Conservation is the protection and preservation of plant and animal species and their natural habitats. It’s also about sustainable use of Earth’s resources, like water, air, minerals and fossil fuels, because they are nonrenewable and not replenished quickly enough to meet human demands. Extinctions are one of the most visible signs of declining biodiversity, but even species that survive extinction can lose much of their genetic diversity and ecosystem functions.
Humans’ resource consumption is pushing many natural species toward extinction and damaging the health of our planet. Air pollution, habitat destruction and climate change all contribute to the decline of biological diversity. Excessive harvesting and hunting also put a strain on the availability of some species.
Although conservation has had some successes, 41,000 species are at risk of extinction, including animals like grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) and bald eagles (Haliaetus leucocephalus). Even if a species doesn’t become extinct, its population can shrink significantly by losing genetic diversity or being isolated from its historical range.
Species and habitats can be protected by laws such as the Endangered Species Act in the United States, or by national and international agreements. Conservationists are also involved in research and education, which can help to raise awareness of the value of wildlife. They can work in the charity or non-governmental sector, with private for-profit companies and consulting firms, with local, state, federal or international governments or within academia. They may specialise in a particular area, such as ecology, hydrology or landscape architecture.