Habitat Conservation/Restoration
“The conservation of natural resources is the fundamental problem. Unless we solve that problem, it will avail us little to solve all others.”
—Theodore Roosevelt
An ecosystem is a natural unit consisting of all plants, animals and micro-organisms in an area functioning together with all of the physical factors of the environment. An ecosystem is a unit of interdependent organisms which share the same habitat. Ecosystems usually form a number of which show the interdependence of the organisms within the ecosystem. Interdependence in an eco-system could be as simple as what is present in a small pond to the complexities inherent in a jungle. These complex yet fragile systems of nature contribute to the stabilization of the planet. Regardless of where the ecosystem exists, they are ultimately fragile, and decrease in their stability when upset or imbalanced. Ecosystems can take decades to recover – if they are able to at all. Numerous studies warn that the global ecosystem is destined for collapse if it is further reduced in complexity.
The overwhelming majority of modern specie extinctions are due to human activities which contribute to the destruction of plant and animal habitats. Increased rates of extinction are being driven by human consumption of organic resources. Ecosystems decrease in stability when they are upset and as specie populations become radically imbalanced or are made extinct. Factors contributing to loss of biodiversity include human overpopulation, deforestation, pollution (air, water, soil contamination) and global warming or climate change (driven by human activity). These factors, stemming from overpopulation, have a cumulative impact upon biodiversity.
Some of the conservation movement's goals are to protect habitats through the promotion of continued recreational opportunities for people, such as hiking, bird watching, fishing and hunting. People who familiarize themselves with natural environments tend to appreciate them in a proactive manner, and may come to augment their own personal behavior towards their environment as a result.
