements in the quantity, form, and proportion required to support optimum plant growth. |
| Soil Reaction |
The degree of acidity or alkalinity of the soil mass expressed in pH values or in words as follows: - extremely acid, below 4.5; - very strongly acid, 4.5-5.0;... read more |
| Soil salinity |
Measurement of the quantity of mineral salts found in a soil. Many semi-arid and arid areas are naturally salty. By definition they are areas of substantial water deficit where evapotranspiration... read more |
| Standards (environmental, performance) |
the levels of expected performance used as criteria against which actual performance is evaluated and judged. Often take the form of a regulation (see also "criteria"). [fn]Source: (IISD 2005... read more |
| Surface water |
water located above ground (e.g., rivers, lakes). |
| Sustainable development (SD) |
a concept that has emerged in recent years, based on the premise that development must meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their... read more |
| Sustainable Land Management (SLM) |
SLM is defined as the use of land resources, including soils, water, animals and plants, for the production of goods to meet changing human needs, while simultaneously ensuring the long-term... read more |
| Sustainable use |
the uses of the biological products and ecological services of ecosystems in a manner and at a rate that does not reduce the system’s ability to provide those products and... read more |
| System |
In the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, reporting units that are ecosystem-based but at a level of aggregation far higher than that usually applied to ecosystems. Thus the system includes many... read more |