What is the term for human activities that result in the destruction of natural habitats?

The term for human activities that lead to the destruction of natural habitats is "habitat destruction." This concept specifically refers to the loss of natural environments, primarily due to human actions such as deforestation, urbanization, agriculture, and pollution. When habitats are destroyed, the organisms that live within these ecosystems can no longer survive, leading to a decline in biodiversity and the potential extinction of numerous species.

Habitat destruction encompasses a broad range of activities that completely remove or significantly alter the environment to the point where it becomes unsuitable for the original flora and fauna. This differs from other terms like habitat fragmentation, which specifically refers to the breaking apart of habitats into smaller, isolated pieces, and habitat manipulation or alteration, which involve changes that may not completely destroy the habitat but rather change its characteristics or structure. Thus, the correct choice accurately encapsulates the most severe impact of human activity on natural environments.