Conservation
Conservation refers to the manner of use given to resources, this manner of use in technical terms id described as rational or sustainable use. Natural resources are grouped into two categories, renewable and nonrenewable.
A
renewable resource is one that may be replaced over time by natural
processes, such as fish populations or natural vegetation, or is inexhaustible,
such as solar energy. The goal of renewable resource conservation is to ensure
that such resources are not consumed faster than they are replaced.
Nonrenewable resources are those in limited supply that cannot be
replaced or can be replaced only over extremely long periods of time.
Nonrenewable resources include fossil fuels and mineral deposits, such as iron
ore and gold ore. Conservation activities for nonrenewable resources focus on
maintaining an adequate supply of these resources well into the future.
Natural resources are conserved for their
biological, economic, and recreational values, as well as their natural beauty
and importance to local cultures. For example, tropical rain forests are
protected for their important role in both global ecology and the economic
livelihood of the local culture; a coral reef may be protected for its
recreational value for scuba divers; and a scenic river may be protected for its
natural beauty.
Conservation conflicts arise when
natural-resource shortages develop in the face of steadily increasing demands
from a growing human population. Controversy frequently surrounds how a resource
should be used, or allocated, and for whom. For example, a river may supply
water for agricultural irrigation, habitat for fish, and water-generated
electricity for a factory. Farmers, fishers, and industry leaders vie for
unrestricted access to this river, but such freedom could destroy the resource,
and conservation methods are necessary to protect the river for future use.
Conflicts worsen when a natural resource
crosses political boundaries. For example, the headwaters, or source, of a major
river may be located in a different country than the country through which the
river flows. There is no guarantee that the river source will be protected to
accommodate resource needs downstream. In addition, the way in which one natural
resource is managed has a direct effect upon other natural resources. Cutting
down a forest near a river, for instance, increases erosion, the wearing away of
topsoil, and can lead to flooding. Eroded soil and silt cloud the river and
adversely affect many organisms such as fish and important aquatic plants that
require clean, clear freshwater for survival.
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