Conservation
In current circumstances, there is increased human activities due to explosion of human population and degradation of habitats which caused many species that were formerly common to decline to near extinction. Consequently, there is need to preserve populations of rare or threatened species (Deborah, 1987). Since last two decades, there is debate among researchers and environmentalists for nature conservation that involved the issue of biological diversity and ways to preserve it. Conservation of environment simply indicates the sustainable use as well as management of natural resources which include wildlife, water, air, and earth deposits. There are renewable and non-renewable natural resources. Conservation of natural resources generally focuses on the needs and interests of human beings, for instance the biological, economic, cultural and recreational values.
It is defined that Conservation is a principle of resource use, allocation, and protection. Its main focus is upon maintaining the health of the natural world, its, fisheries, habitats, and biological diversity. Conservation policies also focus on materials conservation and energy conservation, which are seen as important to protect the natural world. Conservationists have vision that development is necessary for a better future, but only when the changes occur in ways that are not wasteful. Biological data demonstrates that wildlife species are vanishing faster than ever before in Earth's history, while the average global temperature is dangerously rising. The glaciers are melting, extreme weather events are becoming more common and if necessary steps are not taken immediately to conserve the environment, humans and other species on earth are at high risk due to an unprecedented climate change which may threaten the very existence of life. Although the planet's climate is known to go through cycles and to change dramatically in the past as well, the climate change we are already witnessing is primarily a result of human activities. It is seen that scientific progresses have enabled human beings to harness natural resources of nature for their wellbeing. Recently, humans have exploited natural resources that results in increased pollution and other related issues. There are several types of conservation that affect the state of the environment.
Water Conservation
Water conservation According to the World Health Organization, over one billion people worldwide do not have access to safe drinking water. In the United States, western states may face their own water crisis due to rising populations and limited availability of treated water. The availability of clean water is affected by pollution.
Soil Conservation
Soil conservation is to avert soil from erosion or reduced fertility caused by misuse, acidification, salinization or other chemical soil contamination. The Dust Bowls of 1930 demonstrate the intense impacts of poor soil management. With the combination of dry, windy conditions, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates that the impacts lasted up to eight years in some states, resulting in tons of topsoil loss. The loss of topsoil is dangerous since most of the soil nutrients are found in this soil layer. Soil erosion introduces contaminants and sentiment into aquatic resources, increasing the environmental impact. Soil conservation is the management of soil to prevent its destruction. Today, agricultural practices and land management focus soil conservation as a way to ensure soil nutritional quality and to prevent water pollution. There are several techniques for improved soil conservation such as crop rotation, cover crops, conservation tillage and planted windbreaks and affect both erosion and fertility. When plants, especially trees, die, they decay and became part of the soil.
Wetland Conservation
The wetlands cover diverse and heterogeneous assemblage of habitats ranging from lakes, estuaries, river flood plains, mangroves, coral reef and other related ecosystems. Abundance of water at least for a part of the year is the single dominant factor. The main aim of Wetland conservation to protect and preserve areas where water exists near the Earth's surface, such as swamps, marshes and bogs. Wetlands cover at least six per cent of the Earth and have become a focal issue for conservation due to the ecosystem services they provide.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, over half of the wetlands of the contiguous 48 states have been lost. Wetlands provide valuable flood protection as well as habitat for plants and wildlife. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that one-third of the nations threatened and endangered species depends strictly on wetlands, making it one of the types of conservation necessary to prevent further environmental losses. Conservation efforts may focus on restoration of wetland habitat through control over invasive species. Other methods include prevention of runoff into wetlands through buffer strips planted adjacent to waterways.
Energy Conservation
Increased cost of fossil fuels and mounting environmental concerns have made energy conservation a top priority with governments and individuals. Energy conservation can also involve more complex solutions such as alternative fuel power plants. The goal of energy conservation is to balance the need for energy with the environmental impact of fulfilling those needs. There are many types of energy conservation such as renewable energy can be generated continuously practically without decay of source. For examples solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, hydro energy. Non-renewable energy is energy that comes from the ground and is not replaced in a relatively short amount of time. For example, energy generated from combustion of fossil fuels, coal, and gas. The types of conservation demonstrates that there are ways to protect the environment through the wise use of resources. The conflict between conserving natural resources and development can be resolved with increased awareness of the environment impacts of resource use. In this way, the effects can be minimized.
Major environmental challenges for humans in contemporary period due to over population and increased activities of humans are as under:
1. Loss of wildlife habitat which in turn brought many wildlife species on the brink of extinction.
2. Loss of forests which further increases the levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, increasing the greenhouse effect and further warming the planet. As an example, when buying wooden garden furniture always ensure its from renewable sources.
3. Extreme exploitation of natural resources, preventing the natural systems from replenishing.
4. Increased discharge of carbon dioxide, mainly by fossil fuel burning that contributes to the climate change.
5. Increased production of synthetic materials as a substitute for the natural ones, with many being extremely toxic to the environment or/and taking centuries to decompose.
To conserve the environment and reverse the threatening climate change affects on whole world, it requires a global action to achieve a global effect. Unfortunately, poor nations which mainly depend on the natural environment for survival need help to tackle poverty to be able to deal with environmental concerns.
Ways to Conserve the Environment
Conservation of forest resources deforestation: Deforestation is the clearing of natural forests by logging or burning of trees and plants in a forested area. Due to deforestation, presently about one half of the forests that once covered the Earth have been destroyed. It occurs for many different reasons, and it has several negative implications on the atmosphere and the quality of the land in and surrounding the forest.
It is recommended by experts that humans should not cut trees and use trees in smaller quantity. It is advised that humans should not burn poly bags, because it produces a lot of smoke and carbon dioxide. The government of a state should ensure that there should be less and less forest fires and the people living near the area should be careful. Another way to conserve environment is to prevent construction of too many dams and reducing the consumption of minerals.
One of the best way to conserve environment is Hydro-power and solar power. Power can be generated from these sources and these are the best ways for natural resources conservation like fossil fuels. There is also way to conserve natural resource like trees. It can be conserve through recycling process. Many products come from the trees like papers, cups, cardboards and envelopes. By recycling these products, people can reduce the number of trees cut down a year. One should make the most use of these paper products without being wasteful and then recycle them. This is best method for conserving natural resources. Fossil fuels on Earth will not last forever therefore human must make efforts to conserve these fossil fuels. To conserve fossil fuels, it is advised to choose to buy a hybrid car.
To summarize, conservation is the protection of natural resources which are features of environment that are important and value of to human in one form or the other. However, the progression of modern cultivation has had a great impact on planets natural resources. So, conserving natural resources is must in present situation.
