7C Conservation

Question 1

Define conservation

Answer 1

The protection and management of ecosystems in a sustainable way

Question 2

An example of balancing human needs with conservation

Answer 2

The Maasai Mara - a national reserve in Kenya, a large area of grassland with lots of wildlife

The Maasai people traditionally earn a living by raising livestock, this can bring them into conflict with conservationists

Conservation trusts are working with the Maasai to help them make money from their land through conservation and ecotourism projects rather than farming and to farm in a sustainable way. So the economic needs of the Maasai are met, while still allowing the area and its wildlife to be conserved

Question 3

Examples of conservation techniques

Answer 3

Plants can be conserved using seedbanks - stores of lots of seeds from lots of different plant species. If plants become extinct these can be used to grow new plants

Fishing quotas are limits to the amount of of certain fish species that fishermen are allowed to catch . These help to conserve fish by reducing the numbers that are caught and killed

Protected areas such as national parks and nature reserves protect habitats by restricting urban development, industrial development and farming

Endangered species can be bred in captivity to increase their numbers then returned to the wild