Significance of Environmental Conservation

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What is the meaning of Environmental Conservation?

Environmental Conservation is the practice of preserving the natural world to prevent it from collapsing as a result of human activities, such as imbalance in agricultural activities, deforestation and burning of fossil fuels. Whereas, utilization of land resources in abundance can also result in deterioration of the environment.


Factors responsible for Environmental Degradation:

1. Deforestation:

  • It is a process of logging or burning of forests in order to remove them.
  • Deforestation happens for a variety of causes, such as when trees or charcoal they produce is utilized as fuel or sold as a commodity and when cleared land is turned into pastureland for cattle, farms and communities.
  • Rapid growth of population and urban sprawl are two major causes of deforestation.
  • However, the use of forest land for agriculture, animal grazing, harvest of fuelwood and logging are some of the other causes of deforestation.
  • It ultimately leads to global warming as decreased forest size puts carbon back into the environment.

2. Pollution:
  • Pollution in any form, whether it is air, water, land or noise is harmful to the environment.
  • Air pollution pollutes the air that we breathe, which leads to multiple health issues.
  • Water pollution degrades the quality of water that we use for drinking purposes. 
  • Whereas, land pollution results in degradation of earth's surface as a result of human activities.

3. Population:

  • Rapid growth and economic development in the country are degrading the environment through uncontrolled growth of urbanization and industrialization, expansion and intensification of agriculture and destruction of natural habitats.
  • Population adversely impacts on the environment primarily through the use of natural resources and production of wastes and it is also associated with environmental destruction like loss of biodiversity, air and water pollution and increased pressure on arable land.
4. Economic Factors:

  • The level and pattern of economic development has also affected the nature of environmental problems. 
  • India's development objectives have consistently emphasized promotion of policies and programmes for economic growth and social welfare.
  • Whereas, with high extent petroleum derivatives as the fundamental wellspring and real air contaminating enterprises have added to the increase in the air pollution.
  • Large quantities of industrial and hazardous wastes brought about by expansion of chemical based industry have compounded the waste management problems with serious environmental health implications.
  • Whereas, the direct impacts of agricultural development on the environment arise from farming activities which contribute to soil erosion and loss of nutrients, leading to imbalance in environmental practices. 


Environmental Conservation Methods:

  • Environmental conservation is the whole process of making sure that the environment does not deteriorate in quality and which has been deteriorated in any form is to be restored in a better condition.
  • Environmental Conservation is very important because it helps us to ensure that we continue to benefit from resources provided by the environment such as getting clean air, protecting earth from climate change, preserving water resources and supply of food and medicines.
  • Destruction of environment has led to number of problems such as decline in agricultural production, increase in various diseases and extinctions of different plants and animals.
  • Reduction of cattle farming can help to conserve the environment since less cattle means less grass and plants are destroyed which in turn helps to restore areas that were once overgrazed.
  • Afforestation can help to conserve the environment by planting trees in regions with no trees hence preventing soil erosion and encouraging rainfall formation.
  • Industrial waste leads to massive air and water pollution and controlling them can be a useful method for conservation of environment.
  • Fertilizers from farms are drained into water bodies and they cause eutrophication, therefore, farmers should be encouraged to use farming methods to conserve both soil and water bodies.
  • Fishermen destroy the environment through overfishing and using chemical in their fishing activities therefore the government should enact laws and make sure only sustainable ways of fishing are used.
  • To conserve the environment, government and other stake holders must encourage and use more environment friendly technology such as electric vehicles and solar power. Also in rural areas, electricity and energy efficient technology should be supplied at a reasonable prices to help discourage deforestation.