Conservation is a crisis discipline, called into being by the unusual rates at which species are becoming extinct. It focuses on understanding what causes those losses, developing methods to prevent them and, whenever possible, restore lost biodiversity. In this way, it is like physiology and medicine: Physiology studies how the human body works; medicine treats disease when it occurs.
Biodiversity is crucial to the Earth’s ecosystem and humans’ well-being. It is a source of food, fiber and building materials. It helps control floods and drought, removes greenhouse gases and makes the environment more resilient to climate change. It also provides a sense of place and beauty and gives us spiritual and emotional connection to nature.
The most urgent conservation challenge is habitat loss, which has devastating consequences for wildlife and plants. The world’s forests are being burned for energy, agriculture is replacing biodiversity-rich pasture and the homes of many animals are being destroyed to make way for development. This is one of the main reasons that 85% of species are currently endangered or critically endangered.
Individuals can help to conserve nature by reducing waste and adopting sustainable practices. A simple step like using reusable water bottles or shopping with a reusable bag can make a big difference. Supporting a conservation project or volunteering can inspire people to take action. Publishing success stories about restoring animal populations or preserving natural areas also encourages others to get involved. By doing so, we can preserve and maintain nature for future generations.