Conservation is defined as an occurrence of improvement by virtue of preventing loss or injury or other change [Thefreedictionary.com, 2004]
It follows that conservation is aimed at improving and bettering something, which is already available. In the context of ecology, it may be said that conservation is an activity that is aimed at improving the natural resources that are available in a particular locality. Conservationists focus their efforts to ensure that the ecologically endangered area in question is saved from further damage and whatever resources available at that location is enhanced or rejuvenated to its previous condition. For this direct human intervention also may be allowed. In conservation activities, various ecologically concerned people like scientists, educationists, businessmen, and NGOS may actively interfere with the ecological process with an aim to enhance the numbers of an endangered species. For example, turtle conservation programmes focuses on collecting the eggs from the seashore and hatching them under artificial conditions. Similarly business may support safaris and wild tours that are beneficial to the animals as well as to the economy. Conservationists argue that positive human intervention may be allowed in an ecosystem so that both humans as well as animals are benefited from the endeavor [Author not known, 2004]
Preservation: the activity of protecting something from loss or danger [Thefreedictionary.com, 2004]
Preservation is an activity in which the status of an ecological area is preserved as such without interfering with it in any manner. Efforts are made to ensure that the area is not disturbed by any human activity. Similarly, scientists or experts do not interfere in the natural processes that happen within that ecological unit. For example, many of the wild life sanctuaries are good examples of preservation activities because in addition to protecting the natural environment from harm, authorities also ensure that even positive human interference is minimal or absent. This ensures that the ecosystem develops according to its natural tendencies. |