Nature conservation

"Natural conservation" redirects here. For the study of biodiversity management, see Conservation biology. For other uses, see Conservation (disambiguation).

Satellite photograph of industrial deforestation in the Tierras Bajas project in eastern Bolivia, using skyline logging and replacement of forests by agriculture
Much attention has been given to preserving the natural characteristics of Hopetoun Falls, Australia, while allowing access for visitors

Nature conservation is the moral philosophy and conservation movement focused on protecting species from extinction, maintaining and restoring habitats, enhancing ecosystem services, and protecting biological diversity. A range of values underlie conservation, which can be guided by biocentrism, anthropocentrism, ecocentrism, and sentientism,[1] environmental ideologies that inform ecocultural practices and identities.[2] There has recently been a movement towards evidence-based conservation which calls for greater use of scientific evidence to improve the effectiveness of conservation efforts. As of 2018 15% of land and 7.3% of the oceans were protected. Many environmentalists set a target of protecting 30% of land and marine territory by 2030.[3][4] In 2021, 16.64% of land and 7.9% of the oceans were protected.[5][6] The 2022 IPCC report on climate impacts and adaptation, underlines the need to conserve 30% to 50% of the Earth's land, freshwater and ocean areas – echoing the 30% goal of the U.N.'s Convention on Biodiversity.[7][8]

  1. ^ Newman, Varner, Lunquist (2018). Defending Biodiversity. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781139024105.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Milstein, T. & Castro-Sotomayor, J. (2020). Routledge Handbook of Ecocultural Identity. London, UK: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351068840
  3. ^ MARRIS, EMMA (31 January 2019). "To keep the planet flourishing, 30% of Earth needs protection by 2030". National Geographic. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  4. ^ "New Australian Marine Parks Protect an Area Twice the Size of the Great Barrier Reef". Mongabay. Ecowatch. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Governments achieve target of protecting 17% of land globally". the Guardian. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  6. ^ "2021's top ocean news stories (commentary)". Mongabay Environmental News. 28 December 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  7. ^ Januta, Andrea (1 March 2022). "Key takeaways from the IPCC report on climate impacts and adaptation". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Negotiators agree to historic biodiversity deal at COP15". euronews. 19 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.