conservation of land essay

Conserving Earth

Earth’s natural resources include air, water, soil, minerals, plants, and animals. Conservation is the practice of caring for these resources so all living things can benefit from them now and in the future.

Biology, Ecology, Earth Science, Geography, Geology, Conservation

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Earth ’s natural resources include air , water , soil , minerals , fuels , plants, and animals. Conservation is the practice of caring for these resources so all living things can benefit from them now and in the future. All the things we need to survive , such as food , water, air, and shelter , come from natural resources. Some of these resources, like small plants, can be replaced quickly after they are used. Others, like large trees, take a long time to replace. These are renewable resources . Other resources, such as fossil fuels , cannot be replaced at all. Once they are used up, they are gone f orever . These are nonrenewable resources . People often waste natural resources. Animals are overhunted . Forests are cleared, exposing land to wind and water damage. Fertile soil is exhausted and lost to erosion because of poor farming practices. Fuel supplies are depleted . Water and air are polluted . If resources are carelessly managed, many will be used up. If used wisely and efficiently , however, renewable resources will last much longer. Through conservation, people can reduce waste and manage natural resources wisely. The population of human beings has grown enormously in the past two centuries. Billions of people use up resources quickly as they eat food, build houses, produce goods, and burn fuel for transportation and electricity . The continuation of life as we know it depends on the careful use of natural resources. The need to conserve resources often conflicts with other needs. For some people, a wooded area may be a good place to put a farm. A timber company may want to harvest the area’s trees for construction materials. A business may want to build a factory or shopping mall on the land. All these needs are valid, but sometimes the plants and animals that live in the area are forgotten. The benefits of development need to be weighed against the harm to animals that may be forced to find new habitats , the depletion of resources we may want in the future (such as water or timber), or damage to resources we use today. Development and conservation can coexist in harmony. When we use the environment in ways that ensure we have resources for the future, it is called sustainable development . There are many different resources we need to conserve in order to live sustainably. Forests A forest is a large area covered with trees grouped so their foliage shades the ground. Every continent except Antarctica has forests, from the evergreen -filled boreal forests of the north to mangrove forests in tropical wetlands . Forests are home to more than two-thirds of all known land species . Tropical rainforests are especially rich in biodiversity . Forests provide habitats for animals and plants. They store carbon , helping reduce global warming . They protect soil by reducing runoff . They add nutrients to the soil through leaf litter . They provide people with lumber and firewood. Deforestation is the process of clearing away forests by cutting them down or burning them. People clear forests to use the wood, or to make way for farming or development. Each year, Earth loses about 14.6 million hectares (36 million acres) of forest to deforestation—an area about the size of the U.S. state of New York. Deforestation destroys wildlife habitats and increases soil erosion. It also releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere , contributing to global warming. Deforestation accounts for 15 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Deforestation also harms the people who rely on forests for their survival, hunting and gathering, harvesting forest products, or using the timber for firewood. About half of all the forests on Earth are in the tropics —an area that circles the globe near the Equator . Although tropical forests cover fewer than 6 percent of the world’s land area, they are home to about 80 percent of the world’s documented species. For example, more than 500 different species of trees live in the forests on the small U.S. island of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea. Tropical forests give us many valuable products, including woods like mahogany and teak , rubber , fruits, nuts, and flowers. Many of the medicines we use today come from plants found only in tropical rainforests. These include quinine , a malaria drug; curare , an anesthetic used in surgery; and rosy periwinkle , which is used to treat certain types of cancer . Sustainable forestry practices are critical for ensuring we have these resources well into the future. One of these practices is leaving some trees to die and decay naturally in the forest. This “ deadwood ” builds up soil. Other sustainable forestry methods include using low-impact logging practices, harvesting with natural regeneration in mind, and avoiding certain logging techniques , such as removing all the high-value trees or all the largest trees from a forest. Trees can also be conserved if consumers recycle . People in China and Mexico, for example, reuse much of their wastepaper, including writing paper, wrapping paper, and cardboard. If half the world’s paper were recycled, much of the worldwide demand for new paper would be fulfilled, saving many of Earth’s trees. We can also replace some wood products with alternatives like bamboo , which is actually a type of grass. Soil Soil is vital to food production. We need high-quality soil to grow the crops that we eat and feed to livestock . Soil is also important to plants that grow in the wild. Many other types of conservation efforts, such as plant conservation and animal conservation, depend on soil conservation. Poor farming methods, such as repeatedly planting the same crop in the same place, called monoculture , deplete nutrients in the soil. Soil erosion by water and wind increases when farmers plow up and down hills. One soil conservation method is called contour strip cropping . Several crops, such as corn, wheat, and clover , are planted in alternating strips across a slope or across the path of the prevailing wind . Different crops, with different root systems and leaves, help slow erosion.

Harvesting all the trees from a large area, a practice called clearcutting , increases the chances of losing productive topsoil to wind and water erosion. Selective harvesting —the practice of removing individual trees or small groups of trees—leaves other trees standing to anchor the soil. Biodiversity Biodiversity is the variety of living things that populate Earth. The products and benefits we get from nature rely on biodiversity. We need a rich mixture of living things to provide foods, building materials, and medicines, as well as to maintain a clean and healthy landscape . When a species becomes extinct , it is lost to the world forever. Scientists estimate that the current rate of extinction is 1,000 times the natural rate. Through hunting, pollution , habitat destruction, and contribution to global warming, people are speeding up the loss of biodiversity at an alarming rate. It’s hard to know how many species are going extinct because the total number of species is unknown. Scientists discover thousands of new species every year. For example, after looking at just 19 trees in Panama, scientists found 1,200 different species of beetles—80 percent of them unknown to science at the time. Based on various estimates of the number of species on Earth, we could be losing anywhere from 200 to 100,000 species each year. We need to protect biodiversity to ensure we have plentiful and varied food sources. This is true even if we don’t eat a species threatened with extinction because something we do eat may depend on that species for survival. Some predators are useful for keeping the populations of other animals at manageable levels. The extinction of a major predator might mean there are more herbivores looking for food in people’s gardens and farms. Biodiversity is important for more than just food. For instance, we use between 50,000 to 70,000 plant species for medicines worldwide. The Great Barrier Reef , a coral reef off the coast of northeastern Australia, contributes about $6 billion to the nation’s economy through commercial fishing , tourism , and other recreational activities. If the coral reef dies, many of the fish, shellfish , marine mammals , and plants will die, too. Some governments have established parks and preserves to protect wildlife and their habitats. They are also working to abolish hunting and fishing practices that may cause the extinction of some species. Fossil Fuels Fossil fuels are fuels produced from the remains of ancient plants and animals. They include coal , petroleum (oil), and natural gas . People rely on fossil fuels to power vehicles like cars and airplanes, to produce electricity, and to cook and provide heat. In addition, many of the products we use today are made from petroleum. These include plastics , synthetic rubber, fabrics like nylon , medicines, cosmetics , waxes, cleaning products, medical devices, and even bubblegum.

Fossil fuels formed over millions of years. Once we use them up, we cannot replace them. Fossil fuels are a nonrenewable resource. We need to conserve fossil fuels so we don’t run out. However, there are other good reasons to limit our fossil fuel use. These fuels pollute the air when they are burned. Burning fossil fuels also releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. Global warming is changing ecosystems . The oceans are becoming warmer and more acidic , which threatens sea life. Sea levels are rising, posing risks to coastal communities. Many areas are experiencing more droughts , while others suffer from flooding . Scientists are exploring alternatives to fossil fuels. They are trying to produce renewable biofuels to power cars and trucks. They are looking to produce electricity using the sun, wind, water, and geothermal energy — Earth’s natural heat. Everyone can help conserve fossil fuels by using them carefully. Turn off lights and other electronics when you are not using them. Purchase energy-efficient appliances and weatherproof your home. Walk, ride a bike, carpool , and use public transportation whenever possible. Minerals Earth’s supply of raw mineral resources is in danger. Many mineral deposits that have been located and mapped have been depleted. As the ores for minerals like aluminum and iron become harder to find and extract , their prices skyrocket . This makes tools and machinery more expensive to purchase and operate. Many mining methods, such as mountaintop removal mining (MTR) , devastate the environment. They destroy soil, plants, and animal habitats. Many mining methods also pollute water and air, as toxic chemicals leak into the surrounding ecosystem. Conservation efforts in areas like Chile and the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States often promote more sustainable mining methods. Less wasteful mining methods and the recycling of materials will help conserve mineral resources. In Japan, for example, car manufacturers recycle many raw materials used in making automobiles. In the United States, nearly one-third of the iron produced comes from recycled automobiles. Electronic devices present a big problem for conservation because technology changes so quickly. For example, consumers typically replace their cell phones every 18 months. Computers, televisions, and mp3 players are other products contributing to “ e-waste .” The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that Americans generated more than three million tons of e-waste in 2007. Electronic products contain minerals as well as petroleum-based plastics. Many of them also contain hazardous materials that can leach out of landfills into the soil and water supply. Many governments are passing laws requiring manufacturers to recycle used electronics. Recycling not only keeps materials out of landfills, but it also reduces the energy used to produce new products. For instance, recycling aluminum saves 90 percent of the energy that would be required to mine new aluminum.

Water Water is a renewable resource. We will not run out of water the way we might run out of fossil fuels. The amount of water on Earth always remains the same. However, most of the planet’s water is unavailable for human use. While more than 70 percent of Earth’s surface is covered by water, only 2.5 percent of it is freshwater . Out of that freshwater, almost 70 percent is permanently frozen in the ice caps covering Antarctica and Greenland. Only about 1 percent of the freshwater on Earth is available for people to use for drinking, bathing, and irrigating crops. People in many regions of the world suffer water shortages . These are caused by depletion of underground water sources known as aquifers , a lack of rainfall due to drought, or pollution of water supplies. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 2.6 billion people lack adequate water sanitation . More than five million people die each year from diseases caused by using polluted water for drinking, cooking, or washing. About one-third of Earth’s population lives in areas that are experiencing water stress . Most of these areas are in developing countries. Polluted water hurts the environment as well as people. For instance, agricultural runoff—the water that runs off of farmland—can contain fertilizers and pesticides . When this water gets into streams , rivers , and oceans, it can harm the organisms that live in or drink from those water sources. People can conserve and protect water supplies in many ways. Individuals can limit water use by fixing leaky faucets, taking shorter showers, planting drought-resistant plants, and buying low-water-use appliances. Governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations can help developing countries build sanitation facilities. Farmers can change some of their practices to reduce polluted runoff. This includes limiting overgrazing , avoiding over-irrigation, and using alternatives to chemical pesticides whenever possible. Conservation Groups Businesses, international organizations , and some governments are involved in conservation efforts. The United Nations (UN) encourages the creation of national parks around the world. The UN also established World Water Day, an event to raise awareness and promote water conservation. Governments enact laws defining how land should be used and which areas should be set aside as parks and wildlife preserves. Governments also enforce laws designed to protect the environment from pollution, such as requiring factories to install pollution-control devices. Finally, governments often provide incentives for conserving resources, using clean technologies, and recycling used goods. Many international organizations are dedicated to conservation. Members support causes such as saving rain forests, protecting threatened animals, and cleaning up the air. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an alliance of governments and private groups founded in 1948. The IUCN works to protect wildlife and habitats. In 1980, the group proposed a world conservation strategy . Many governments have used the IUCN model to develop their own conservation plans. In addition, the IUCN monitors the status of endangered wildlife, threatened national parks and preserves, and other environments around the world. Zoos and botanical gardens also work to protect wildlife. Many zoos raise and breed endangered animals to increase their populations. They conduct research and help educate the public about endangered species . For instance, the San Diego Zoo in the U.S. state of California runs a variety of research programs on topics ranging from disease control in amphibians to heart-healthy diets for gorillas. Scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London, England, work to protect plant life around the world. Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank , for example, works with partners in 54 countries to protect biodiversity through seed collection. Kew researchers are also exploring how DNA technology can help restore damaged habitats. Individuals can do many things to help conserve resources. Turning off lights, repairing leaky faucets, and recycling paper, aluminum cans, glass, and plastic are just a few examples. Riding bikes, walking, carpooling, and using public transportation all help conserve fuel and reduce the amount of pollutants released into the environment. Individuals can plant trees to create homes for birds and squirrels. At grocery stores, people can bring their own reusable bags. And people can carry reusable water bottles and coffee mugs rather than using disposable containers. If each of us would conserve in small ways, the result would be a major conservation effort.

Tree Huggers The Chipko Movement, which is dedicated to saving trees, was started by villagers in Uttar Pradesh, India. Chipko means hold fast or embrace. The villagers flung their arms around trees to keep loggers from cutting them down. The villagers won, and Uttar Pradesh banned the felling of trees in the Himalayan foothills. The movement has since expanded to other parts of India.

Thirsty Food People require about 2 to 4 liters of drinking water each day. However, a day's worth of food requires 2,000 to 5,000 liters of water to produce. It takes more water to produce meat than to produce plant-based foods.

Tiger, Tiger Tigers are dangerous animals, but they have more to fear from us than we have to fear from them. Today there are only about 3,200 tigers living in the wild. Three tiger subspecies the Bali, Caspian, and Javan tigers have gone extinct in the past century. Many organizations are working hard to protect the remaining tigers from illegal hunting and habitat loss.

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Essay on “Conservation of land” Complete Essay for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.

Conservation of land

            Synopsis: Conservation of the land is essential for survival and continued availability of food-grains.  Soil-erosion is a worldwide phenomenon but it is worst in the developing countries. Water and wind are the major sources of soil-erosion which wash or blow away the top soil, the valuable substance which helps plants and vegetation to grow.  In India about 175 Mha land is already degrades because of erosion.  Conservation of land and other natural resources need to be addressed immediately.  Several steps have been taken to stop soil erosion and conserve natural resources but they are not adequate.  More efforts on various levels need to be taken to conserve land, increase agricultural productivity and develop new technologies in water and soil management etc.

            Conservation of soil and water is essential for human survival.  Without the conservation of these two natural resources food production cannot be increased nor disasters checked.  Already all the available land for agriculture is being exploited and there is not much scope of further expansion.  Nearly one third of the total land area of the world in arid, about 11 per cent is under ice-cover and another 10 per cent is tundra.  Conservation is the need of the hour to ensure continued availability of food-grains, fruits, vegetables, and such other supplies.  Water is life. It is an essential natural resource needed in homes for drinking, bathing, wising, cooking and in fields and farms for raising crops and keeping animals.

            When the land is stripped of its green cover, soil is lot and damaged by erosion.  Nearly 26 billion metric tonnes of topsoil is being eroded every year.  It takes from 200 to 1000 years to from 2.5cm of topsoil under normal agricultural conditions. It is estimated that from 20-300 tonnes per hectare soil is lost annually.  Topsoil is lost many times faster than it can be replaced.  The erosion is called the silent theft.  A single rain or storm can erode century’s old accumulated soil from a field stripped of plant-cover.  Soil is that valuable substance which causes plants and vegetation grow.  Soil is the life-giving substance.  Ultimately men and animals, all depend on plants, grass, grains etc.  It this vegetation and plant supporting soil is blown or washed away, the land becomes useless form the agricultural point of view because the sub-soil, underneath it is not potent enough to support plant life.  Without this vital cover of topsoil, the land becomes arid, barren and useless.

            Water and wind are the two major agents of soil-erosion which wash or blow away the top-soil.  Poor agricultural practices which strip the land of its vegetative cover are the cause of soil-erosion.  As a result of erosion about 4330 million hectares of arable land had to be abandoned during the last 4-5 decades.  This degradation of land caused by erosion is a very serious problem. In the developing nations of Asia, Africa and South America, the problem is the worst.  Soil erosion is affecting 15 per cent of the earth’s cropland area.  The shrinking forest covers result in flash floods and erosion of the land.  There are storms as well across the denuded area of land and the soil is blown away constantly…  Soil erosion is likely to continue in coming years.  At the present rate of erosion there would be about 30 per cent loss of the global soil inventory by the year 2050.

            Erosion by sea water and desertification has made the situation worse.  Desertification is there on a vast scale.  Nearly 21 Mha of present rate of desertification about 1.2 billion people would be affected by the turn of the century.  The global warming, because of greenhouse effect, will make the sea-level rise above present level by 20 cm by 2030 and 30 cm by 2050 leading to inundation of large areas of land.  Glaciers and icecaps have started melting and causing thermal expansion of the oceans.  India has a vast coastline and erosion by sea has caused losses on a vast scale.  About 175 Mha land in the country is already degraded.  The land under agriculture is 143 Mha, 56 percent of it’s suffers from varying degrees of degradation.  Of the total of 75 Mha forest land, 40 Mha suffers from degradation.  It emphasizes the abuses of our natural resources in the past and even in the present.  Conservation is one of the major human problems and must be addressed immediately and effectively.  Earth is the 4ojly known living planet because of its varied natural resources which support and sustain life.  Without these natural resources like water and soil, the earth would have been another dead, desolate and deserted planet like Mars or Jupiter. Water, soil, forests and wildlife are our valuable natural resources and must be preserved at any cost.

            Soil conversation is one of the most important inputs of increasing agricultural output.  IN India many efforts are being made to check soil erosion and the emphasis has been on development of technology for problem identification, formulation and implementation of problem-oriented schemes, enactment of appropriate legislation and constitution of policy coordination bodies.  The main objectives of soil and water conservation schemes in the country are : to minimize process of erosion and land degradation to restore degraded lands; to ensure availability of water and soil moisture; to create micro level irrigation potential through water harvesting; to ensure rebuilding of internal fertility of soil through organic recycle etc.  The various programmes aim at conservation of soil and water mainly on agricultural lands. These programmes provide an overall perspective of problems like water and wind erosion, degradation through water logging, salinity, ravines, torrents, shifting cultivation, coastal sands in addition to declining man-land ration.  Major Central schemes aim at checking premature siltation of multi-purpose reservoirs, mitigating flood hazards in productive plains, resetting of shifting cultivation and restoring degraded lands. 

            A Centrally-sponsored scheme of soil conservation in catchment of river valley project was launched during Third Plan.  Another scheme of integrated watershed management in catchments of flood-prone rivers was launched during the Sixth Plan in eight flood-prone rivers.  By the end of the Seventh Plan an area of 2.40 Mha out of the total treatable area of 17.99 Mha in the catchments of River Valley Projects was treated, which comes to 13.11 per cent of treatable area. Similarly, in the case of Flood-prone River Scheme till the end of the Seventh Plan an area of 0.36 Mha, out of the treatable are of 4.37 Mha was treated.  A scheme for reclamation and development of ravine areas had been launched in 1987-88 in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.  A scheme for reclamation of alkali (user) soils was also launched during the Seventh Plan which is continuing in Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.  It was introduced to improve physical condition and productivity status of alkali sols for restoring crop production.  Gujarat was added to the scheme in 1989-90.  For controlling sheeting cultivation a pilot scheme in 1989-90.  For controlling shifting cultivation a pilot scheme was implemented in Arunanchal Pradesh and Mizoram in 1986-87.  This scheme was then extended to many States including Orissa and Andhra Pradesh and all the north-eastern States. 

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• Ohio State University - Origins - “Give Earth a Chance”: Earth Day and the Politics of Modern Environmentalism
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conservation , study of the loss of Earth’s biological diversity and the ways this loss can be prevented. Biological diversity, or biodiversity , is the variety of life either in a particular place or on the entire planet Earth, including its ecosystems , species , populations , and genes . Conservation thus seeks to protect life’s variety at all levels of biological organization.

(Read E.O. Wilson’s Britannica essay on mass extinction.)

Species extinction is the most obvious aspect of the loss of biodiversity. For example, species form the bulk of the examples in a comprehensive assessment of the state of the planet published in the early 21st century by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, an international effort coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme . The subject of conservation is broader than this, however. Even a species that survives extinction can lose much of its genetic diversity as local, genetically distinct populations are lost from most of the species’ original range. Furthermore, ecosystems may shrink dramatically in area and lose many of their functions, even if their constituent species manage to survive. Conservation is involved with studying all these kinds of losses, understanding the factors responsible for them, developing techniques to prevent losses, and, whenever possible, restoring biodiversity.

Conservation is a crisis discipline , one demanded by the unusual rates of loss; it is also a mission-driven one. By analogy , ecology and conservation have the same relationship as physiology and medicine . Human physiology studies the workings of the human body , whereas medicine is mission-oriented and aims to understand what goes wrong and how to treat it. The major parts of this article thus deal first with the “pathology” of extinction—why and how biodiversity is lost—and second with the “treatment” methods to prevent these losses.

Conservation is often considered a purely biological topic, as exemplified by major scientific journals with titles such as Conservation Biology and Animal Conservation as well as college textbooks with such titles as Principles of Conservation Biology and Essentials of Conservation Biology . However, because the underlying cause of the loss of biodiversity is increasing human activity, conservation must inevitably involve human interactions. Many of the techniques to prevent the loss of biodiversity involve issues of economics , law , social sciences , and religion —all of which are covered by the journals and textbooks cited above.

The “pathology” section of this article begins by documenting the losses of species. In doing so, it shows that a set of common factors are responsible; these are then individually identified and discussed. The final part of the section demonstrates that some species and ecosystems are much more likely to lose biodiversity than others. The other main division, the “treatment” section, considers a variety of “therapies” that address the problems identified in the first section.

The pathology of extinction

Rates of natural and present-day species extinction.

According to the best estimates of the world’s environmental experts, human activities have driven species to extinction at rates perhaps 1,000 times the natural, or background, rate, and future rates of extinction will likely be higher. To show how the experts arrived at these conclusions, it is necessary to pose and attempt to answer a series of extremely difficult questions. How many species are there? How fast were species disappearing before human activity became pervasive ? How fast are they becoming extinct at present? And finally, it is necessary to ask a further question: What does the future hold for extinctions if current trends continue?

Any absolute estimate of extinction rate , such as extinctions per year, requires knowledge of how many species there are. Unfortunately, this number is not known with any great degree of certainty, and the problems of estimating it are formidable . Taxonomists have described—that is, have given names to—about 1.9 million species. Only about 100,000 of them, comprising terrestrial vertebrates, some flowering plants, and attractive and collectible invertebrates such as butterflies and snails, are popular enough for taxonomists to know well. Birds are exceptionally well known; there are roughly 10,400 bird species, with only 1 or 2 new species being added each year.

Those who describe species cannot always be certain that the specimen in hand has not been given a name by someone else in a different country and sometimes even in a different century. Consequently, some taxonomic groups may have more names assigned to them than constituent species, which would result in erroneously high species estimates. Potentially much more serious as a source of error is the fact that some species groups have relatively few named members compared with the numbers that experts think exist in those groups. For example, taxonomists have only sparsely sampled some potentially rich communities , such as the bottom of the deep ocean and the canopies of rainforests .

One estimate of how many species might still be undescribed involves a comparison of fungi and flowering plants ( angiosperms ). In Great Britain, where both groups are well known, there are six times as many named species of fungi as of flowering plants. If this ratio applies worldwide, the world total of about 300,000 species of flowering plants, which are fairly well known globally, predicts a total of about 1.8 million species of fungi, which are not. Other mycologists estimate that there may be between 2.2 million and 3.8 million total species. Only about 144,000 species of fungi currently have names.

For insects , there are about 1 million described species, yet estimates of how many insect species exist are often around 5.5 million.

An obvious concern follows regarding the usefulness of such calculations as a basis for assessing the loss of species. Any absolute estimate of species extinctions must be extrapolated from the 100,000 well-known species of living plants and animals, to the roughly 1.5 million described species, to the likely grand total of very roughly 8.7 million. However, if the potential number of bacteria species are included, some estimates reach as high as 1 trillion species. Because of uncertainties about the total number of living species, published statements regarding the total number of species that become extinct per year or per day can vary a hundredfold.

Another approach to assessing species loss is to derive relative estimates—estimates of the proportion of well-known species that become extinct in a given interval. Estimating such proportions is the basis for the remainder of the discussion on rates of extinction, but it raises a critical concern of its own—namely, are these proportions actually typical of the great majority of species that are still undescribed? They are likely to be so if extinction rates in widely different species groups and regions turn out to be broadly similar.

There also is another way in which estimates of extinctions can be made relative. Extinctions have always been a part of Earth’s history. It is possible to make any estimates of massive future extinction relative to that history.

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• Conservation of Nature Essay

Essay on Conservation of Nature

Conservation of Nature is one of the most important essays writing topics for students of all classes. The need for conservation of nature and various measures for conservation of natural resources are included in the academic syllabus for almost all classes. Our subject matter experts at Vedantu have prepared an informative essay on the topic of Conservation of Nature, which will act as a guideline for the practice purpose of kids and students. The essay is written in an easy-to-understand manner, so as to help the kids to learn and remember the important points for writing this essay. 

Essay 1: Nature is a blessing 

Nature is the source of energy, source of light, source of oxygen, and in turn, source of life. We are nothing without nature and its components. With an increase in human growth and science, we tend to focus on everything but nature. Building bridges, cities, buildings are not only development but also a setback for nature because all we end up doing is cutting off trees, erasing the environment, and creating a ruckus for nature.

Nature has been providing us with everything, be it water, rain, sunlight, oxygen, shelter, or whatnot. In short, nature is the solution to almost all problems. All we need to do is prevent the human race from obliterating to further obliterate nature. The process of doing this is generally known as conservation. We need to conserve nature, we need to conserve life.

Conserving nature is one way of storing something fruitful for our future self, or the future generation. It is like investing money in a bank, which in turn lets you have more than what you invested eventually. 

To conserve nature would be equal to conversing with the human race. We need to start thinking about it. It might seem like a small or negligent topic to talk about but honestly, nature is getting worse with every passing day and we have to start preserving it today.

There is not much needed to conserve nature. We don't have to give in our everything or leave other things to achieve this one goal, no. All we have to do is take small steps, every day. Small steps like trying to save even one ounce of water each day, or trying to plant at least one plant from your side, or trying to lessen air pollution from your side. Nature doesn't ask much from us.

To achieve this goal, we also need to know to have knowledge about a few other things such as our natural resources. Natural resources are classified into two groups, named, Renewable and Non-RenewableNon Renewable resources. 

Renewable resources are those resources that can be recharged, such as solar panels, geothermal, and so on. On the other hand, Non-renewable petrol renewable resources are the ones that cannot be recharged such as fuels, patrol, and so on. We need to let renewable resources overpower non-renewable resources.

The other thing is being aware of the 3Rs technique, i.e., Reduce, Recycle, Reuse. If we pledge to follow these small rules and live by them, we can achieve a lot more than just nature's conservation.  

With an increase in human growth and science, we tend to focus on everything but not nature. Nature is the source of energy, source of light, source of oxygen, and in turn, source of life. We are nothing without nature and its components. Humans are constantly Building bridges, cities, buildings are not only development but also a setback for nature because all we end up doing is cutting off trees, erasing the environment, and creating a ruckus for nature. When we do something to conserve and protect nature, nature will give tremendous benefits for the survival of human beings on Earth. 

Essay 2: Conservation of Nature

‘In every walk in nature, one receives far more than he seeks.’ Nature is the best surprise gift received from God. Nature has blessed us with a variety of things like water, food, shelter, rain, sunlight, oxygen, and countless other things. These things assist humans in the betterment of their lives. Life is unpredictable and it's very difficult to tackle adverse situations, in such times nature is the solution to all the problems. Conservation is having a straightforward meaning of preservation and protection. 

Conserving nature is just similar to adding or keeping cash in the pocket. Nature is the best friend of a human. Have you ever heard of naturotherapy techniques to cure the patient? Patients are advised to take or spend some time in the native place of animals. There they can keep themselves calm and comfortable so that they feel relaxed at the time of surgeries. Many of the medicines have their ingredients collected directly from the forest. 

Have you ever thought about the amount of water we waste in a day? A great amount of water is wasted in our daily chores which could be helpful at the time of droughts. Also, keeping the water clean by not throwing any garbage in it, is the best way to conserve nature. Things made up of plastic should not be thrown off into water bodies as it never decomposes. 

Natural resources can be classified into two categories which are renewable and nonrenewable. Renewable natural resources are those which can be replenished, like solar, wind, geothermal while on the other hand non-renewable are those which cannot be replenished easily over a short span of time. Non-renewable resources like fuels, petrol, and carbon are available in significant quantities. Renewable natural resources are available in good and significant quantities but their proper and effective use can vanish the utilization of non-renewable natural resources. Such as, electricity can be generated with the help of wind or water. Solar cars can reduce the use of petrol cars. This helps in keeping our earth an evergreen place to live. The conversion of one energy form into another is the best possible way to stop the consumption of non-renewable resources and to start making the best use of renewable energy. 

Urbanization increases the rate of the population on concrete homes and decreases the reserves of natural utilities. 

Nature has a lot to give, but there must be a proper way to store and reuse it. the 3R technique (Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse) proves the best method for conservation purposes. It states first try to reduce the use, or recycle the material or reuse it for other purposes. Many NGOs are spreading awareness among the people regarding this, but in the end, it's up to the self to take an initiative to make a change. As far as possible avoiding the use of non-renewable resources is the best possible way to maintain the reserves. Even keeping the water potable is a way of conservation. We have to start it someday, so why is that someday not today? Taking a step towards conserving nature is just like taking the step to success.

Final Thoughts

In your essay on Conservation of Nature, you should emphasize the need to conserve natural resources and the measures that can be taken for conservation. In the introduction paragraph, you may write about the gifts of nature and how nature actively supports the survival of living beings. For the body of your essay, you may write one or two paragraphs, stating the types of natural resources and how they are beneficial to humans. Also, write about the overuse of natural resources, leading to a faster rate of depletion than they can be replenished. In the concluding paragraph, write about the measures that can be taken to conserve natural resources. You can refer to the essay on this topic available on Vedantu to get a better idea.

FAQs on Conservation of Nature Essay

1. What are the main points to be written in an essay on the Conservation of Nature?

An essay on Conservation of Nature has to be informative and the points in it have to be relevant to most of the readers. The below-given questions will help you frame your essay on the Conservation of Nature.

What are the gifts of nature to living beings?

How does nature help us in rejuvenation?

What are the benefits drawn from natural resources, in our daily lives?

Is there any medicinal benefit that can be derived from nature?

How many types of natural resources are there? What are they?

How can we conserve renewable natural resources?

How can we save our nature from pollution?

What is the 3R technique?

2. How to write an essay on Conservation of Nature?

In your essay on Conservation of Nature you should emphasize the need to conserve natural resources and the measures that can be taken for conservation. In the introduction paragraph, you may write about the gifts of nature and how nature actively supports the survival of living beings. For the body of your essay, you may write one or two paragraphs, stating the types of natural resources and how they are beneficial to humans. Also, write about the overuse of natural resources, leading to a faster rate of depletion than they can be replenished. In the concluding paragraph, write about the measures that can be taken to conserve natural resources. You can refer to the essay on this topic available on Vedantu to get a better idea.

3. What is the 3R principle?

The 3R’s stand for ‘reduce’, ‘reuse’, and ‘recycle’, it is more often referred to as the three R’s of sustainability. The objective of these three R’s is conserving natural resources by cutting down their waste. Recycling and reusing manufacturing wastes and raw materials are meant to reduce the wastage of resources and the energy derived from these resources.

4. Is it important to write about the 3R principle in the essay on Conservation of Nature?

Yes, it is important to write about the 3R principle in your essay on the Conservation of Nature. It is one of the most effective measures to conserve natural resources and is being practiced all over the world. This will make your essay even more informative from the readers’ perspective.

5. Why is the conservation of nature necessary?

The conservation of nature is important because without nature there won’t be life possible on our planet. Nature gives us the necessary value to live our life. It provides us food to eat, eater to drink, and air to breathe. Nature has been providing us with everything, be it water, rain, sunlight, oxygen, shelter, or whatnot. In short, nature is the solution to almost all problems. Also, it provides us with a shelter to live in, and those valuable things that help us to live a good life. 

• Conservation Of Forest Essay

Conservation of Forest Essay

500+ words conservation of forest essay.

Forest conservation is the practice of planting and maintaining forested areas for the future. Forests play a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance and bringing the monsoon. They are essential for the survival of life on Earth as they provide oxygen, which is essential for all living organisms to survive. Apart from these, they provide a wide range of resources we use in our everyday lives. But, human activities are destroying forests to fulfil their greed. Thus, there is a need for forest conservation. Efforts should be made to stop this destruction from causing serious environmental problems. With the help of the conservation of forest essay, students will know various methods of forest conservation to reduce environmental damage. Students must practise CBSE Essays on different topics to gain command over the writing section. This will also help them to score high marks on English papers.

A forest is a complex ecosystem mainly composed of trees, shrubs and herbs. They are home to different plants, birds, insects, mammals, reptiles etc. A large variety of life forms exists in the forests. Even microorganisms and fungi are found in forests, which are important for decomposing dead organic matter and thus enriching the soil. Nearly 30 per cent of the total land area is covered with forest, which accounts for 4 billion hectares of forest on the earth’s surface.

Importance of Conserving the Forests

Forests provide various natural services and products. Many forest products are used in our day-to-today lives. Forests store carbon and act as carbon sinks. They produce oxygen, which is important for the existence of life on earth. That’s why forests are also called the earth’s lungs. They help in regulating the hydrological cycle, purify water, absorb toxic gases and noise, provide wildlife habitat, maintain planetary climate, reduce global warming, conserve soil, reduce pollution, and mitigate natural hazards such as landslides, floods and so on. Thus, forests play an important role in maintaining ecological balance and also contribute to the economy.

Forest Conservation Initiatives

The loss of our forest can be stopped by putting efforts from the citizens, forest conservation organisations, and governments. Various laws, like the Forest Conservation Act, have been prepared and are being implemented by the government of India. The Forest Conservation Act of 1980 was enacted to control deforestation. In 1988, this act was amended to facilitate stricter conservation measures. The government also implements many schemes for the conservation of forests and their sustainable management. The Joint Forest Management (JFM) programme is a good example of involving local communities in managing and restoring degraded forests.

People’s participation in the conservation of the forest is of vital importance. The perfect example of people’s contribution towards forest conservation is the Chipko movement in the Himalayas. The movement was successful due to the efforts of the local residents to save the forest of Tehri Garhwal. The women cling or hug the trees tightly and dare men to cut them. Thus, the movement gained a lot of popularity and became famous around the world. The cutting down of trees in forest areas must be stopped at all costs. At all functions, festivals and celebrations, we must build a habit of planting trees.

Students must have found the Conservation of Forest Essay useful for improving their essay writing skills. Visit BYJU’S website to get the latest updates and study material on CBSE/ICSE/State Board/Competitive Exams.

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Essay on Conservation of Forest and Wildlife

Students are often asked to write an essay on Conservation of Forest and Wildlife in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Conservation of Forest and Wildlife

Introduction.

Forests and wildlife are vital parts of our ecosystem. They provide shelter, food, and even oxygen. Sadly, these natural resources are under threat due to human activities.

Importance of Forests and Wildlife

Forests absorb harmful carbon dioxide, helping to combat climate change. They are also home to countless species of animals. Wildlife, on the other hand, contributes to biodiversity, crucial for ecosystem balance.

Threats to Forests and Wildlife

Deforestation and hunting are major threats. Forests are being cleared for agriculture or urbanization, while animals are hunted for their body parts.

Conservation Efforts

Protecting these resources involves creating protected areas, enforcing laws, and promoting sustainable practices. Education also plays a key role in conservation.

250 Words Essay on Conservation of Forest and Wildlife

Forests and wildlife are integral to maintaining ecological balance. They serve as carbon sinks, absorbing greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Wildlife, on the other hand, plays a crucial role in pollination, pest control, and maintaining a balanced food chain.

Impacts of Deforestation and Loss of Wildlife

Deforestation and loss of wildlife have far-reaching impacts. It disrupts the balance of the ecosystem, leading to severe climatic changes, soil erosion, and loss of biodiversity. The extinction of a single species can have a domino effect, causing the collapse of an entire ecosystem.

Conservation Strategies

Conservation strategies revolve around sustainable use and management of natural resources. These include the establishment of protected areas, implementation of laws against illegal hunting and logging, and promotion of eco-tourism. Additionally, reforestation and afforestation programs can help restore degraded habitats.

The conservation of forests and wildlife is not just an environmental issue; it’s a matter of survival for future generations. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that we use our resources sustainably, preserving the balance of our ecosystems. Through concerted efforts and global cooperation, we can protect and preserve our natural heritage.

500 Words Essay on Conservation of Forest and Wildlife

Forests and wildlife are integral parts of our planet’s ecosystem, playing a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. They not only support a diverse range of flora and fauna but also provide essential resources for human survival. However, with rapid industrialization and urbanization, the conservation of forest and wildlife has become a pressing issue.

The Importance of Forests and Wildlife

Wildlife, on the other hand, contributes to the biodiversity of the planet. Each species, no matter how small, plays a vital role in the ecosystem. They help in pollination, pest control, decomposition, and much more. Wildlife also has intrinsic value, enhancing our world with their beauty and diversity.

Unfortunately, human activities pose significant threats to forests and wildlife. Deforestation, driven by the need for agricultural land, timber, and urban development, is causing a rapid loss of forest cover. This not only results in a loss of habitat for wildlife but also contributes to climate change.

Efforts towards the conservation of forest and wildlife must be multi-pronged. Legal measures, such as implementing strict laws against deforestation and poaching, can deter destructive activities. Protected areas, like national parks and wildlife reserves, should be established and effectively managed to provide safe havens for wildlife.

Community involvement is also crucial. Local communities should be educated about the importance of conservation and encouraged to participate in conservation efforts. Sustainable practices, such as community forestry and eco-tourism, can provide economic benefits while preserving the environment.

The Role of Technology and Research

The conservation of forest and wildlife is not just an environmental issue; it is a matter of our survival. As we continue to exploit nature for our needs, we must also take responsibility for its protection. By understanding the value of forests and wildlife, implementing effective conservation strategies, and harnessing the power of technology and research, we can ensure a sustainable future for all life on Earth.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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Essay on Wildlife Conservation

Introduction to Wildlife Conservation

Wildlife conservation is crucial for maintaining the planet’s ecological balance and preserving biodiversity. Wildlife faces numerous threats as human activities continue to expand, including habitat destruction, climate change, and poaching. The loss of wildlife impacts ecosystems and communities that depend on them for their livelihoods and cultural practices. For example, the African elephant, with its iconic status, is facing a severe poaching crisis due to the demand for ivory. Without conservation efforts, these magnificent creatures could face extinction in the wild. This essay explores the importance of wildlife conservation, the threats facing wildlife, and strategies to protect these vulnerable species.

Importance of Wildlife Conservation

• Biodiversity Preservation: Wildlife conservation helps maintain the diversity of life on Earth, ensuring that various species, ecosystems, and genetic diversity are preserved for future generations.
• Ecosystem Balance: Wildlife plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems. Species interact with each other and their environment in complex ways, and losing one species can have cascading effects on others.
• Economic Benefits: Wildlife conservation can have significant economic benefits, including ecotourism, which generates revenue and employment opportunities in local communities.
• Cultural Importance: Many cultures around the world have deep connections to wildlife, and conservation helps preserve these cultural practices and traditions.
• Ecological Services: Wildlife provides essential ecological services, such as pollination, seed dispersal, and nutrient cycling, which are vital for the health of ecosystems and human well-being.
• Medicinal Resources: Many wildlife species provide sources for medicines and other valuable products that can benefit human health.
• Climate Regulation: Wildlife plays a role in regulating the climate by sequestering carbon and contributing to the overall health of ecosystems.
• Education and Research: Wildlife conservation provides opportunities for education and research, helping us better understand the natural world and develop sustainable practices.
• Aesthetic and Recreational Value: Wildlife enriches our lives through its beauty and provides recreational activities like birdwatching and hiking opportunities.
• Ethical Considerations: Many people believe that wildlife has intrinsic value and a right to exist independent of its usefulness to humans, making conservation a moral imperative.

Threats to Wildlife

Threats to wildlife are numerous and diverse, ranging from direct human activities to broader environmental changes. Here are some of the major threats:

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• Habitat Loss and Fragmentation: One of the biggest threats to wildlife is the destruction and fragmentation of habitats due to human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and agriculture. This habitat loss reduces the available space for wildlife to live and thrive.
• Climate Change: Climate change alters habitats and ecosystems, making them less suitable for many species. Changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, and sea levels are affecting the distribution and behavior of wildlife.
• Poaching and Illegal Wildlife Trade: Poaching for body parts, such as ivory, horns, and skins, continues to threaten many species, including elephants, rhinos, and tigers. The illegal wildlife trade is a multi-billion-dollar industry that drives many species to the brink of extinction.
• Pollution: Pollution from various sources, including chemicals, plastics, and oil spills, can devastate wildlife. Pollutants can contaminate water and soil, harm ecosystems, and directly impact the health of wildlife.
• Overexploitation: Overexploitation of wildlife for food, medicine, pets, and other purposes can lead to population declines and even extinction. Unsustainable hunting and fishing practices can deplete populations faster than they can recover.
• Invasive Species: Invasive species introduced by humans can outcompete native species for resources, prey on them, or introduce diseases, leading to declines in native wildlife populations.
• Human-Wildlife Conflict: As human populations expand and encroach on wildlife habitats, conflicts between humans and wildlife increase. This can result in retaliatory killings of wildlife and further habitat destruction.
• Infrastructure Development: The construction of roads, dams, and other infrastructure can fragment habitats, disrupt wildlife migration routes, and increase the risk of collisions between wildlife and vehicles.
• Lack of Awareness and Conservation Efforts: A lack of awareness about the importance of wildlife conservation and inadequate conservation efforts can also threaten wildlife. Without proper conservation measures, species are more vulnerable to other threats.

Conservation Strategies

Conservation strategies aim to protect and restore ecosystems, preserve wildlife populations, and promote sustainable practices. Here are some key conservation strategies:

• Protected Areas: Establishing and maintaining protected areas, such as national parks, wildlife reserves, and marine protected areas, to safeguard habitats and wildlife from human activities.
• Habitat Restoration: Restoring degraded habitats through reforestation, wetland restoration, and other measures to improve habitat quality and connectivity for wildlife.
• Wildlife Corridors: Creating wildlife corridors or greenways to connect fragmented habitats, allowing species to move between areas and maintain genetic diversity.
• Anti-Poaching Efforts: Implementing measures to combat poaching, such as increasing patrols, strengthening law enforcement, and reducing demand for wildlife products.
• Community-Based Conservation: Involving local communities in conservation efforts through sustainable livelihoods, education, and partnerships to promote conservation while meeting their needs.
• Sustainable Land Use Practices: Promoting sustainable agriculture, forestry, and fisheries practices that minimize negative impacts on wildlife and ecosystems.
• Climate Change Mitigation: Addressing climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting renewable energy, and supporting climate-resilient habitats.
• Invasive Species Management: Managing and controlling invasive species to reduce their impact on native wildlife and ecosystems.
• Research and Monitoring: Conducting research and monitoring better to understand wildlife populations, habitats, and threats and to inform conservation strategies.
• Education and Awareness: Educating the public about the importance of wildlife conservation and promoting behavior change to reduce threats to wildlife.

Human-Wildlife Conflict

Human-wildlife conflict occurs when there are competition or antagonistic interactions between humans and wildlife, often resulting in negative consequences for both. Here are some key aspects of human-wildlife conflict:

• Causes: Human-wildlife conflict can arise due to various factors, including habitat loss and fragmentation, competition for resources such as food and water, crop raiding by wildlife, predation on livestock, property damage, and threats to human safety.
• Impacts on Humans: Human-wildlife conflict can have significant socio-economic impacts on communities, including crop losses, damage to property and infrastructure, loss of livelihoods, injuries, and even loss of human lives. These impacts can exacerbate poverty and food insecurity, particularly in rural areas.
• Impacts on Wildlife: Human-wildlife conflict can also negatively impact wildlife populations, including retaliatory killings, habitat destruction, reduced reproductive success, and fragmentation of habitats. This can lead to declines in wildlife populations and loss of biodiversity.
• Species Affected: A wide range of wildlife species can be involved in human-wildlife conflict, including large mammals such as elephants, big cats, bears, and wolves, as well as smaller animals like monkeys, deer, and rodents.
• Conflict Hotspots: Human-wildlife conflict tends to occur in areas where humans and wildlife overlap, such as agricultural lands, peri-urban areas, and areas adjacent to protected areas or natural habitats.
• Management Strategies: Various strategies, including preventive measures such as fencing, deterrents, and land-use planning, as well as reactive measures such as compensation schemes, translocation of problem animals, and community-based conflict resolution, can help mitigate human-wildlife conflict.
• Community Engagement: Engaging local communities in decision-making and implementing solutions is essential for addressing human-wildlife conflict effectively. This can involve participatory approaches, community-based monitoring, and capacity building to empower communities to coexist with wildlife.
• Policy and Legislation: Governments play a crucial role in addressing human-wildlife conflict by developing and enforcing policies promoting coexistence, protecting wildlife, and supporting affected communities.
• Research and Monitoring: Research on human-wildlife conflict’s causes, impacts, and dynamics is essential for informing management strategies and developing evidence-based solutions. Monitoring of conflict incidents and their outcomes can help assess the effectiveness of mitigation measures.
• Long-Term Solutions: Addressing the root causes of human-wildlife conflict, such as habitat loss, land-use change, and socio-economic disparities, is crucial for achieving long-term solutions that promote sustainable coexistence between humans and wildlife. This may require integrated approaches that consider the needs of both people and wildlife and involve multiple stakeholders.

Economic Aspects of Wildlife Conservation

The economic aspects of wildlife conservation are multifaceted and interconnected with broader socio-economic factors. Here are some key economic aspects of wildlife conservation:

• Ecotourism: Wildlife conservation can stimulate economic growth through ecotourism, which involves visiting natural areas to observe wildlife. Ecotourism can create jobs, generate revenue for local communities, and provide incentives for conservation.
• Ecosystem Services: Wildlife conservation contributes to the provision of ecosystem services, such as pollination, water purification, and carbon sequestration, which have economic value for human well-being and livelihoods.
• Biodiversity-based Industries: Conservation of wildlife and habitats supports industries that rely on biodiversity, such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and biotechnology, by maintaining genetic resources and ecosystem functions.
• Cultural and Spiritual Values: Wildlife conservation can preserve cultural and spiritual values associated with wildlife, such as traditional practices, beliefs, and aesthetics, contributing to cultural heritage and identity.
• Property Values: Proximity to protected areas and wildlife habitats can increase property values, benefiting local economies and communities.
• Research and Education: Conservation efforts contribute to scientific research and education, creating opportunities for innovation, capacity building, and knowledge transfer.
• Regulation and Enforcement: Wildlife conservation regulations and enforcement mechanisms incur costs but are necessary for preventing illegal activities, such as poaching and habitat destruction, which can have long-term economic consequences.
• Sustainable Resource Use: Conservation promotes sustainable resource use practices, which can lead to long-term economic benefits by ensuring the availability of resources for future generations.
• Opportunity Costs: Conservation often involves trade-offs, as protecting wildlife and habitats may require limiting certain economic activities, such as logging, mining, or agriculture, which can have short-term economic costs.
• Externalities: Wildlife conservation can generate positive externalities, such as improved ecosystem health and resilience, benefiting society as a whole but not necessarily captured in market transactions.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite efforts to conserve wildlife, several challenges and limitations persist, hindering effective conservation outcomes. Here are some of the key challenges and limitations:

• Funding Constraints: Limited funding for conservation projects often restricts the scale and effectiveness of conservation efforts, leading to gaps in the protection and management of wildlife and habitats.
• Lack of Political Will: Inadequate political support and commitment to conservation initiatives can result in insufficient policies, enforcement, and allocation of resources for conservation efforts.
• Human-Wildlife Conflicts: Conflicts between humans and wildlife, such as crop raiding by elephants or livestock depredation by predators, can lead to negative perceptions of wildlife and undermine conservation efforts.
• Limited Stakeholder Engagement: Ineffective engagement with local communities, indigenous peoples, and other stakeholders can hinder conservation efforts, as their support and participation are crucial for successful conservation outcomes.
• Poverty and Livelihoods: Poverty and lack of alternative livelihood options can drive communities to engage in activities harmful to wildlife, such as poaching and illegal logging, undermining conservation efforts.
• Inadequate Law Enforcement: Weak law enforcement, corruption, and insufficient penalties for wildlife crimes contribute to illegal wildlife trade and poaching, exacerbating threats to wildlife populations.
• Climate Change: Climate change poses significant challenges to wildlife conservation by altering habitats, disrupting ecosystems, and increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.
• Limited Data and Information: Only complete or adequate data on wildlife populations, habitats, and threats can impede evidence-based conservation decision-making and monitoring of conservation outcomes.
• Conflicting Interests: Conflicts of interest between conservation goals and economic development, infrastructure projects, or resource extraction activities can compromise conservation efforts and lead to habitat destruction.
• Scale and Scope: The vast scale and complexity of conservation challenges, including global biodiversity loss and habitat degradation, require coordinated and sustained efforts at local, national, and international levels.

Role of Government and NGOs

Both governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play crucial roles in wildlife conservation, often collaborating to achieve conservation goals. Here’s how they contribute:

• Policy and Legislation: Governments are responsible for creating and implementing laws and regulations designed to safeguard wildlife and their natural habitats. This includes establishing protected areas, regulating hunting and trade, and setting conservation goals.
• Resource Management: Governments manage natural resources , including wildlife, through agencies such as wildlife departments, national parks, and forestry departments, ensuring sustainable use and conservation.
• Law Enforcement: Governments enforce wildlife protection laws through wildlife rangers, law enforcement agencies, and judiciary systems to combat poaching, illegal trade, and other wildlife crimes.
• Research and Monitoring: Governments fund and research wildlife populations, habitats, and threats to inform conservation strategies and monitor the effectiveness of conservation efforts.
• International Cooperation: Governments collaborate with other countries through agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to address transboundary conservation issues.

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

• Advocacy and Awareness: NGOs raise awareness about wildlife conservation issues, advocate for policy change, and mobilize public support for conservation efforts.
• Field Conservation: NGOs implement on-the-ground conservation projects, such as habitat restoration, anti-poaching efforts, and species conservation programs, often in collaboration with local communities.
• Research and Monitoring: NGOs conduct scientific research, monitor wildlife populations, and develop conservation strategies to protect endangered species and habitats.
• Capacity Building: NGOs build the capacity of local communities, governments, and other stakeholders to engage in effective conservation practices and sustainable natural resource management.
• Community Engagement: NGOs work closely with local communities, indigenous peoples, and other stakeholders to involve them in conservation decision-making and ensure conservation benefits local people.
• Partnerships and Collaboration: NGOs collaborate with governments, other NGOs, academia, and businesses to leverage resources, share expertise, and coordinate conservation efforts on a larger scale.

Case Studies

Here are some case studies of successful wildlife conservation projects from around the world:

• Conservation efforts for giant pandas in China have successfully upgraded the species from “endangered” to “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List. Conservation measures include establishing protected areas, habitat restoration, and captive breeding programs.
• Black Rhinoceros Conservation (Namibia): Namibia has implemented community-based conservation programs that involve local communities in rhino conservation and provide economic benefits from ecotourism. As a result, black rhino populations have increased in some areas.
• Mountain Gorilla Conservation (Rwanda, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo): Conservation efforts, including anti-poaching patrols, community engagement, and tourism revenue sharing, have helped increase mountain gorilla populations in the Virunga Massif and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
• California Condor Recovery Program (USA): The California Condor Recovery Program has successfully increased the population of critically endangered California condors through captive breeding, habitat protection, and monitoring programs.
• Tiger Conservation (India): India’s Project Tiger, launched in 1973, has been instrumental in conserving tiger populations by establishing tiger reserves, improving habitat, and anti-poaching efforts, leading to an increase in tiger numbers.
• Sea Turtle Conservation (Costa Rica): Conservation efforts in Costa Rica have helped protect nesting beaches, reduce bycatch, and increase awareness about the importance of sea turtle conservation, leading to increased nesting populations.
• African Elephant Conservation (Kenya): Kenya’s anti-poaching efforts, community-based conservation programs, and wildlife corridors have helped protect African elephant populations and reduce poaching.

Future Outlook

The future of wildlife conservation faces both challenges and opportunities. Here are some key aspects of the future outlook for wildlife conservation:

• Climate Change: Climate change continues to impact wildlife and habitats, necessitating adaptive strategies to mitigate its effects on ecosystems and species.
• Habitat Loss and Fragmentation: Addressing ongoing habitat loss and fragmentation will be critical to ensuring the survival of many species, requiring concerted efforts to protect and restore habitats.
• Technology and Innovation: Advances in technology, such as remote sensing, DNA analysis, and conservation drones, offer new tools for monitoring wildlife populations, combating poaching, and informing conservation strategies.
• Policy and Governance: Enhancing international cooperation, strengthening wildlife protection laws, and improving governance frameworks will be essential for effective conservation on a global scale.
• Human-Wildlife Coexistence: Promoting coexistence between humans and wildlife through innovative solutions, such as wildlife corridors, eco-friendly infrastructure, and community-based conservation, will be crucial for reducing conflicts and conserving biodiversity.
• Public Awareness and Education: Increasing public awareness about the importance of wildlife conservation and promoting sustainable lifestyles will be key to garnering support for conservation efforts.
• Sustainable Development: Integrating wildlife conservation into sustainable development agendas, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), will be vital for balancing conservation with human development needs.
• Inclusive Conservation: Ensuring conservation efforts are inclusive and benefit local communities, indigenous peoples, and marginalized groups will be essential for long-term conservation success.
• Innovative Financing: Exploring new financing mechanisms, such as biodiversity offsets, conservation finance, and public-private partnerships, will be crucial for funding conservation projects and ensuring their sustainability.
• Adaptive Management: Embracing adaptive management approaches that allow for flexibility and learning from both successes and failures will be critical for effective conservation in an ever-changing world.

Wildlife conservation is imperative for maintaining biodiversity, ecological balance, and ecosystem services essential for human well-being. While facing numerous challenges, such as habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict, conservation efforts have shown promising results in protecting and restoring wildlife populations and habitats. The future of wildlife conservation depends on collaborative efforts involving governments, NGOs, local communities, and individuals. Sustainable practices, innovative solutions, and effective policies are crucial for ensuring the survival of wildlife species and promoting harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife. By valuing and conserving wildlife, we protect our natural heritage and secure a healthy planet for future generations.

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The dominant conservation narrative for centuries was fortress conservation, an approach that protects natural spaces by excluding human populations who are blamed for ecological degradation. This approach resulted in the displacement of local communities that have long had  a deep, cultural, economic and ecological connection to this land. These millennia-old connections with the land have fostered healthy stewardship of ecosystems. Restricting access to land that these communities depend on for their livelihoods and wellbeing is also harmful to ecosystem health. 

This exclusionary perspective is reflected in the land rights of many countries where protected areas that exclude people dominate the conservation landscape.  The dominant land rights system is statutory land rights, which is where the state determines who owns how much land. Instead of granting Indigenous and local communities the autonomy to decide how to interact with the land, national laws restrict this either by prioritizing protected areas or through the exploitation of land for economic gain. There must be a shift to promote the inclusion of local communities in determining how to conserve nature. Rather than just looking at protected areas as a place to conserve nature in its most pristine form, we must shift the perspective to recognize that local communities can also benefit through the creation of effective and inclusive conservation strategies.

This shift is realized as a conservation economy. What is this?  A Conservation Economy focuses equally on local community leadership, ecological wellbeing, and economic functionality. These “economies” — or systems — operate by linking the intrinsic value of nature to the understanding that sustainable management of resources can provide economic opportunity for Indigenous and rural communities through restorative, conservation-based revenue streams for stakeholders. At EcoCiv, we believe that a shift toward this conservation economy is one way to efficiently promote the wellbeing of both people and the planet. This perspective promotes an effective conservation strategy while ensuring that these communities continue to use their land as a vehicle for economic sustainability. The goal is to ensure that local communities are the leaders in the decision-making processes of their land, resources, and economic system, instead of an external entity. Thus, a conservation economy relies on these voices and their knowledge to provide the best ecological and economic outcomes in their local context. 

Local communities cannot lose their relationship with their land. Not only does it impact their way of life, but it reduces their ability to continue their cultural practices. This connection to nature held by these communities will forcibly decline over time if the conservation narrative does not change. Indigenous communities hold traditional ecological knowledge that is vital to conservation. These communities also recognize how human-nature relationships are integral to society. Reducing their ability to continue these relationships reduces the ability for future generations to continue these healthy, sustainable human-nature relationships. Granting these communities a voice to determine what conservation methods are the most effective is the only way to ensure that land is protected for the right reasons in the right way. This is what we try to accomplish at EcoCiv: to grant local communities the voice to feel heard on issues impacting their own land to ensure the long-term viability of their cultural, economic, and ecological relationships with nature. 

There is much to do and the work here at EcoCiv is only beginning. There must be a shift away from the paradigm of fortress conservation that has dominated the conservation ideology for centuries. The Conservation Economies project is an emerging project, created through the recognition that the current models in place will not result in long-term, sustainable growth for these local communities. Future projects  that ensure the inclusion and empowerment of these communities for the prosperity of both people and planet are projects that reflect the values of an ecological civilization.

Written by: Juliana Arnold EcoCiv’s Communications and Writing Assistant

The Land Ethic

The land ethic is more than just a concept—it's a call to action, urging us to intertwine our care for humanity with our care for the land. Dive deeper into our journey and discover how we're bringing Aldo Leopold’s philosophy to life, showcasing the transformative power of community with the natural world.

What are Ethics?

Fundamentally grounded in values, ethics are a moral sense of right and wrong. Ethics are demonstrated through one’s actions in everyday life; when a person cares about someone or something, their conduct conveys that care and respect, inviting the same in return. Ethics direct all members of a community to treat one another with respect for the common good.

What is a Land Ethic?

A land ethic expands the definition of “community” to include not only humans, but all of the other parts of the Earth, as well: soils, waters, plants, and animals – “the land”. In a land ethic, the relationships between people and land are intertwined; care for people cannot be separated from care for the land. Thus, a land ethic is a moral code of conduct that stems from these interconnected caring relationships.

A Global Impact

Aldo Leopold's concept of a land ethic transcends boundaries, speaking a universal language that resonates with individuals across the globe. His ideas about respecting and ethically interacting with our natural environment continue to inspire and guide people, demonstrating that the principles of a land ethic are as pertinent and impactful today as they were when first articulated. This map illustrates the global footprint of the land ethic, highlighting the diverse array of countries whose citizens have connected with the Aldo Leopold Foundation and our mission.

A Land Ethic in Action

In the heart of our endeavors lies the essence of the land ethic—an encompassing belief that our community includes the natural world around us. At the Aldo Leopold Foundation, every step we take and every initiative we launch serves as living proof of our unwavering dedication to this community, showcasing the tangible impacts of adopting a land ethic and a truly interconnected approach to conservation.

Let's Do Profound Together

Upcoming programs, evolution in a thinking community.

Leopold recognized that his dream of a widely accepted and implemented set of values based on caring – for people, for land, and for all the connections between them – would have to “evolve… in the minds of a thinking community.” We are all part of that thinking community. To shape a land ethic for the 21st century and beyond, we must engage in thoughtful dialogue with each other, inviting a diversity of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds. Together, we can form a land ethic that will live on to guide future generations.

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The Aldo Leopold Foundation was founded in 1982 with a mission to foster the land ethic through the legacy of Aldo Leopold, awakening an ecological conscience in people throughout the world.

Essay on Conservation of Biodiversity for Students and Children

500+ words essay on conservation of biodiversity.

Conservation of biodiversity is vital for maintaining the Earth’s environment and sustaining life on the planet. There are a number of ways in which the richness of biodiversity helps in maintaining the ecological system. Conservation of biodiversity is important for the survival of living beings on Earth. Hence, a lot of emphases is being given on the conservation of biodiversity these days.

The Extinction in Biodiversity

Due to human activities, numerous varieties of animals go extinct each year. Western Black Rhinoceros, Dodo, Tasmanian tiger, Golden Toad, Woolly Mammoth, Caribbean Monk Seal, Ivory-billed Woodpecker, and Japanese Sea Lion are some of the species of animals that have gone extinct.

Lemur, Mountain Gorilla, Vaquita, Sea Turtles, Amur Leopard, and Tiger are some of the species that are on the verge of extinction. Apart from these many species of plants and trees including Lepidodendron, Araucaria Mirabilis, Wood Cycad and Kokia Cookie have gone extinct and many species are endangered.

Need to Conserve Biodiversity

Earth is a beautiful planet which has given us many things which occur naturally. Natural resources, rivers, valleys , oceans, different species of animals and beautiful varieties of plants and trees are among some of these.

In today’s world, we are busy developing our surroundings and spoiling our beautiful environment. Today, we have exploited most of the things that were available abundantly in nature. Thus, there arises a need to conserve these natural things. Among other things, there is a serious need for the conservation of biodiversity.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Importance of Conservation of Biodiversity

Conservation of biodiversity is important for many reasons. Here are some of the main reasons to conserve biodiversity:

• Process of Food Chain: Different species of animals and plants serve as the source of food for other animals and living organisms. Thus, conserving biodiversity help to keep the food chain among the living organisms.
• Nutritional Needs: The decline in the variety of plants and animals would mean the decline in the variety of food we eat. So, this is likely to result in nutritional deficiencies.
• Cleaner Air: Plants and trees have a greater ability to purify the air and keep the atmosphere clean. As there is a decrease in the number and types of trees and plants, it impacts the quality of air in a negative way.
• Better Cultivation of Crops:   Fertility of soil is maintained by many insects, organisms and microorganisms work on different levels. So we have to maintain the level of microorganism which is better for the cultivation of crops.
• For Medical Reason s: For making different medicines many species of trees and plants are used so as to cure various diseases.

Methods to Conserve Biodiversity

Methods that can help in the conservation of biodiversity are

• Control Population: The greater the population the higher the needs which would result in further exploitation of flora and fauna and decline in biodiversity. For the conservation of biodiversity, we have to control the human population and allow other species of plants and animals to replenish on our planet.
• Control Pollution: The changing climate, deteriorating air quality and the growing amount of pollution on land and water bodies are leading to different types of diseases in many. It is essential to reduce the activities leading to pollution so as to conserve biodiversity.
• Reduce Deforestation: Due to deforestation, there is the loss of habitat. Due to this reason, wild animals are unable to survive in the new environment and die.
• Avoid Wastage: We need to understand that natural resources are not only essential for us but are also vital for the survival of other species. We must thus utilize only as much as we require them so that these remain available in abundance in nature for future use.
• Spread Awareness: Apart from this, one of the best methods to conserve biodiversity is by spreading awareness. The government can do so at a bigger level. While we can spread awareness by word of mouth and through social media.

Conservation of biodiversity is of utmost importance. We must all make efforts to conserve biodiversity rather than contributing towards its declination. Thus, the richness of biodiversity is essential for the survival of living beings on Earth.

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Conservation Of Land Resources

The preservation of land assets is the security of standard land assets. This is accomplished by wiping out or palliative the human result on auto chthonic habitats, the capable assembling of land assets, furthermore preservation that means to show around human hurt to land assets. Accordingly, this pace of debasement of land should be checked. conversion, land recovery, managed use of substance chemicals and manures, and minds overgrazing area unit a little of the conventional ways accustomed save land assets. The developing public and their steady developing interest have prompted an enormous scope annihilation of timber cowl and productive land and has created a sense of dread toward losing this traditional plus.

Land preservation approaches are unit upheld by government associations just as us Department of Agriculture and also the Environmental Protection Agency. These ecological laws area unit came to stay organizations, businesses, and residents from creating any hurt to our indispensable land assets. Individuals and state area units beginning to attend dynamic lengths to forestall ecological annihilation caused by folks. Owing to the means that some land has simply had minor aggravations and alternative land has been all wiped out, an associate assortment of procedures area unit expected to complete land protection. absolutely the most traditional procedures incorporate remedy, reclamation, safeguarding so forth.

Remediation is the commonest means of cleansing a contaminated region utilizing typically mild or nondestructive techniques. the first objective of remedy is to scrub and restore the tarnished region whereas inflicting as very little aggravation or mischief as can be expected. Researchers ofttimes utilized an associate assortment of techniques for remedy, as well as a compound, physical, and natural ways to eliminate uncleanness.

One more technique utilized in land preservation is reconstruction, which is the commonest means of returning environments and networks to their distinctive traditional circumstances. To restore a biological system, analysis ought to first examine the flow climate and do research to choose the verifiable states of the setting. Safeguarding the climate implies that grounds and their traditional assets ought not to be consumed by folks and need to otherwise be well-kept within their excellent structure. Preservationists firmly settle that individuals will approach the land but need to simply use it for its regular magnificence and motivation.

What is Conservation of Land Resources?

Conservation of land resources is the sustainable use and management of land resources. It includes the conservation of soil, water, plants, and animals. Conservation of land resources helps to protect the environment and to ensure that there is enough food and water for future generations.

There are many ways to conserve land resources. One way is to reduce or stop the use of harmful chemicals. This can be done by using organic farming methods, using less water for irrigation, or using more efficient irrigation methods. Another way to conserve land resources is to prevent or reduce soil erosion. This can be done by planting trees or shrubs on steep slopes, terracing fields, or by using mulch. Still another way to conserve land resources is to reduce deforestation. This can be done by planting trees in areas that have been deforested, protecting natural forests, or by reforestation.

The best way to conserve land resources is to use them wisely and responsibly. We can all do our part to help conserve land resources by being aware of the ways we impact the environment and making choices that will help protect it.

Need for Conservation of Land Resources

It is estimated that humans have impacted over 60% of the world’s land surface. With the world’s population projected to increase by 2 billion people by 2050, the need for the conservation of land resources has never been greater. The demand for food, water, and energy will continue to rise, putting even more pressure on our limited land resources.

So what can be done to conserve land resources? One solution is to improve efficiency in agriculture, which currently uses 70% of the world’s land surface. This can be done through a variety of methods such as precision agriculture, no-till farming, and agroforestry. Another solution is to set aside more land for nature conservation. This can be done through initiatives such as rewilding and creating protected areas.

Both individuals and governments have a role to play in conserving land resources. Everyone can help by reducing their consumption of meat and dairy products (which require large amounts of land for grazing and crop production), choosing products made from sustainable materials (such as bamboo or recycled plastic), and supporting initiatives to protect natural habitats. Governments can help by implementing policies that encourage sustainable land use practices and investing in research and development for new technologies that help us live more sustainably on this planet.

Importance of Conservation of Land Resources

It is important to conserve land resources for a variety of reasons. First, the land is a finite resource, meaning that there is a limited amount of it available on Earth. Second, land resources provide essential ecosystem services, such as food production, water filtration, and flood control. Third, the conservation of land resources can help mitigate the effects of climate change. Fourth, healthy ecosystems are necessary for human health and well-being. Finally, land resources are key to the economic development of countries and regions.

The first reason to conserve land resources is that they are finite. There is only so much land available on Earth, and it is not possible to create more. This means that if we want to maintain our current standard of living, we need to use the land wisely and conserve it for future generations.

Second, land resources provide essential ecosystem services without which humans could not survive. These services include food production, water filtration, and flood control. Ecosystems also provide other benefits such as recreation and tourism opportunities and carbon sequestration.

Third, the conservation of land resources can help mitigate the effects of climate change by preserving or increasing carbon sinks such as forests. Additionally, healthy ecosystems are more resilient to climate change impacts such as floods and droughts. Fourth, human health depends on healthy ecosystems. For example, many people get their drinking water from rivers or aquifers that are recharged by forested watersheds. 

Traditional Ways Accustomed Ration Land Assets

• Land recovery: Land recovery is the extra strategy for method creating new land structure ocean, riverbeds so forth for ranchers to preserve land.
• Afforestation: Establishing a lot of trees will facilitate the timber cowl.
• Keeps an eye fixed on overgrazing: Overgrazing will reduce ground cowl, empowering disintegration and compaction of the land by wind and waterspout. This lessens the capability for plants to develop and water to enter, which damages soil microorganisms and ends up in the real disintegration of the land.
• Managed use of artificial chemicals and composts: Cycle of creating the ranchers educated with regard to the negative components of overuse of manures and substance pesticides.
• Keeps an eye fixed on overgrazing: Overgrazing will reduce ground cowl, empowering disintegration and compaction of the land by wind and waterspout. This decreases the capability for plants to develop and water to enter, which damages soil microorganisms and ends up in the real disintegration of the land.

Sample Questions

Question 1: Justify the common strategies used for the conservation of land resources.

Their area unit varied ways that of allocation of land assets they’re 1. Land recovery 2. Conversion 3. Minds overgrazing 4. Directed use of substance chemicals and manures.

Question 2: Explain why the natural resource area unit is important.

The land is viewed as a major plus since it tends to be a place to use for various functions like gardening, ranger service, mining, building homes, streets, and fitting of ventures. Land assets area unit delineate as important in light-weight of the actual fact that they offer asylum to completely different verdure.

Question 3: What is meant by natural resource conservation?

Land preservation is the commonest means of safeguarding regular land and returning created land to its traditional state. owing to the means that some land has simply had minor aggravations and alternative land has been all destroyed, an associate assortment of ways area unit expected to complete land preservation.

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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Three Essays on Land Conservation Programs

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Supermarkets Coles and Woolworths urged to dump beef products linked to deforestation on Australian farms

Topic: Land Clearing

There's one industry that destroys more forests than any other — beef.

Forests around the world are cleared to make way for cattle destined for your dinner plate.

And Australia is no different.

More than half the continent is used for grazing livestock. And most deforestation happens on Australian cattle farms.

Now, there is a global push to end deforestation through regulation, consumer action and corporate accountability.

And supermarkets are being singled out, urged to stop selling beef from properties that clear forest.

The beef industry is pushing back, and one of its weapons is the dictionary. It says clearing forests on cattle properties shouldn't always count as deforestation.

The Australian Conservation Foundation, which is pressuring supermarkets to change their policy in Australia, has examined hundreds of instances of deforestation in Australia.

It has compiled a list of 50 properties that have cleared significant areas of forest in the past few years that all meet two key criteria: data suggests all of them contain habitat of protected species or ecological communities, and all of them are linked to the domestic beef industry.

The list reveals what deforestation for beef looks like across the country.

In 2023, this property in New South Wales finished clearing 1,500 hectares of forest. 

That's about the size of half a dozen or so inner-city suburbs in Sydney.

According to government data, those trees were likely home to koalas, which are now listed as endangered in NSW, as well as many other threatened and endangered species.

A similar area of 1,760 hectares was cleared on this property in NSW in 2022. This lost habitat was thought to be home to a range of protected species including pink cockatoos, which are listed as endangered across the country.

All 50 of the properties on the list each cleared more than 14 hectares of forest since 2020. Most of them cleared more than 100 hectares.

Across those areas, there are records of hundreds of federally listed threatened species and ecological communities.

Together they amount to 16,000 hectares cleared — the equivalent of 8,000 MCGs.

The Australian Conservation Foundation says it's confirmed all of the clearing is happening on beef properties that supply the domestic market.

Australia is the only rich country listed as a "deforestation hotspot" by the World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature.

The conservation group estimated 43 million hectares of forest had been destroyed — about six times the area of Tasmania — between 2004 and 2017.

"It's very bad and people don't even know it's happening," says Dr Martin Taylor, an environmental scientist from the University of Queensland, who has worked extensively with WWF and other conservation groups.

He says it's clear what's driving that deforestation — beef.

Professor Martine Maron from the University of Queensland says there's no doubt most forest in Australia is cleared from cattle farms.

But she says blaming beef might be too simplistic given government policies, bank policies and concerns about land value all incentivise clearing on cattle properties.

The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) is hoping to change some of those incentives.

They are calling on Coles and Woolworths — which together sell about a third of all beef in Australia — to guarantee they won't sell beef from properties that have cleared forest, like the 50 properties shown above.

"Woolworths and Coles are two of the biggest buyers of Australian beef," says Bonnie Graham, ACF's corporate campaigner. 

"And with that size comes a huge amount of influence."

The demand doesn't seem radical, when you consider what's happening globally.

The big supermarkets' smaller competitor in Australia, Aldi, has said all its beef will be deforestation free by the end of 2025.

Internationally, so has UK's biggest supermarket chain Tesco as well as its competitors Sainsbury, Waitrose, Co-op and Marks and Spencer. So has the global arm of Aldi.

The EU has even announced it won't allow beef imports after this year unless they can be proven to be deforestation free. And that follows a cohort of European supermarkets refusing to buy any beef from Brazil due to concerns about land clearing in the Amazon Basin.

In Brazil, more than 30 million hectares of rainforest — an area bigger than the state of Victoria — has been cleared in the past 20 years. It's thought up to 80 per cent of that destruction was for cattle.

Chris Parker, the CEO of Cattle Australia, which represents grass-fed beef producers in Australia insists there is no deforestation problem here, and he questions the motives of those who campaign against land clearing.

"Often their business model relies on outrage. And for outrage, you need an enemy, and they see the beef industry as that enemy," he says.

Asked about deforestation visible on cattle properties, like the 50 that ACF have identified, Dr Parker says he wants to see proof that it's contributing to environmental problems.

"Is it regrowth? Is it land that was already cleared previously? These are not simple black and white answers. They are about getting appropriate empirical data," he says.

Dr Parker points to national data. Australia's State of the Forests report in 2023 does show that total forest cover in Australia has been increasing every year since 2007.

So how can there be a deforestation problem, if total forest area is increasing?

Dr Taylor says that data is in conflict with other national data sets that suggest forest cover is decreasing. But regardless, he says measures of total forest cover are "ecologically meaningless".

He says that's because it equates the cutting down of forests — which could be decades or more old — with young trees, which have grown just enough to cross the threshold for being defined a "forest".

A forest in Australia is usually defined as an area of a particular size, which is tall enough and dense enough. Specifically: at least a fifth of a hectare, with trees at least 2 metres high, and a canopy covering at least 20 per cent of the area.

Cattle Australia would like to add some caveats to that definition if the forest is on agricultural land.

"We're not saying that you go out and clear virgin forest. We've never said that," Dr Parker says.

But it argues any land that was significantly altered after 1990 shouldn't count as forest.

That would mean excluding forest that was weeded 34 years ago, or forest that had infrastructure like a dam or shed built in it.

Cattle Australia says clearing such land should not count as deforestation and therefore any future labels or rules about deforestation used by supermarkets or regulators must exclude large sections of forest land on cattle properties.

Professor Maron disagrees.

"I think it's really important that the definition of deforestation aligns with the practice that we have a concern about — the loss of forest — rather than some sort of legal technicality," she says.

Dr Taylor is more blunt.

"The only acceptable definition to an ecologist like me is if there is a native forest one day and the next day there isn't. That should be the end of the story on deforestation," he says.

For conservation group ACF, a definition like that being proposed by Cattle Australia would amount to greenwashing.

"Any policy that allows deforestation or broadscale land clearing to continue to occur under the guise of a deforestation-free policy is quite simply greenwashing," says Bonnie Graham, who campaigns on sustainable supply chains for ACF.

So far neither Coles nor Woolworths have set targets acceptable to ACF.

Woolworths has a target of "net-zero deforestation" by 2025, which allows deforestation, but tries to offset that with regrown forests.

"We are committed to sourcing beef sustainably in partnership with our farmers and suppliers," a spokesperson said.

Coles doesn't have any target around deforestation in its beef supply chain but told the ABC it was committed to reducing its impact on the environment and to helping customers make more responsible choices.

In the end, Professor Maron says, among all the environmental problems we face, deforestation is one we should be able to fix.

"From a biodiversity perspective habitat loss, largely through deforestation, is the most important threat…to our biodiversity at the moment. And the thing is, it's one of the few threats that we actually have complete leverage over as humans. We do it, or we do not do it. We permit it to happen, or we do not."

Reporting: Michael Slezak

Development: Katia Shatoba

Design: Brody Smith

Mapping, production: Mark Doman

Satellite imagery sourced from the European Union's Copernicus Sentinel-2.

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Related topics

Beef Cattle Farming

Land Clearing

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