ABSTRACT
Conservation means much more than guarding charismatic species inside fenced reserves. This chapter covers:
Conservation as a recognisable, coherent scientific movement coalesced from diverse, piecemeal actions and insights following the Second World War. Attempts to secure the scientific understanding and management of species and habitats for conservation saw the foundation of expert organisations at both international (e.g. WWF) and national levels, such as the United Kingdom’s Nature Conservancy, set up in 1949. In the developed world this concentration on scientific management of species and sites has been very successful, at least in conserving rare species. In the United Kingdom many once rare or extinct species of bird such as the osprey (Pandion haliaetus) or avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) have made remarkable comebacks. Being rare and charismatic and in the United Kingdom is a good recipe for survival. Meanwhile common species such as the house sparrow have undergone severe declines, whilst outside of the developed world the concentration on protected areas and scientific management may be altogether inappropriate.
