Preservation and conservation: principles and practices

Ecological Study

Preservation and Conservation

Conservation, Preservation & Natural Regulation

The purpose of this paper is to define the difference between "conservation" and "preservation" and to research "natural regulation" and define that as well and to examine the results of "natural regulation" in terms of animal population, forest fires and any other results which may be discovered due to "natural regulation."

The 'conservationist movement' was born in the decade of the 1960's and grew strong in the 1970's. There was a smaller movement of preservationists that was both ally and enemy to the conservationists in their pursuits. The survival is each plant and animal in the ecosystem, or their demise as a species if by the process of natural selection is only accomplished through maintaining biodiversity in the ecological system of the earth. Biodiversity has been described as the "structural and functional variety of life forms at genetic, species, population, community and ecosystem levels "(unknown, 1992.

. The Convention on Biological Diversity defines the Ecosystem as: "a dynamic complex of plant, animal and microorganism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit (UNEP 1992)." "Conservation of the ecosystem entails preservation and regulated utilization of the ecosystem. The UN Charter for Nature states that "all forms of life warrant respect regardless of their value to people. The charter also states that the genetic viability on the earth shall not be compromised; the population levels of all life forms, wild and domesticated, must be at least sufficient for their survival, and to this end necessary habitats shall be safeguarded." Further the World-wide Fund for Nature Conservation (WWF, 1993) states, "biodiversity is a matter of survival. It is critical for life at grass root level because it is the total variety of living matter on which society depends. It provides ecosystem resilience to allow both people and natural communities to cope with periodic environmental stress."

I. Preservation:

Preservation is the practice of central control in human ecosystem management. It is one that believes in the keeping in place that which already exists and keeping it in it's present form. For example, there would be no hunting of animals, no gathering of herbs, fruits, but only the preserving of the resources in existence.

II. Conservation:

Conservation is a policy that focuses on 'wise use' of available resources. Unlike 'preservation' there is allowable and limited use of available resources but only to the extent that allow nature replace what has been utilized.

III. Natural Regulation:

There existed a group of young scientists in the field of ecology. According to the source these young people was "particularly fond of Barry Commoner whose 'three laws of ecology' included the claim that 'nature knows best'." This young group called themselves 'preservationist'. This concept of the law of the wilderness was one that stated that nature didn't need any help from man and that no management was the best management. The National Park Service adopted this idea in 1967. Policies of the National Park Service had allowed fishing but prevented hunting in the parks up until this time. John D. Rockefeller bought ranches border the Yellowstone Park in the 1930's and formed the Teton National Park. Hunting was not allowed on these ranches although hunting this area had been a regular for any hunters in the time preceding Rockefeller's purchases. The Elk rapidly reproduced and the populations of Elk became a problem. The Park Servicemen for lack of any other measures were routinely slaughtering Elk which infuriated the hungers.

IV. Effects of the Practices of Preservation and Conservation:

An Urban Ecosystem Analysis was performed of the New Orleans, Louisiana Metropolitan Area, by the American Forest Association. This study included portions of Jefferson, Orleans, and St. Bernard Parishes, in the building of a "green infrastructure" data layer for utilization in the community planning and development effort. The focus was gathering of reliable data concerning the region's canopy cover.

Findings of the study were that the tree canopy cover in the city was beneficial to the city that was so great that when put in financial terms it equaled $7.1 million dollars a year in benefits from the tree cover. Furthermore, findings were that stormwater management benefited the growth of the trees and all other vegetation in the area to a great extent. This certainly is one instance of man's involvement benefiting nature.

Conclusion:

Although one may be able to present a good case for Natural Regulation in the environment the fact is that nature doesn't include within it process of natural regulation the allowances needed for the subsistence of mankind on the surface of the earth. The population of the earth has become of such great proportions that man's assistance to nature is a very necessary component and furthermore it has been proven to be effective in maintaining the biodiversity of the ecological system.