conservation
kahn-ser-VAY-shun
/ˌkɑːnsərˈveɪʃən/
The protection, preservation, and careful management of natural resources and wildlife.
Emphasizes active management and sustainable wise use, rather than leaving nature completely untouched.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'conservare' (to guard, keep safe, preserve). Gifford Pinchot popularized the term in natural resource science during the early 20th century.
Word relationships
- preservation: Preservation aims to keep nature untouched, while conservation allows managed sustainable use.
- destruction: Destruction is the deliberate or accidental ruining of natural habitats.
Commonly confused with
- preservation: Conservation means wise, sustainable management; preservation means strict hands-off protection.
Word family
- conserve (verb): To protect from harm, loss, or waste.
- conservationist (noun): A person who advocates for environmental conservation.
Collocations
- conservation effort
- conservation strategy
- wildlife conservation
- conservation biologist
Example sentences
- "Wildlife conservation programs have successfully helped gray wolf populations recover across national parks." Environmental policy
Memory hook
CON (together) + SERVE (guard) = guarding our shared natural wealth. Wise protection and management of natural resources.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'preservation', which seeks to guard nature from any human use or change whatsoever.
Fun facts
- President Theodore Roosevelt created the US Forest Service partly under the influence of conservation pioneer Gifford Pinchot.
Related words
Explore more words
conserve, preservation, stewardship, sustainable, preserve, sanctuary
Also appears in
- Technology → Ecology & Climate Science
- Nature → Environmental Conservation
- Nature → Biodiversity & Species Conservation
- Nature → Renewable Energy & Sustainability
- Nature → Climate Change Mitigation
- Arts & Literature → Exhibitions, Galleries & Museums
- Environmental Policy & Sustainability Economics → Water Scarcity & Management
- Environmental Policy & Sustainability Economics → Marine Ecology
- Environmental Policy & Sustainability Economics → Eco-Tourism & Travel
- Physical Sciences & Cosmology → Thermodynamics & Entropy
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