The natural world includes all living and nonliving components that occur naturally without human creation or intervention. This encompasses plants, animals, microorganisms, soil, rocks, water, air, and the physical phenomena of the environment such as climate and weather
. More specifically, the natural world consists of:
- Biotic components : All living organisms including plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, and other microorganisms.
- Abiotic components : Nonliving elements such as soil, rocks, water bodies, atmosphere, climate, radiation, and other physical factors.
- Ecosystems : Functional units where living organisms interact with each other and with their physical environment, forming complex webs of energy flow and material cycles
The natural world also includes universal natural resources and phenomena that do not originate from human activities, such as air, water, energy, and natural landscapes
. While humans are part of nature biologically, the term "natural world" often distinguishes between what exists without human alteration and human-made environments
. In summary, the natural world is the entirety of the Earth’s living organisms and their physical surroundings operating as interconnected systems, independent of human constructions or modifications
