Glossary of Environmental Science - I

I

• incineration - combustion (by chemical oxidation) of waste material to treat or dispose of that waste material.
• indicator species - any biological species that defines a trait or characteristic of the environment.
• industrial agriculture - a form of modern farming that involves industrialized production of livestock, poultry, fish, and crops.
• Industrial Revolution - a period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation had a profound effect on socioeconomic and cultural conditions.
• infiltration – movement of water below topsoil to the plant roots and below.
• infiltration - the process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil.
• indicators– quantitative markers for monitoring progress towards desired goals.
• industrial ecology (term int. Harry Zvi Evan 1973) - the observation that nature produces no waste and therefore provides an example of sustainable waste management. Natural Capitalism espouses industrial ecology as one of its four pillars together with energy conservation, material conservation, and redefinition of commodity markets and product stewardship in terms of a service economy. Publications:
• insecticide - a pesticide used to control insects in all developmental forms.
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - a pest control strategy that uses an array of complementary methods: natural predators and parasites, pest-resistant varieties, cultural practices, biological controls, various physical techniques, and the strategic use of pesticides.
• intercropping - the agricultural practice of cultivating two or more crops in the same space at the same time.
• in-stream use - the use of freshwater where it occurs, usually within a river or stream: it includes hydroelectricity, recreation, tourism, scientific and cultural uses, ecosystem maintenance, and dilution of waste.
• integrated pest management (IPM) – pest management that attempts to minimise chemical use by using several pest control options in combination. The goal of IPM is not to eliminate all pests but to reduce pest populations to acceptable levels; an ecologically based pest control strategy that relies heavily on natural mortality factors and seeks out control tactics that disrupt these factors as little as possible.
• integrated product life-cycle management - management of all phases of goods and services to be environmentally friendly and sustainable.
• inter-generational equity – the intention to leave the world in the best possible condition for future generations.
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - the IPCC was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization and the UN Environment Programme to provide the scientific and technical foundation for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), primarily through the publication of periodic assessment reports.
• internal water footprint – the water embodied in goods produced within a country (although these may be subsequently exported) cf. external water footprint.
• intrinsic value – the value of something that is independent of its utility.
• irrigation index – an efficiency indicator showing degree of match between applied and used water. Ideal rating = 1, an Ii of 1.5 means an oversupply of water by 50%.
• irrigation scheduling – watering plants according to their needs.
• irrigation – watering of plants, no matter what system is used.
• ISO 14001- The international standard for companies seeking to certify their environmental management system. International Organisation for Strandardisation (ISO) 14001 standard was first published in 1996 specifying the requirements for an environmental management system in organization (companies and institutions) with the goal of minimizing harmful effects on the environment and the goal of continual improvement of environmental performance.