People's descriptions of a place reveal their values, attitudes, and perceptions. We change the environment and then sometime Mother Nature changes it back. Humans modify the environment. Humans depend to the environment. People depend on the Tennessee River for our water and transportation.
People modify our environment by heating and coolings buildings for comfort.
All places on Earth have advantages and disadvantages for human settlement. One person's advantage may be another person's disadvantage. Some like the excitement of large cities whereas others prefer remoteness. Environment is not just trees, spotted owls, and rain forests. Environment is a feeling.