A forest ecosystem.
Ecosystem conservation is a comprehensive plan that seeks to maintain all species of plants and animals in a geographic area through the management of natural resources. While many types of conservation may focus on one area, such as air or water quality, conservation of an entire ecosystem takes all of these into account. This approach often requires experts from many different fields to work together for the common good. While it can be a difficult challenge, ecosystem conservation can also be one of the most productive ways to conserve resources.
Factory emissions can be a serious environmental problem.
This type of management or conservation strategy involves specific measures taken to help protect the ecosystem. The first is to identify the problem and look for possible causes. Once these things are identified, a solution is formulated. The next step is usually public education to raise awareness, support, and funds for the proposal. Most of those involved in this conservation approach try to obtain public and private financing. Implementation can start only after funding, or at least a certain percentage of it, has been secured.
Water contaminated by an oil spill.
The basic idea behind the ecosystem conservation approach is that all systems are interrelated. While water pollution may be different from air or soil pollution, they all play a role in plant and animal life in a given ecosystem. Therefore, to give the living organisms in that area the best chance at a healthy life, they all need to be treated and enhanced as much as possible.
The ecosystem conservation method is in direct contrast to methods that focus only on a single species. In these cases, the goal of saving a particular species may override other important factors affecting that species. These other factors may have been responsible for the species’ decline in the first place. In some cases, even the restoration of a species may not be of long-term benefit without a more comprehensive approach to ecosystem management.
A typical approach to ecosystem conservation is to connect the process with human needs and values. While this may seem a bit self-serving, those involved in this conservationist approach believe that people are more likely to help the environment when they see a benefit. These benefits can include clean air and clean water for people in a given area, increased or preserved outdoor recreational opportunities, and even economic benefits. All of these can play a role in the acceptance and support a management project receives. After all, humans are also part of the ecosystem.