Environmental Conservation

7 minute read
Environmental Conservation

Human existence is quite impossible without the presence of a healthy ecosystem. Our environment comprises all living and non-living components and their interactions within a natural habitat. Environmental conservation has become one of the core issues that need to be addressed to battle climate change and global warming. Sustainable development is the need of the hour that can save mother earth from the repercussions of industrialization. In this blog, we will aim to elaborate upon environmental conservation, its needs and ways of conserving the environment.

International Day of Nature Conservation is held on the 28th of July around the world annually.

What is Environment Conservation?

Environmental conservation is a practice that paves the way for protecting the environment and natural resources on the individual, organisational as well as governmental levels.

Various core environmental issues are taking a heavy toll on human lives. Ranging from overpopulation, hydrological issues, ozone depletion, and global warming to deforestation, desertification and pollution, all these issues pose a severe threat to the existence of humankind. Unless environmental conservation is becoming an effective mass movement, it is futile to expect positive growth especially in the age of digital media which holds the potential to bring a revolution to save our planet from destruction. 

Also Read: Importance of Climate Crisis Classes 

Importance of Environmental Conservation

It has become inherently important to work towards environmental conservation in contemporary times. The following pointers elucidate this crucial need to save the environment from further degradation:

  • To reduce air, water and land pollution
  • To facilitate the conservation of natural resources for our future generations
  • To ensure the protection of biodiversity
  • To implement sustainable development
  • To restore the ecological balance
  • To save our planet from harmful repercussions of global warming

“A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers, but borrowed from his children.”

John James Audubon

Check Out: How To Become an Environmentalist?

What are the Methods of Environmental Conservation?

Now that you are familiar with the meaning and importance of Environmental Conservation, let’s understand the core methods through which it can be effectively facilitated:

Forest Conservation 

We know that plants and trees are the essential sources of air, food as well as other day-to-day products we use. Forests are the dwelling place of different living creatures and a single disturbance in the ecosystem can cause disruption in the water cycle as well as the food chain. Thus, afforestation is amongst the core Environmental conservation and aims to plant more trees as well as save the existing ones from cutting down as trees play a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance. 

The Global Day of Forests celebrated internationally on 21 March, is an incentive to recognize the vital importance of forests for human and environmental wellbeing.

Soil Conservation

Soil Conservation

As one of the prominent methods for environmental conservation, the need for soil conservation has arisen to tackle the harmful effects of soil pollution. On earth, the soil is the main element that plays a pivotal role in soil erosion, land degradation and floods. Soil is filled with rich nutrients for plant production. Soil conservation can be carried out by ensuring minimal use of fertilizers and venomous chemicals as well as abolishing the disposal of harmful industrial waste in the soil. 

Waste Management

Especially in developing countries and congested places, on a daily basis, a large amount of waste is thrown away recklessly on the streets and roads. The improper disposal of waste segregation can lead to various dreadful diseases as well as soil pollution.

Waste Segregation
Waste Segregation

To ensure minimal wastage as well as facilitate waste disposal, we can opt for various techniques like the 3R’s, i.e. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, dry and wet waste segregation, amongst others.

3Rs: Reduce, Reuse & Recycle
3Rs: Reduce, Reuse & Recycle

Also Read: How to Become an Environmental Chemist?

Public Awareness 

Public Awareness about Environment
Courtesy: Vovworld

With the boom of information technology and the advent of digital media, public awareness pertaining to environmental conservation can potentially yield promising results. There is a dire need to aware the masses of the consequences of environmental pollution and degradation. Further, every individual should be made conscious of how they are polluting the environment and what steps can be taken to implement environmental conservation, be it through using greener energy sources to following the 3Rs of Reduce, Recycle and Reuse. 

Every year on the 2nd of December, India observes National Pollution Control Day in remembrance of the memory of those who lost their lives in the tragic 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy.

Pollution Control 

As the increase in temperature is concerning, there is a need to keep a watch on the toxic compounds we ingest that pollute the atmosphere. We need to adopt environmentally sustainable methods to minimise multiple forms of emissions, such as eliminating waste, saving electricity, limiting the unnecessary usage of fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides, and using energy-efficient appliances, among others.

“In nature’s economy the currency is not money, it is life.”

Vandana Shiva

Also Read: Environmental Science Courses

Ways of Conserving the Environment

Here are some ways of conserving the environment:

  1. Deforestation must be stopped
  2. Natural non-renewable resources must be utilized properly
  3. Every year, we lose a huge number of forest life due to forest fire. We must find a solution to this.
  4. Afforestation is the best way to conserve the environment
  5. Create public awareness
  6. Control pollution and population
  7. Recycle goods
  8. Adopt an environment-friendly lifestyle
  9. Adopt waste management techniques
  10. Species on the verge of extension should be saved.
ways of conserving the environment
Source: Pinterest
Courtesy: National Geographic

Speech for Environmental Conservation

Good morning everyone. My name is _____ and my topic for today’s assessment is the Save Environment. What’s the biggest threat to everyone globally? Is it the decreasing currency rate or fewer jobs? Other than these, one of the major issues we are facing today is the adverse implications on mother earth. We want our houses to be clean, and our school uniforms to be always ironed so why are we not concerned about the place we all live in? Melting glaciers, natural calamities, climate change, and shortage of water are just some major alarming points, if we don’t do something today there will be more consequences. Environmental pollution can not be pinned on a single country or individual we all have been participating in it directly or indirectly and we certainly won’t be able to change it back to normal in a day but little effort every day can lead to a big change.

Environmental Conservation Material for UPSC

Although the environment or environment conservation syllabus for the UPSC Civil Services Mains exam is less, we still suggest our UPSC aspirants not to leave important topics on environment and environment conservation. Given below is a list of important topics and sub-topics on the environment that you must study if you are preparing for the UPSC Civil services examination for future:  

  1. Conservation 
    1. Conservation of Soil and Land 
    2. Water and Energy Conservation 
    3. Biodiversity and Environment Conservation 
    4. Conservation of other Natural Resources 
    5. Water Conservation at Different Levels 
    6. Energy Conservation 
  1. Disaster and Disaster Management
    1. Disasters and their Management 
    2. Yojana on Disaster Management.
    3. Disaster Management Report (in brief)
  1. Environmental Pollution and Degradation
    1. National Environmental Issues
    2. Global Environmental Issues 
    3. Environmental Pollution 
    4. Pollution (in brief)
    5. Environment and Health
  1. Environmental Impact Assessment
    1. Environmental Legislation 
    2. Environmental Related Institutions and Organisations
    3. Environmental Impact assessment

Note: These materials are adequate for preparing the static portion of the syllabus’s environment-related subjects. Aside from the materials listed above, you must research current environmental issues in newspapers and publications. You may also study the above-mentioned topics by consulting NCERT books.

Books on Environment & Environmental Conservation

The Nature of Nature: Why We Need the Wild, By Enric SalaBUY HERE
The Medicine Wheel: Environmental Decision-Making Process of Indigenous Peoples, By Michael E. Marchand, Kristiina A. Vogt, Rodney Cawston, John D. et more.BUY HERE
Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard, By Douglas W. TallamyBUY HERE
Live Sustainably Now: A Low-Carbon Vision of the Good Life, by Karl CoplanBUY HERE
Losing Earth: A Recent History, by Nathaniel Rich BUY HERE
Don’t Even Think About It: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change, by George MarshallBUY HERE

 “It’s hard to celebrate the world when it vanishes piece by piece, but I’m still an optimist. I’m sure it doesn’t pay to be too serious all the time, even about issues such as global warming.”

Simon Drew

Essays on Environmental Conservation

Confused about how to write an essay on Environment Conservation? Here are some sample essays on Environment Conservation:

Environmental Conservation PPT

Credits: SlideShare

FAQs

What is environmental conservation?

The prevention, management and conservation of natural habitat and species are known as environmental conservation.

What are the ways of conserving the environment?

Here are some common methods for the same:

1. Use cotton bags and say no to plastic
2. Use less water and find ways to save water
3. Recycling
4. Waste Management
5. Sustainable development

Why is environmental conservation important?

Life is possible on earth just because we have a perfect environment to live in. It is our responsibility to provide the same or similar experience to the upcoming generation. To save life on earth, it is essential to save the environment.

What are the 4 types of conservation?

1. Environmental Conservation
2. Animal conservation
3. Marine Conservation
4. Human Conservation

Hence, we hope that this insightful blog on environmental conservation has helped you understand its importance and ways of conserving the environment from further deterioration. Planning to study Environmental Sciences? Sign up for an e-meeting with our Leverage Edu experts and we will assist you in selecting the right course and university that fits your interests, skills and preferences.

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13 comments
    1. Hey Mohit!

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  1. Damn! This is really helpful for me . because I had an project on environmental conservation and it took me so long to decide a topic but this helped me a lot thank u

    1. Hey Mohit!

      We are happy to hear you liked our article. If you want similar content then please subscribe to our newsletter. We would truly appreciate it.
      Thank you!