Defining Conservation and Environmentalism

To conserve literally means to use something sparingly. Conservation is the conscience effort to protect something and is most often a plan to prevent the neglect and extinction of a particular natural resource. Conservation has been a growing concern with both political and social groups for more than a century.

When today’s conservation movement first began more than 100 years ago, most groups focused on preserving our valuable natural resources, as well as some delicate natural areas like forests of diminishing tree species. Today, conservation encompasses much more than natural resources. Fisheries, wildlife reserves, and forestry, as well as the conservation of water and soil, are a part of the conservation movement.

Conservation involves the protection of our environmental resources and focuses on keeping our world safe without losing the magnificent variety of animal and plant species we see across the planet. Environmentalism is much the same, but environmentalism places more concentration on the protection and stability of the natural environment. Conserving our natural resources and preventing pollution are both issues of environmentalism. Environmentalism urges us to practice conservation by being responsible and efficient with the resources we use.

Conservationists of long ago, like Henry David Thoreau and John Muir, laid the foundation for modern environmentalism by bringing attention to the value and beauty of nature and influencing us to take on the responsibility of respecting this intricate system. Today’s environmentalism movement combines important aspects of both the conservation movement and the green movement.

A variety of groups, including those of political, scientific, and social natures, work together in the environmentalism movement to protect our natural resources and our environment by altering our own behaviors.

Environmentalists emphasize our responsibility to preserve and maintain a healthy and safe environment, from our own human rights to depleting supplies of natural resources.

There are thousands of environmental and conservational organizations around the world. Some are politically operated, while others are ran privately, and these organizations act at all levels, globally, nationally, and locally.

Environmental agencies do a variety of things, ranging from researching and studying sensitive issues to holding active demonstrations to make others aware of their concerns. These groups also lobby political representatives to make changes to improve the environment, take part in public hearings that relate to their interests, and sometimes even obtain property to set up preserves and reserves to protect the environment.

Some well known environmental organizations include the National Wildlife Federation, Friends of the Earth, and the Environmental Defense Fund, specializing in environmental lawsuits. The World Wide Fund for Nature, the Wilderness Society, and the Natural Resources Defense Council are a few more.

Environmental policy can be formed on a political, public level or it can be determined by the private sector. The public sector of environmental policy typically refers to the laws and programs currently supported by the government to regulate issues of environmental concern. Private environmental policy often goes beyond that in place by the public sector to include other rules and regulations, usually self-imposed or put in place by an individual rights group, to protect the environment.

A sometimes controversial conservation practice known as off-site conservation, or ex-situ conservation, is often argued by environmentalists because it uses laboratory procedures rather than natural techniques. This type of conservation is only used when deemed absolutely necessary because it is not only expensive, it can be harmful to the subject it is intended to help. Ex-situ conservation is an attempt to preserve a species of plant or animal on the verge of extinction through human intervention. A portion of the endangered species population is removed from its natural environment and isolating it in a simulated environment in hopes of prolonging and replenishing the species. This method of conservation seldom deters a species from becoming extinct, however.
Environmentalists and conservationists alike have a dire responsibility to protect the delicate environment of our world. From conserving water to recycling our garbage, individuals everywhere are a part of the environmental movement.

Global warming is a threat that will affect generations to come. The atmosphere surrounding us that supports life is a God-given gift. It must be protected. We should be leaders in efforts to curb global warming, not resistant followers. Erin Hunt is an avid writer and activist. She discovered that many are still unaware of the dangers of global warming and thus created a website to educate others on how they can play a role in the fight against global warming. Find out more about the effects and cause of global warming and how you can make a difference at http://www.fightagainstglobalwarming.com

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