As opposed to environmental protectionOpens in new window, which seeks to protect the environment from harm, e.g., from pollutants, environmental conservation, according to Fisher (2003), involves the protection of environmental values, e.g., nature reserves, endangered species, etc. In fact, in distinguishing conservation from preservation, Fisher (2003, p. 301) states that conservation protects from harm with an aim of future use.
The aspects of protecting with the aim of future use leads to the concept of sustainability that provides an alternative definition of environmental conservation as the rational use of the environmental resources in a sustainable manner (e.g., Heap 1986; Macintosh and Hamilton 2008).
Environmental conservation restricts the freedom of exploitation of environmental resources to ensure it happens in a sustainable framework. For it to be effective, it requires political goodwill, it has to meet scientific criteria of accounting and proofs of existence, and enforceable legal obligations.
The environmental problems in the world today could be seen as man’s attitude towards the environment. Various forms of human activities, e.g., gas flaring, bush burning, deforestation, pollution, etc., impact the climate leading to droughts, floods, and extremes of heat and cold.
Since unsustainable practices impact natural ecosystems, conserving the environment is essential. For example, the Australian EPBC Act (1999)Opens in new window provides a legal framework to protect and manage nationally and internationally important flora, fauna, ecological communities and heritage places defined in the Act as matters of national environmental significance.
Protect biodiversity internationally by controlling the international movement of wildlife
Provide a streamlined environmental assessment and
Promote ecologically sustainable development.
For instance, one way the Act seeks to conserve private land is through granting tax concession to people who have entered into conservation covenant.
A conservation covenantOpens in new window according to the Act, “is a voluntary agreement made between a landholder and an authorized body (such as Covenant Scheme Provider) that aims to protect and enhance the natural, cultural and/or scientific values of certain land. The owner continues to own, use and live on the land while the natural values of an area are conserved by the landholder in partnership with the Covenant Scheme Provider”.
Others include a conservation agreement. According to the Act, “it is an agreement between the Australian Government Environment Minister and another person for the protection and conservation of biodiversity in an area of land or sea”.
The provision for identification and monitoring of biodiversity as a first step to its conservation and sustainable use. This is done through (i) inventory of threatened species (and amendment of the inventory lists), and (ii) preparation of biodiversity plans.
Though not a legislative instrument, the plans show biodiversity components, distribution, and conservation status. Biodiversity plans provide prioritize, strategies, and actions for conserving the environmental resources. Various liabilities are set out against interfering with listed threatened species; these includes trading in members of a listed threatened, critical, and or migratory species, and the liabilities range from 500 to 1000 penalty units.
Use of conservation advice, a document listing categories of species or communities, actions to be carried out to stop its decline, and support its recovery is one of the legal provisions of this Act for ensuring conservation. In addition, a wildlife conservation plan for protecting, conserving, and managing; listed migratory species, listed marine species, cetacean in the Australian sanctuary, and conservation dependent species are also provided for.
Protection and preservation of the purity of Australian species through control of non-native species, their dealing, and/or presence within Australia and prohibits trading in those species that may interfere with Australian species.
It also provides regulations (covering both commercial and non-commercial exploitation) on dealing with international movement (importation and exportation) of wildlife (both native and non-native) specimen.
Ensures compliance with Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and biodiversity convention, which protects wildlife affected by trade, promote wildlife conservation in Australia and other countries, involves export of Australian native wildlife in an ecologically sustainable manner, and provides for ethical conduct during research involving wildlife.
Provision for access, management, and conservation of biological resources. Controlled access is provided by regulations ensuring access rights and equitable share of the benefits. The indigenous community is granted limited access (rights) to exploit wildlife for food.
Also, conservation agreements are provided for between the government and other conservation bodies. Finally, the management of protected areas, i.e., Parks, world heritage listed locations, and reserves are also legislated.
Environmental Project Management: Principles, Methodology, and Processes. Authored by Ebenezer A. Sholarin, Joseph L. Awange.
Lamb P, Saul M, Winter-Nelson AE (1997) Meanings of environmental terms. J Environ Qual 1997(26):581 – 589.
Zhang K, Wen Z (2008) Review and challenges of policies of environmental protection and sustainable development in China. J Environ Manag 88(4): 1249 – 1261.
Yale (2006) Pilot 2006 environmental performance index. Yale Centre for Environmental Law and Policy. Yale University.
Macintosh A, Hamilton C (2008) Human Ecology: Environmental protection and ecology. In: Jorgensen S, Fath B (eds) Encyclopedia of Ecology, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 1342 – 1350.
Magnani E (2011) Environmental protection inequality, and institutional change. J Ecol Econ Rev. Ann New York Acad Sci 1219:197 – 208.
Graphics courtesy of OECD.orgOpens in new window
