ABSTRACT
Conservation is distinct from conservatism. Conservation also needs to be distinguished from preservation, which means keeping objects as they are now; food can be preserved in aspic, and animal organs in formaldehyde. The modern nature conservation movement seeks to maintain the quality of the biosphere for the future, so that it can continue to provide support for all life forms – and not just humans. Conservation can be focused at a very local level, in districts, and at national, international and global levels. Part of the international conservation effort has been the setting up of protected areas, sometimes covering huge areas of land, but these have not been wholly successful, and often exhibit all the problems that zoos have. Many UK species are protected under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act, and those considered to be in the greatest danger are protected under the 2010 Conservation of Habitats and Species regulations.
