Conservation

( Article Type: Explanation )

Conservation used to be the term used to describe the management of game reserves and parks for the purpose of recreation and protection of flora and fauna.

The modern-day understanding of conservation relates to the wise management of natural resources to ensure the credibility and survival of diverse species within their natural habitat. It is gradually extending to cover the industrial and commercial context of environmental concerns as well. Conservation and protection of the vital biodiversity of the species on earth is a vital function. The loss of species represents an unacceptable drop in the available gene pool and the potentially irreplaceable loss of species that could provide the bases for the curing of HIV/Aids or the drug that provides the answer to prevent the human body rejecting a donor heart.

Modern users of the term, ‘conservation’ see it as covering a very broad area of interest that ranges from managing animals, right up to reviewing Environmental Impact Assessments as an interested and affected party in a stakeholder meeting. Conservation is one of the key action strategies that form a part of the philosophical and practical approach to implementing sustainable development.

Associated Topics:

Biodiversity , Biodiversity & the Sixth Extinction , Birds , Blue Flag Beaches , Cape Floral Kingdom , CITES , Conservation Planning (Systematic) , Deep Ecology , Deforestation , Endangered & Threatened Species , Governance , Extinction , Fisheries - The Ecosystem Approach , Grasslands , Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) , IUCN , Marine Life of Southern Africa , Medicinal Herbs , Mires & Peatlands , National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act (10 of 2004) , National Environmental Management Protected Areas Act (31 of 2004) , National Parks , Ramsar Convention , Rivers & Wetlands , Stewardship , Transfrontier (Peace) Parks , Tropical Rain Forest , Water and Water Pollution , Wetlands , Wilderness Area , Wildlife , Wildlife Management

Associated Sustainable Development Articles:

African Environmental Tradition , Eco-Logic , Sustainable Development ~ A Spiritual Imperative

Associated Organisations:

50/50 SABC , Africa Geographic , African Indaba , African Lion Working Group , AfriCat Foundation , Baboon Matters , The Bateleurs - Flying for the Environment in Africa , BirdLife South Africa , SSI Engineers & Environmental Consultants , Botanical Society of South Africa , Cape Leopard Trust , CapeNature , The Cape Times Caltex Environmental Awards , Cape Town Heritage Trust , City of Cape Town - Environmental Planning , City of Cape Town - Water Demand Management, Water Services Directorate , Cat Conservation Trust , Centre for Dolphin Studies , Centre for Environment, Agriculture and Development (CEAD) , Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) , Cheetah Outreach , Children's Eco Training , City of Cape Town Nature Reserves , Buffelsdrift Game Lodge , Stormsriver Adventures , Coastcare , Conservation Force , Conservation Support Services (CSS) , Touching the Earth Lightly , Environmental Planning Services , Delta Environmental Centre , Dendrological Society of South Africa , Department of Environmental Extension and Project Development , Touching the Earth Lightly , Divwatt , The Dolphin Action Protection Group , Drifters Adventours , Ethekwini Municipality (Parks Department) , Eagle Encounters , Eco-ist (The) , Ecotraining , African Rhino Conservation Company , Endangered Wildlife Trust - USA , SB & Associates , Environment Africa , Environmental Education and Resources Unit - EERU (University of the Western Cape) , Hens Idea , Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife (KWAZULU-NATAL NATURE CONSERVATION SERVICE) , Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa , Friends Group , Succulent Karoo Ecosystem Programme (SKEP) , South African Grasslands Programme , Gauteng Department of Agriculture & Rural Development , Global White Lion Protection Trust , Go-Organic , Green Trust (The) , Imvubu Nature Tours , International Council for Game and Wldlife Conservation (CIC) , International Foundation for the Conservation of Wildlife , International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) , IUCN-The World Conservation Union-South Africa Office , Jungle Theatre Company , Kumba Resources , KwaZulu-Natal Crane Foundation , Mondi Wetlands Programme , Mountain Club of South Africa (Cape Town Section), (The) , The National Association of Conservancies/Stewardships of South Africa (NACSSA) , NCC Environmental Services (Pty) Ltd , Nedbank Group , Open Africa , People for Wildlife , Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology - DST/NFR Centre of Excellence , Sanwild Wildlife Sanctuary and Rehabilitation Centre , Sappi Limited , Save our Seas Foundation , Seawatch , South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) , South African National Biodiversity Institute , South African National Parks , The Southern African Wildlife College , Treverton College and Preparatory , Umgeni Water , Vervet Monkey Foundation , Volunteer Wildfire Services , Waenhuiskrans Arniston Community Development Trust , WEB Environmental Consultancy , White Elephant Safari Lodge and Bush Camp , The White Shark Conservation Education and Exploration Society (CEES) (South African White Shark Research Institute) , WILD Foundation , Wilderness Action Group , Bergplaas Nature Reserve , Wilderness Foundation SA , WESSA (Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) , Africa Media Online , Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment - North West Province , WWF South Africa , Zandvlei Trust , Cape Town Environmental Education Trust (CTEET) , Endangered Wildlife Trust , South African Association for Marine Biological Research , Berk Attorneys , Nature Conservation Corporation, The , The Jane Goodall Institute South Africa , Shark Spotters , Kommetjie Environmental Awareness Group , Sustainable Development Projects , West Coast National Park , The Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre - DE WILDT , GBS Environmental Consulting , UWC Nature Reserve , Avis , Greenpeace Africa , Nature Connection , Green Expo Africa , Simply Green Magazine , Green Peace SA , Riaan Manser Adventure , Agulhas National Park , Camdeboo National Park , Garden Route (Tsitsikamma, Knysna, Wilderness) National Park , Golden Gate Highlands National Park , Karoo National Park , Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site , Mountain Zebra National Park , Table Mountain National Park , Tankwa Karoo National Park , Kruger National Park , |Ai|Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park