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What Is World Wildlife Conservation?

T. Carrier
T. Carrier

World wildlife conservation is a global environmental movement that aims to preserve and protect the natural world and its inhabitants. This effort involves several smaller organizations and subgroups. Aims of these groups include gaining legal and other protective shields for endangered species; restoring ecologically rich regions to a natural state; and raising awareness about the dangers of natural resource depletion, industrialism, and wildlife destruction. Individuals may seek higher education to pursue wildlife conservation as a career.

One of the main aims of world wildlife conservation is to gather and share information with the public about environmental threats. For example, researchers might document the negative effects that excessive logging or oil drilling has on a region’s wildlife. Others might compile a list of animal species that are in danger of disappearing. Additional areas that might draw a researcher’s attention include pollution effects and mass wildlife migrations.

Many animal species are threatened worldwide because of logging and other habitat destruction.
Many animal species are threatened worldwide because of logging and other habitat destruction.

Further, world wildlife conservation groups encourage community conservation efforts like recycling and park maintenance. Conservationists might make a case for wildlife conservation by targeting economic benefits of a healthy environment, such as more abundant crops. More emotional appeals concerning the value of all life and the respect that should be instilled upon the natural world might also comprise conservation efforts.

Zebras in a wildlife sanctuary.
Zebras in a wildlife sanctuary.

Rescuing and protecting wildlife represents another important goal of world wildlife conservation, and this often involves tracking animals via collaring. Some groups concentrate on certain ecosystems, such as in marine conservation, where rescuing injured or dislocated fish, dolphins, and other aquatic life is commonplace. Other groups might focus on lobbying for and introducing legislation that will protect certain endangered wildlife.

Wildlife conservation includes protecting animals that might be sold in the exotic pet trade.
Wildlife conservation includes protecting animals that might be sold in the exotic pet trade.

World wildlife conservation might also include seeking legal protection for certain ecological areas such as national parks, and then working to keep these places environmentally healthy. Legal protection often severely limits the amount of forest clearing, pollution, hunting, and other potentially harmful activities that individuals or organizations can do in a region. A conservation area will usually be routinely cleaned and supervised as well.

The World Wildlife Conservation promotes efforts to save animals such as the different tiger subspecies from extinction.
The World Wildlife Conservation promotes efforts to save animals such as the different tiger subspecies from extinction.

Several subdisciplines help define the goals of world wildlife conservation. Sciences such as biology and oceanography lay a scientific foundation for the movement. In addition, social sciences like psychology and sociology help conservationists understand the human elements and personalities that influence both environmental destruction and proactive conservation. Individuals can merge these studies when they seek a degree in forestry or conservation, after which they may seek employment with governments as range managers or in similar conservation jobs. In general, conservationists oversee wildlife habitats and all habitat components like animals, plants, and water or mineral supplies.

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    • Many animal species are threatened worldwide because of logging and other habitat destruction.
      By: Lars Johansson
      Many animal species are threatened worldwide because of logging and other habitat destruction.
    • Zebras in a wildlife sanctuary.
      By: Palenque
      Zebras in a wildlife sanctuary.
    • Wildlife conservation includes protecting animals that might be sold in the exotic pet trade.
      By: Virginie Soucaze
      Wildlife conservation includes protecting animals that might be sold in the exotic pet trade.
    • The World Wildlife Conservation promotes efforts to save animals such as the different tiger subspecies from extinction.
      By: hitdelight
      The World Wildlife Conservation promotes efforts to save animals such as the different tiger subspecies from extinction.
    • Wildlife conservation includes protecting endangered marine animals, such as manatees.
      By: NICOLAS LARENTO
      Wildlife conservation includes protecting endangered marine animals, such as manatees.