The goal of conservation is to safeguard the Earth’s natural resources for the benefit of future generations.
The Earth’s various natural resources, such as water, air, soil, plants, and wildlife, are protected and cared for through conservation.
It encompasses the preservation of diverse ecosystems, species, and genes, as well as the environment’s functions, like nutrient cycling.
Although conserving is similar to preserving, both approach the same goal: to protect the environment.
While conserving aims to preserve the environment, it also seeks the sustainable utilization of nature by humans.
The US management of public lands shows the difference between conserving and preserving.
For instance, National Parks are focused on preserving the environment in a way that minimizes disturbance to the landscape. On the other hand, the National Forests are used for hunting, cattle grazing, and timber harvesting as well as they are places where people can have a rest and gaming fruit shop demo.
The continued growth of human populations has led to the overconsumption of Earth’s natural resources, which has threatened the environment’s biodiversity.
Various factors such as pollution, habitat destruction, and invasive species have been identified as contributing to the decline of biodiversity.
The decline of biodiversity is also linked to the extinction of certain species. Although the process of natural extinction is normal, the current rate at which it is occurring is not ideal.
According to experts, the current extinction rate is around a thousand times higher than what was previously expected. They also believe that there is a mass extinction event occurring, which could cause the number of species to drop by over 75%.
Passenger pigeon extinction is regarded as an example of an extinction that was caused by human activities.
Once common in North America, the passenger pigeon had a population of around three to five billion.
Due to the overhunting that occurred during the 1900s, the passenger pigeon was officially extinct in the wild. The last known individual bird was killed in 1941 at the zoo in Cincinnati.
Various policies and practices have been established to prevent extinction pressures from happening including establishing the ESA, removing invasive species, protecting plants and wildlife, and more.
It is believed that there are over 26,500 species that are currently at risk of extinction. However, the exact number is not known.
One of the most endangered animals is the vaquita, which is a small porpoise. There are only about thirty individuals left in its natural habitat.
The vaquita lives in the Gulf of California. Its biggest threat is the illegal fishing of totoaba fish for food that is entangled in the nets that are used to catch the totoaba. These animals are endangered.
Despite the various efforts being made to save the vaquita, it is expected to end up extinct in the next couple of years due to the continued threats.
Various animals, such as the California condor, bald eagle, and grizzly bear, have recovered from near-extinction thanks to the protection provided by the ESA.
One of the main directions of conservation is wildlife conservation
The goal of wildlife conservation is to safeguard plants and animals from the encroachment of humans.
It involves protecting the habitats of various animals and plants. Through wildlife conservation, the world’s ecosystems can maintain a balance of nature’s processes.
It aims to educate the public about the importance of preserving wildlife and ensuring the survival of various species.
The number of people has increased dramatically over the past two centuries. From around 200 million to over seven billion, humanity has continued to expand.
As the world’s population continues to increase, it is estimated that the amount of natural resources that the Earth has is becoming more scarce. This environmental damage is threatening the survival of various species.
Some of the other threats that wildlife is facing include the introduction of non-native species, poaching, and pollution.
Various international and national organizations support wildlife conservation efforts in contributing to the protection of habitats and animals.
They work with the government to draft legislation that will protect certain species. One example of this is the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
They work to support the growth of the population while conserving existing habitats and species.
Filmmakers and photographers are also important individuals in the conservation movement who raise awareness about the plight of endangered animals.
