HealthAugust 4, 2026

ecosanctuary

EE-koh-sangk-choo-air-ee

Definition

A protected area of land designated to conserve, restore, and study native ecosystems and wildlife.

Etymology

A compound of 'eco-' (from Greek 'oikos', meaning house or environment) and 'sanctuary' (from Latin 'sanctuarium', meaning a sacred place or refuge), emerging in modern usage to describe managed conservation areas.

In the news

The word is used to describe the Orokonui Ecosanctuary, where drinking fountains were installed along walking paths to support visitors.

Simple intervention doubles Taranaki drinking fountains: A public health success story

Read the full article ↗

Public Health Communication Centre

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