Preservation or Conservation?

Preservation of the earth's natural resources is on most peoples' minds these days and rightly so; the earth is facing certain demise if humankind continues to take, without giving back. Large areas of land are being desecrated at lightning speed to provide creature comforts, not just necessities. As clever as we have collectively become, humans have only recently realized that strict preservation is the only hope we have of keeping planet earth alive and well. Conservationists argue that their practice of sustainable management is sufficient to cater to the endless needs of humankind, while at the same time, taking care of the environment. However, is it logical to think that conservation can prevent long term damage?

The Bridger Teton National Park in western Wyoming is a prime example of preservation. According to the Bridger Teton Learning Resource Video (2007), management area 71, as it is known, is in the heart of Yellowstone National Park, and so far the 3.4 million acres has remained largely undisturbed. In light of fuel prices and the current economic climate, it does make sense to utilize resources which are available locally, however, the impact on flora and fauna from such operations will be irreparable.

The dramatic sequence of events involved in the development of mining sites is known to scar the natural ecosystem beyond repair. For example, it is simply not possible to convince whole species of wildlife to take alternate routes for migration and breeding purposes without causing some of them to become extinct; removing one link in this chain of life means risking the entire balance of nature. Those in favor of preservation may agree that conservation is, indeed, a suitable solution, but only for land which has already been tampered with. Could it be that there is another avenue of mutually suitable resolve which has been ignorantly overlooked?

Nobody disputes claims made about what has already affected the global population;

"America is facing a major economic crisis over the next two decades"(VLR, 2007), however, a more valid solution could be found by funneling the cost of exploration and mining into new technology and the development of renewable energy resources. The timeframe for the production of non-renewable resources is millions of years, and no conservation plan can hasten the process. Harvesting forests and replacing the trees may sound like a workable plan, unfortunately though, this effort to replenish our life sustaining flora has come too late.

Precious resources have already been depleted due to overconsumption in the past, and the majestic trees which once graced the earth can only be restored over a period longer than humans will be able to survive. No argument for conservation can be validated then, when there are further unfavorable consequences attached to the practice, therefore, preservation is the only chance we have of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for future generations.

Reference

Bridger Teton Video Learning Resource (VLR), (2007). Retrieved May 17, 2009, from https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/secure/aapd/axia/sci275/multimedia/video/bridger_teton.htm