Having elaborated on what nature conservation means in our last article, the necessity of it clearly is something we can't survive without. While preservation seeks to protect nature by ruling off human use of it or external interference, conservation on the other hand, allows natural resources to be used, but sustainably. This means that they are used in such a way that enough is left for future generations to have.
Nature conservation focuses on biological diversity, ecological health, and integrity. It comes in different forms including environmental, animal, marine, and human. Today, we'll be looking at the first two, and in our next article, we'll go into the rest. First off, we have environmental conservation.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
Environmental conservation is arguably the most important because it is the ecosystem in which all organisms have their habitat and depend on for survival. It is simply the practice of individuals, groups, and governments, protecting the environment. These protection efforts have much significance since without our environment, life in all aspects may cease to exist.
To lay emphasis on the definition, environmental conservation is not just an individual effort but a collective one. For it to be achieved, individuals, corporate organisations, non-governmental groups and the government have to join hands together in unity. If measures are taken by one party alone, such as the government, other parties can be unduly affected. Therefore, there is a need for a general consensus to be agreed upon by all parties of interest.
Advantages of Environmental Conservation
Balancing our ecosystem is the most critical advantage of conserving our environment due to many reasons; one is the importance of forests which provides about one-third of drinking water supplies to Earth's most famous cities. Other advantages of environmental conservation include the reduction of all forms of pollution, protection of natural resources and wildlife, and saving the earth from the adverse effects of global warming just to mention a few.
To achieve these numerous advantages, various methods need to be adopted on an individual and governmental level including forest and soil conservation, proper waste management, and most importantly, public awareness.
ANIMAL CONSERVATION
After protecting the environment we look into the inhabitants thereof. Animal conservation is closely affected by environmental conservation because without their habitats, animals can't be conserved effectively. Animal conservation has to do with the protection and sustainable management of animal species and their habitats.
Animals have suffered worldwide extinction for ages now. We know of the common Dodo bird that is already extinct. However, there are many more animal species that are extinct already and we'll only get to see their pictures as proof of their former existence.
Species such as the Great auk, Baiji, Woolly mammoth, Steller's sea cow, Quagga, Pyrenean ibex, Tasmanian tiger, and Passenger pigeon have all passed away.
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And extinction is not done with us yet. Research has shown that animal species worldwide may be experiencing a mass extinction rate in this age. What it means is that 75% or more species are lost at a time, which is about a thousand times higher than expected based on fossil fuel records.
Other species such as the Sumatran elephant, Black rhinoceros, Vaquita and Amur leopard are considered to be endangered species today.
Causes of Animal Extinction/Endangerment
Extinction of animal species is mainly caused by declining biodiversity due to human activities. Wildlife encroachment and hunting are the primary culprits, coupled with increased civilization, and they have caused great damage to animal species, making some extinct and many more endangered. Currently, more than 26,500 species are estimated to be at risk of extinction. It looks like a far-fetched statistics until you imagine that the human species was among them. Then it becomes scary.
Animal and environmental conservation are intertwined such that when not given due attention, will cause a great deal of uprising to human existence. Until we come to understand that biodiversity is one big pillar of life that gets weakened when a part of it ceases to exist, we won't see the need to protect it. The backbone of conservation is moderation. Better put, sustainability. In your own little corner, take action to be sustainable in your relationship with the environment and the animal species. See you again next week, when we'll be diving into other forms of nature conservation.
— Abdulsalam Abdulquddus
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