Wildlife conservation is one of the most critical issues of the 21st century. With the rapid growth of the human population, pollution caused by industry and the increase in agriculture, and global warming, the issue of wildlife conservation has become a pressing concern among environmentalists, activists, governments and concerned citizens. Many global organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund, The Jane Goodall Institute, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the Nature Conservancy, Greenpeace and others have set the preservation of biodiversity as a mission and priority. Wildlife conservation is not only about protecting animals and endangered species, but also about protecting the habitats in which they live. The concept of wildlife conservation is about maintaining a flourishing and healthy animal population and ecosystem so that the Earth continues to provide a habitable environment for humans and our vastly biodiverse fellow inhabitants. Wildlife conservation activists and policies aim to protect wildlife and prohibit practices that endanger it.
But what has caused these threats to wildlife? Concern for wildlife conservation has grown since the start of the industrial revolution. While the ability to mass produce food and goods at cheap costs led to human population booms, greater food security and lower levels of poverty globally, it also caused pollution of land and rivers and the destruction of natural habitats, causing an imbalance in the Earth’s delicate ecosystem, eventually also threatening communities and creating circumstances that put populations in vulnerable situations of food and water scarcity. In addition to industrial agriculture and goods production, logging, mining and oil drilling contribute to pollution of the earth’s soil, water systems and oceans, destroying natural habitats and endangering the future survival of many species. In her polemical book Silent Spring, that is now a classic, Rachel Carson foretells the dangers of forging ahead with production on industrial scales without a thought to the devastating consequences to the world’s habitats, animals and resources. At the time, the book was highly criticized, but today her observations and insights into the dangers of industrial farming and other large-scale productions have been proven prescient. In addition to industrialization and the removal of natural resources, wildlife poaching to sell feathers, bones, horns, pelts and other features which are considered valuable commodities on the black market contributes to the decimation of a number of species, to the point of extinction in some cases (National Geographic).
The World Wildlife Fund’s Living Planet report from 2018 reveals a rather bleak picture for the planet’s wildlife. In the last 40 years, there has been a 60% decline in the Earth’s mammal, fish, bird, reptile and amphibian populations, contributing to instability in the planet’s biosphere (World Wildlife Fund). If these numbers aren’t reversed, the planet will become increasingly uninhabitable as pollution, eroded soil, soaring temperatures, rising sea levels and the drying up of fresh water sources will not only jeopardize human existence in more vulnerable areas, but also the natural habitats of the Earth’s plants and animals (Moorhouse 7). In addition to enduring less habitable living conditions on our planet, the destruction of habitats and wildlife forces animals to come into closer contact with humans, leading to a higher propensity of contamination and the spread and mutation of dangerous viruses and bacteria, making pandemics such as the global Covid-19 pandemic more frequent and more devastating (Conservation International).
Today there are many organizations dedicated to wildlife preservation. For 60 years, the World Wildlife Fund has supported wildlife conservation and today is present in 100 countries with over 5 million global partnerships and supporters. Working with actors on local and global scales, their organization is dedicated to preserving the Earth’s forests, freshwater, oceans and wildlife as well as human populations (World Wildlife Fund). With a focus on protecting chimpanzees and their habitats, the Jane Goodall Institute has expanded its reach over the years to include partnerships in 130 global communities with a focus on education. Founded in 1969 with the goal of stopping the hunting of whitecoat seals in Canada, the International Fund for Animal Welfare has grown since then, initiating projects all across the globe to support animal welfare. Though in the works since 1915, the Nature Conservancy was officially founded in 1950. Today it has partnerships in over 70 nations with a strong push to influence public policies to protect natural resources, habitats and original communities. Founded in 1971, Greenpeace’s cornerstone is activism, bringing attention and conversation to some of the most pressing issues in global wildlife and habitat conservation. Each of these organizations makes important contributions to raising awareness of wildlife conservation, educating communities and pressuring governments to take action.
In addition to supporting wildlife conservation organizations through donations or volunteering, concerned citizens can incorporate many practices to help preserve wildlife. For example, eating a plant-based, organic diet helps to reduce carbon footprint as large scale, industrialized farming, and cattle farming cause pollution and the devastation of the earth’s soil and natural habitats for wildlife (Lynch 29). Participating in a wildlife training program in organization such as NOLS and the Jane Goodall Institute who focus on education as a powerful tool for conservation advocacy will create a better understanding of how to preserve natural habitats. Additionally, stopping using plastic products such as plastic bags and straws which often end up in landfills or polluting the earth’s oceans and marine life will help preserve wildlife.
Wildlife conservation is essential to maintain a healthy global ecosystem. Threats to wildlife are threats to the planet and to human life as well. Education about wildlife conservation and participation in activities that support conservation efforts can be significant contributions to the preservation of the earth’s biosphere.
Works Cited
Carson, Rachel. Silent Spring, 1962. Print.
Conservation International, Conservation International Statement in Support of Wildlife Conservation 20’s Urgent Message to the G20: Invest in Nature or Face Growing Pandemic Risk, November 20, 2020: https://www.conservation.org/press-releases/2020/11/20/conservation-international-statement-in-support-of-wildlife-conservation-20’s-urgent-message-to-the-g20-invest-in-nature-or-face-growing-pandemic-risk.
Lynch, Peter. Wildlife & Conservation Volunteering: The Complete Guide (Bradt Travel Guide), 2nd Edition June 19, 2012.
Moorhouse, Tom. The Customer Isn’t Always Right—Conservation and Animal Welfare Implications of the Increasing Demand for Wildlife Tourism, 2015.
World Wildlife Fund, Living Planet Report 2018: https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/living-planet-report-2018.