The environment is a part of the human being kind and taking care of it is a responsibility of each of the individuals. As everyone is not helping in the activities associated with the environment so some are taking responsibility, and these people discovered terms like conservation and preservation, but sometimes they might get confused in them while using them, so for clarification, this was required.
Conservation vs Preservation
The main difference between conservation and preservation, which is done by the environmentalist, is the focus of the act. Conservation refers to the act of sustainable usage of the resources provided by the earth. Sustainable here refers to the ideology where the use of any resource is done by also taking care of the future generations. They want to save the resources from exploitation, whereas Preservation refers to the act where people can see any resource or element of the earth damaging and getting near to the stage of disappearance. They want to preserve or save anything at the present state so that no further damage can be done by the human who can make it extinct for the further generations.
Conservation refers to the act of sustainable usage of the resources provided by the earth. Sustainable here refers to the ideology where the use of any resource is done by also taking care of the future generations. They want to save the resources from overexploitation.
Preservation refers to the act where people can see any resource or element of the earth damaging and getting near to the stage of disappearance. They want to preserve or save anything at the present state so that no further damage can be done by the human who can make it extinct for the further generations.
Comparison Table Between Conservation and Preservation
| Parameters of Comparison | Conservation | Preservation |
| Definition | Conservation refers to the activities associated with the sustainable usage of natural resources. | Preservation is done because the thing is already damaged and can be exhausted or gone, so they are preserved. |
| Main Concern | While conservation, they are concerned about not wasting the resource while using them regularly. | While preservation, the main focus is to save stuff to end with the exploitation by human use. |
| Motive Act | Conservation is done so that the user can be minimized, and we can save some for the next generations. | Preservation is done because the thing is already damaged and can be exhausted or gone, so they are preserved. |
| Main Focus | Conservation focuses on the wear and tear of the earth. | Preservation focuses on maintaining the pristine state. |
| Examples | Conservation mostly refers to the resources like water, petrol, coal diesel. | Preservation includes monuments, buildings, wildlife, or specific species. |
What is Conservation?
Conservation refers to the act of sustainable usage of the resources provided by the earth. Sustainable here refers to the ideology where the use of any resource is done by also taking care of the future generations. So, that the resources can also be saved for them and they can use them too for the basic necessity of the life. They want to save the resources from exploitation which can lead to the extinction of that particular resource.
Conservation refers to the activities associated with the sustainable usage of the resources, which saves them from the wastage done by the generation just for their comfort. While conservation, they are concerned about not wasting the resource while using them regularly. Conservation is done so that the use of them can be minimized, and we can save some for our next generations.
Conservation focuses on the wear and tear of the earth. That particularly means that you can’t just wear out all the resources and tear the earth from the core to just find some more. Conservation mostly refers to the resources like water, petrol, coal diesel.
What is Preservation?
Preservation refers to the act where people can see any resource or element of the earth damaging and getting near to the stage of disappearance. This will lead to the complete extinction of that particular thing, and our next generations will not be able to even see them. They want to preserve or save anything at the present state so that no further damage can be done by the human who can make it extinct for the further generations.
Preservation is done because the thing is already damaged by exploitation or other reasons and can be exhausted or gone, so to avoid those situations, they are preserved. While preservation, the main focus is to save stuff to end with the exploitation by human use. Preservation is done because the thing is already damaged and getting in a worse state if no further action is taken.
They can be exhausted or gone, so better they are preserved. Preservation focuses on maintaining the pristine state, which means no further damage is allowed to be done, so they either get better or maintained at that stage. Preservation includes monuments, buildings, wildlife, or specific species.
Main Differences Between Conservation and Preservation
- The difference between conservation and preservation, which is done by the environmentalist, is the focus of the act. Conservation refers to the act of sustainable usage of the resources provided by the earth. Whereas Preservation refers to the act where people can see any resource or element of the earth damaging and getting near to the stage of disappearance.
- While conservation, they are concerned about not wasting the resource while using them regularly whereas, preservation, the main focus is to save stuff to end with the exploitation by human use.
- Conservation is done so that the user can be minimized and we can save some for our next generations, whereas Preservation is done because the thing is already damaged and can be exhausted or gone, so they are preserved.
- Conservation mostly refers to the resources like water, petrol, coal diesel, whereas Preservation includes monuments, buildings, wildlife, or specific species.
- Conservation is derived from the word conserve, while preservation is from the preserve.
Conclusion
Both words may seem to be seen, but the motive, definition, and application are unique for both of them. Conservation is all about sustainable use, whereas preservation focuses more on saving the present state so that no further damage is done by the human species. Both are about helping the earth for a better state, and so that nature can be helped. The three R’s help them a lot and are used day-to-day for both the conservation and preservation purpose. It is a responsibility for all, and all should take care of it.
References
- https://www.pdcnet.org/enviroethics/content/enviroethics_1986_0008_0003_0195_0220
- https://www.jstor.org/stable/23288309