conservation

[kon-ser-vey-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of conserving; prevention of injury, decay, waste, or loss; preservation.

   conservation of wildlife;

   conservation of human rights.

   Synonyms: protection, husbandry, care

2. official supervision of rivers, forests, and other natural resources in order to preserve and protect them through prudent management.

3. a district, river, forest, etc., under such supervision.

4. the careful utilization of a natural resource in order to prevent depletion.

5. the restoration and preservation of works of art.

conservation

/ ˌkɒnsəˈveɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of conserving or keeping from change, loss, injury, etc

2. 1. protection, preservation, and careful management of natural resources and of the environment

   2. ( as modifier )

      a conservation area

conservation

1. The protection, preservation, management, or restoration of natural environments and the ecological communities that inhabit them. Conservation is generally held to include the management of human use of natural resources for current public benefit and sustainable social and economic utilization.

Other Word Forms

• conservational adjective
• anticonservation noun
• nonconservation noun
• nonconservational adjective
• proconservation adjective
• self-conservation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of conservation¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English conservacioun, from Latin conservātiōn- (stem of conservātiō ), equivalent to conservāt(us) (past participle of conservāre “to save, preserve”) + -iōn- noun suffix; conserve, -ate ¹, -ion

Example Sentences

The Welsh government body, tasked with conservation and protecting the environment, hopes the findings help it focus resources on areas at highest risk of losing species forever.

Read more on BBC

Without thoughtful intervention, these dense seaweed mats could gradually undermine hatchling survival and long-term conservation efforts.

Read more on Science Daily

More than 180 nations are to join conservation experts in Uzbekistan's Samarkand to discuss dozens of wildlife trade and protection proposals.

Read more on Barron's

"But by supporting rural communities, governments, and conservation partners on the ground, we can still turn the tide."

Read more on Science Daily

This finding is expected to play an important role in improving how conservation groups track and study these big cats.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

• care 
• conservancy 
• control 
• maintenance 
• management 
• protection 
• supervision