Do you know the difference between Conservation and Preservation? Yes, there is a difference and it’s stark!
“In the words of our founder Theodore Roosevelt, “Conservation means development as much as it means protection.” Aldo Leopold said, “Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land.” Gifford Pinchot said, “Conservation means the wise use of the earth and its resources for the lasting good of man.”’ (Cummins, 2022)
The above quote was taken from the Summer 2022 issue of Fair Chase, The Official Publication of the Boone & Crockett Club in the issue’s Conservation Policy Column regarding the current federal administration’s America The Beautiful Initiative. I just happened to run up against the article and the one from the Buffalo Bulletin, linked below, on the heels of a whirlwind tour of Wyoming, interviewing experts in the game and fish department, wildlife organizations and the energy industry, all stakeholders in the conservation initiatives playing out in Wyoming and across the West.
Each of these folks acknowledged a difference between conservation and preservation but I’m taking it a step further in this op-ed… Preservation is an aspect of conservation, NOT a separate entity. They are inextricably linked and work together to achieve a goal.
Unfortunately, there are too many preservation groups masquerading as conservation groups on the landscape today. It’s no different than falsely referring to poachers as hunters. It’s more than just wrong though, it’s misleading and ultimately harmful to the credibility of legitimate conservation groups such as The Boone & Crockett Club, Pope & Young Club, TRCP, RMEF, Mule Deer Foundation, Ducks Unlimited and others.
Now, I’m all for using teamwork to achieve a worthy goal but the goal that the linked article from Buffalo Bulletin is pushing is pure preservation when it should be conservation.
In my opinion, instead of filing appeals and creating litigation to force preservation of a sensitive population of Wyoming pronghorns and their migration corridor, groups like the Western Watersheds Project could and should call upon the creative and collaborative conservation track records of groups like those I’ve listed above. Failing to do so is arrogant, fool hardy and puts the future of both the animals and people living on the landscape in peril. There is a better way and it’s the teamwork based approach of conservation, not the narrow minded and myopic approach of preservation at all costs.
I understand the sensitive and precarious nature of this particular group of pronghorn, their migration route and the possible implications of development on local sage grouse as well. However, complete and total preservation with zero attempt at conservation, meaning development AND protection, is throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Thus, to my point regarding the stark difference between conservation and preservation… preservation is a tool used by conservation and is a last resort when other efforts fail. Preservation by its very nature is extreme and exclusive. Conservation is teamwork aimed at the best possible outcome for all stakeholders.
When we work together with conservation as the end game everyone wins.
Sources:
http://www.buffalobulletin.com/news/article_1ef1b8ec-d202-11ec-9495-eb0f773dd01b.html
Cummins, J., & Roosevelt, S. (2022, Summer). Conservation Policy Column: American The Beautiful Initiative. Fair Chase: The Official Publication of the Boone & Crockett Club, Volume 38(number 2), 10-11.
1 comment
Lower energy cost or a myriad problems with a potential to mitigate a few of the issues associated with energy company activity. Have yet to see anything positive besides lower gas prices come out these situations. The extensive road access they create, unbelievable activity from endless amounts of rough necks driving around, constant noise from some of the sites, nearby towns swell up with Gypsies of which half are former criminals and prison inmates. Many of them spend 50-60 hours per week in that habitat and either poach or cherry pick animals after seeing the area day in and out. Generate huge amount of trash and with the dozens of roads and oil storage tank areas more off road recreational persons flood the area and it becomes cesspool each and every time 100%. Areas I hunted 3 decades ago that were outstanding are now total garbage due to energy.
Not siding with these Western Watershed clowns either they have no purpose at all, the energy company at least has a purpose, western watershed doesn’t improve anything and just exists to exist. Leave public alone and better than u found, tread lightly. I cannot just go open a store on public land if I want and oil and gas should not be allowed to profit off our public land, leave it alone as it is.