By Kate Zuritsky | 03/19/2025
A black seadevil anglerfish recently captivated the internet as it swam from the ocean’s depths to the surface, seemingly basking in the sun. Astonished viewers were quick to point out the fish’s extremely rare appearance, with some people suggesting the anglerfish is a threatened species. While researchers are baffled by its journey, this species is neither endangered nor facing an immediate conservation threat.
The rare appearance of the anglerfish highlights the unique biodiversity around the Canary Islands and the importance of marine conservation. There are many different conservation pathways, but they can be condensed into four areas:
- Environmental conservation
- Human conservation
- Wildlife conservation/animal conservation
- Marine conservation
“Each type of conservation is important because they allow us to focus on a particular area of need, which means we can direct our efforts to more effective management,” says Dr. Suzanne Agan, associate professor at American Military University’s School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). “Each one is important for protecting and conserving the natural resources we depend on for survival.”
What Is Conservation?
Earth is full of natural resources from the air we breathe to the water we drink and the soil we use to grow plants. Conservation is about protecting and caring for natural resources, ecosystems, and biological diversity to prevent their destruction, depletion, and extinction.
While conservation and preservation aim to safeguard our natural environment, conservation measures involve practices that ensure long-term sustainable use for future generations. Whether conservationists are tackling the climate crisis or protecting animals from habitat degradation, conservation work directly addresses threats to the diversity of life.
Why Is the Conservation of Natural Resources Important?
Everyday human activities such as driving a gas-powered SUV or using our home’s electricity or water are common ways we deplete our environment of natural resources. Burning fossil fuels like natural gas and oil releases greenhouse gases that trap heat from the sun and cause Earth’s temperature to rise.
“I feel like we have reached the point where climate change is just a buzzword, but there is scientific consensus that our climate is changing. Those changes will have major implications for our ecosystems and natural resources,” Agan observes.
Harmful actions can increase our pollution, impact human and species health, and lead to biodiversity loss and extinction. It’s essential to institute long-term conservation practices for the preservation and maintenance of forests, diverse ecosystems, and a healthier planet for animals, aquatic species, and humans.
Different Types of Conservation
Even though sustainable land, animal, and resource management practices have existed for generations, there’s still much work to be done. With endangered plants and animals, a growing threat of invasive species, and devastating wildfires destroying our forests and impacting our ecosystems, conservation is more important than ever.
According to Aldo Leopold, the father of conservation and author of A Sand County Almanac, conservation is a “state of harmony between man and land.” He believed humans are part of a larger community that includes water, vegetation, and animals. His beliefs laid the groundwork for modern-day conservation.
Environmental Conservation
This type of conservation focuses on the protection, preservation, and restoration of natural habitats and the many species that inhabit them. It involves protecting and managing natural environments like forests, grasslands, and reefs to preserve biodiversity and ecosystems and support ecosystem functions.
Soil conservation, a key part of environmental conservation, focuses on protecting and maintaining soil health. According to Dr. Agan, “Soil is the foundation from which we get our subsistence. Fertile soil provides healthy plants, the base of the food chain. When soils are degraded, we face lower crop yields, leading to food shortages and increased prices.”
Environmental conservationists work closely with non-profits and government organizations to establish policies and regulations to benefit protected areas, such as national parks and biosphere reserves. Additionally, environmental conservation plays a role in preventing and reversing the destruction of our ecosystems due to climate change and carbon dioxide emissions.
Human Conservation
Our health is directly connected to our food, water, air, and interactions with nature and land. Human conservation refers to the unique relationship between people, human health, and the environment.
From sustainable agriculture to responsible water and soil management, the impact living beings have on the environment harms natural species, biodiversity, and other humans. Air pollution, increasing temperatures, and drought can contribute to health issues, along with harmful viruses and diseases that come from fish and animal hosts.
Climate changes are also causing disease-carrying organisms to spread into new areas. As a result, there is an increased risk of disease exposure that in turn can impact human health.
Wildlife Conservation
Human activities such as hunting, pollution, and fishing put stress our natural resources and ecosystem functions, pushing many species toward extinction. Wildlife conservation (also known as animal conservation) refers to the protection and preservation of plant and animal species and their habitats.
Wildlife conservationist duties may include:
- Protecting and restoring habitats
- Preventing wildfires
- Testing water and soil for contamination
- Educating the public on sustainable living
- Preserving biodiversity
- Working with government agencies to pass policies and regulations
“Wolves and other wildlife are not only important for their role in ecosystems, but they also have cultural significance for many different indigenous communities,” explains Dr. Agan. “For the Lakota in the Great Plains, wolves are associated with the warrior spirit. There are many others, but the goal is to understand that conservation of wildlife is important to maintain not only the health of our ecosystems but also the well-being and integrity of our cultural heritage.”
Through wildlife and animal conservation efforts, we can preserve ecosystems and natural habitats and protecting the diversity of life.
Marine Conservation
As Earth’s most prominent life support system, the ocean is critical to human health and well-being. However, our waterways face severe threats from fishing, pollution, and climate change, which endanger coastal communities, coral reefs, and our sea population.
Marine conservation involves the protection, management, and preservation of marine ecosystems and all aspects of the environment. By promoting the benefits of sustainable fishing and reducing plastic waste, humans can help conserve marine life, maintain biodiversity, and keep beaches clean. Through research and public advocacy, humans can restore ocean habitats, safeguard marine species populations, and conserve the ocean to benefit future generations.
Our oceans absorb a lot of carbon dioxide. Although this absorption is good for the atmosphere, it is not good for the oceans because it leads to acidification, a major factor in the decline of marine organisms. This problem will take a considerable amount of time and effort to overcome.
What Causes a Species to Become Endangered?
There are many species on the endangered list, according to Dr. Agan. “Since the creation of the Endangered Species Act in 1972, more than 2,375 species have been listed worldwide as endangered or threatened, of which at least 1,678 occurred in the U.S.,” warns Dr. Agan.
“Listing is the first step toward conservation as it gives endangered species some protection until they can recover. For species such as bald eagles, gray wolves, humpback whales, and peregrine falcons, these measures have proven to be life-saving as they have been restored and subsequently delisted from the ESA.”
So, what is an endangered species? A single species (whether a bird, tree, insect, or fungus) is considered endangered when there’s a threat it may become extinct due to various reasons. For instance, a loss of habitat or a genetic variation could eventually lead to a species becoming endangered or extinct.
Experts will assess each species and categorize it, based on answers to a list of questions created by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), including:
- Is the species’ habitat shrinking? If so, how quickly?
- What is the species’ reproduction rate?
- What is the current population size?
- What are its primary threats?
- Are human activities impacting its survival?
- Are there predators or diseases impacting its population?
After these questions are considered, the species will be placed on the IUCN’s Red List in one of these categories:
- Not Evaluated
- Data Deficient
- Least Concern
- Near Threatened
- Vulnerable
- Endangered
- Critically Endangered
- Extinct in the Wild
- Extinct
Over time, the IUCN will reassess its categorization and the species’ performance. If a species’ population has grown, it will be downlisted. Otherwise, it’ll be uplisted if the species population has decreased.
What Is In-Situ Conservation?
In-situ means “in the original place.” In-situ conservation is when a species is protected in its natural surroundings. This conservation approach can help maintain genetic diversity, support natural behaviors and adaptations, and evolution.
Examples of in-situ conservation include biosphere reserves, national parks, and nature preserves. “By establishing our national parks, we provided the necessary space for bison to once again thrive where they had been abolished,” says Dr. Agan. “The California condor is once again thriving in the Grand Canyon, and black-footed ferrets were reintroduced into Badlands National Park.”
What Is Ex-Situ Conservation?
Ex-situ means “away from the natural location.” Ex-situ conservation is when an endangered species is removed from its natural ecosystem and placed in a protected area and under human care.
This type of conservation method is sometimes used to protect a species that may be having problems surviving due to external changes in its traditional habitat or internal changes. Examples of ex-situ conservation include botanical gardens, aquariums, zoos, and sanctuaries.
How Does Natural Habitat Loss Impact Extinction?
Habitat loss is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity and has huge consequences for the species’ survival. In fact, it’s the reason why 85% of current species have been placed on the IUCN’s red list as threatened or endangered. From forests to wetlands, nature’s homes are being destroyed to create farms, shopping centers, and housing developments.
The environments of endangered species require increased protection and resource management to achieve effective conservation efforts. Without them, more animals and plants may see population declines or extinction.
What Are the New Technologies and Trends in Conservation?
Technological advancements happen every second, leading to emerging trends that make conservation easier. “Technological tools allow us to monitor species and places in remote areas,” states Dr. Agan. “While we have long used telemetry and satellite tracking, GPS collars and other ways of tagging wildlife are becoming better every year.”
Automated radio telemetry helps facilitate global conservation and creates partnerships that can follow wildlife without borders. According to Dr. Agan, “We can check the vitals of an animal swimming through the Atlantic and use a QR code to follow sharks.”
Global monitors deliver real-time environmental data such as air or water temperature, salinity, or air quality. Apps can also help scientists and researchers view data, plan out research projects, or even develop a conservation plan for someone’s property based on high-quality scientific data.
“One of the latest, greatest, and maybe controversial trends is de-extinction,” explains Dr. Agan. “With our modern knowledge of DNA, we have the capacity to bring back species that have gone extinct.”
From the woolly mammoth to the carrier pigeon, there are questions about whether an extinct species would thrive today and what would happen. Habitats have changed drastically or disappeared since certain species last roamed the earth. If a species could somehow be brought back, they would mostly likely live in zoons or other enclosed facilities.
What Can We Do to Help Conservation Efforts?
Every small step we take today can lead to big outcomes tomorrow. To reduce our environmental impact at home and save endangered species and their habitats, we can:
- Plant native grasses, trees, and shrubs
- Remove invasive vegetation and weeds
- Create a pollinator garden to attract bees and birds
- Limit the use of fertilizers and pesticides
- Reduce, reuse, and recycle products whenever possible
- Purchase upcycled or recycled products
- Replace light bulbs and electronics with energy-efficient products
- Turn off electronics when they are not being used
- Conserve water
- Volunteer with local conservation groups
- Create a backyard wildlife habitat
- Slow down while driving
- Avoid littering
Environmental Science Degrees at American Military University
For adult learners interested in conservation and other related topics, American Military University (AMU) offers two degrees:
- An online Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science
- An online Master of Science in Environmental Policy and Management
Courses in these programs include soil science, water science, and an introduction to sustainability. Other courses involve remote sensing and geographic information systems, environmental management, and environmental policy, regulation, and law. These degree programs are taught by experienced faculty members with a deep knowledge of the environment.
Interested in these degree programs? Visit AMU’s science degree program page for more information.