What do we commonly refer to as the environment in a geographical context?

In a geographical context, the environment traditionally refers to the natural elements that compose the Earth’s biosphere. This includes physical features such as trees, rivers, mountains, and ecosystems, which interact with each other and with human activity. The environment encompasses the biological, geological, and atmospheric components that define the world around us, fundamentally shaping habitats and influencing human behavior and societal development.

While built structures, social systems, and technology are important aspects of human geography, they are not categorized as part of the natural environment. Built structures pertain more to human-made features of the landscape, social structures focus on community relationships and organization, and technological advancements deal with innovations and their applications in society. All of these elements reflect human influence or constructs rather than the intrinsic natural characteristics that primarily define the environment in geographical studies.