The headline of this article on Caribou triggered a thought about our use of these terms. When do we say conservationWhy is animal conservation important? Animal conservation is important, because animals are the only mechanism to create biodiversity, which is the mechanism that creates a habitable planet for humans. Without animals, the energy from today’s plants (algae, trees, flowers etc) will eventually reach the atmosphere and ocean, much of it as carbon. The quantity of this plant-based waste is so More, preservation or protection? I choose these words carefully because they each have specific meaning. For several reasons, use of the term ‘conservation’ in the article title doesn’t sit well with me. I do think the semantics speak to a wider problem about the way we value and underestimate the role of animals for our society. If we are to be ‘conservationists’ it means being brave enough to use the word protection of animals if that’s what we really mean.
Conservation is of rare things
We conserve things that are rare by trying to keep them in good condition … like a museum artefact. Wildlife conservation best describes efforts to maintain a species from going extinct. We might ‘conserve’ an animal in a zoo, in the hope that it doesn’t disappear altogether – though many of those benefits are doubtful, except in the most carefully selected examples of captive-breeding.
Conservation is also of places
When we’re talking about conservation of ecosystemsHow ecosystems function An ecosystem is a community of lifeforms that interact in such an optimal way that how ecosystems function best, is when all components (including humans and other animals) can persist and live alongside each other for the longest time possible. Ecosystems are fuelled by the energy created by plants (primary producers) that convert the Sun's heat energy More it makes more sense. A ‘conservatory’ is a place to maintain a climate and maybe grow some plants, like the Princess of Wales Conservatory in Kew Gardens. In this respect, conservation is an over-arching objective. My Mac Dictionary describes Conservation as:
‘Preservation, protection, or restoration of the natural environment and of wildlife‘.
It’s important to recognise conservation does not describe an action. The conservation movement is full of such non-specific language and often fails to describe what is, or needs, to be done. For that, we should be using more intentional and motivational words.
Preservation applies to what still exists
When we talk about preservation it’s of something existing. What are we preserving though? Unless we know that, the word is rather moot.
I don’t think we preserve an animal from the brink of extinction. We might preserve its habitat but what does that even mean?
Preservation should be for the qualities and benefits something specifically provides. Animals are not artefacts, they are functioning components of healthy ecosystems. Habitable ecosystems – for humans – cannot exist without them.
When we talk about preservation, we’re talking about existing culture, food security, water, climate and a range of other services nature provides when animals are present. I find the expression ‘nature conservation’ rather odd, since it’s nature that delivers our right to survive. It’s not something we can conserve, preserve or protect. ‘Nature’ is the most ambiguous term that has ever been introduced into conservation parlance as it’s a universal and undefinable facet of existence.
In short, conservationists do preservation and protection in order to be part of nature and survive within it.
Protection is what really matters
So, when do we say conservation, preservation or protection?
When it comes to wildlife it’s all about protection. Unless we protect wildlife, ecosystems collapse and there is no preservation of life or conservation of ecosystems. Nature still exists but in the long term we may not be part of it.
We preserve what exists and protect everything else, in order that ecosystems can thrive … in order that we can survive.
In particular, when we talk about animals in relation to indigenous culture, we always mean ‘protection’ in the sense of how we protect a family member. We don’t ‘conserve’ a child, we protect it. Animals are the drivers of ecosystem function(Of an ecosystem). A subset of ecosystem processes and structures, where the ecosystem does something that provides an ecosystem service of value to people. More and our future literally depends on protecting them, not conserving them.
In relation to the Caribou story, the local people are preserving their heritage by protecting the animals (a point the article does make, by the way). The consequence is the conservation of ecosystems. The article title should read ‘Indigenous stewards lead conservation efforts by protecting Caribou herds’.
I realise I’m picky but once I start seeing these semantics alter in everyday use, I’ll know our society is beginning to recognise the role of animals in creating a habitable Earth. When I see conservationists talk about protecting wildlife, I’ll know we’ve reached the first step in the change in human values we need for humanity’s future.
