Conservation is the preservation of our natural resources and habitats and is part of being environmentally conscious. Conservation is an ethic of resource use, allocation, and protection. Its primary focus is upon maintaining the health of the natural world: its fisheries, habitats and biological diversity. The secondary focus is on materials conservation and energy conservation, which are seen as important to protect the natural world.
If we don't take care of what we have, we will lose it. The deforestation of the rain forests, the crippling of the Gulf Coast, and the list of endangered species (to name just a few) all speak for the need for us to preserve our natural resources and habitats. Many times this is done through legislation. However, without your voice being heard, laws that could be enacted will fall to the wayside because it is the squeaky wheel that gets fixed first.
With all this being said, it is your responsibility to educate yourself...read, learn and get involved. What you do DOES matter. You do leave footprints on the earth. You CAN make a difference. But you have to make the effort - it can't be done any other way.
"How you imagine the world determines how you live in it" - David Suzuki
Here are some resources and links to websites on this topic. As I find more useful information, I will update this page.
National Wildlife Federation. http://www.nwf.org/
OceanConservancy. http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=home
Gulf Restoration Network. http://healthygulf.org/
Conservation International. http://www.conservation.org/Pages/default.aspx
Ian Somerhalder Foundation. http://www.isfoundation.com or
NRDC - Natural Resources Defense Counsel. http://www.nrdc.org/
