Nature Conservation as a Solution to the Climate Change

Introduction
Climate change is defined as a continuous modification of the earth’s climate due to the variations in
the atmosphere. These modifications also come from the interaction between the atmosphere and
other chemical, biological, and geological factors within the earth system (Stephen T. Jackson, 2018).
Due to these modifications, the earth’s temperature is rising. As a result, climate and weather
patterns are changing all over the world.

Background About Climate Change

Changes in the climate have been happening when the earth came into existence, and until recent
centuries, these changes were natural. For example, ice-ages or post-glacial periods. It is not the first
time that carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases are high in the atmosphere. From the industrial
revolution of the 19th century until today, climate changes are primarily due to human activity.
Figure No. 1 explains the greenhouse effect.

Figure 1: Greenhouse Effect

The industrial revolution meant shifting from human labor to machinery and the era of combustion
engines and automobiles. As a result, humans started the excessive burning of fossil fuels. When
fossil fuel burns, it releases pollutants, including carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases, into the
atmosphere. Over the past century, humans have released excessive amounts of greenhouse gases
into the atmosphere, which has caused the global temperature to rise. Over the next 100 years, the
temperature is expected to rise up to 5oC. Figure No. 2 illustrates the temperature rise over the
years.
 Figure 2: Temperature Rise Over the Years.

The Sources of this Problem/Causes

Geological records show that there have been considerable variations in the earth’s climate, and the
natural factors cause these variations. These natural factors include emission from volcanoes,
changes in the sun, and variation in the earth’s orbit. These are natural factors, but according to the
intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC), humans have contributed 95% to climate change.

Following are a few sources of this problem:

1. Burning of Coal & Fossil Fuel

Till today fossil fuel is the top priority because it fuels economies. Industries depend on fossil fuel to
keep operating. Coal is another source, and till today, countries are producing electricity from coal
because it’s one of the cheapest sources to generate electricity. The burning of coal and fossil fuel
produces greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen, contributing to climate change.

2. Deforestation
Trees are the antidote to climate change because they absorb carbon dioxide present in the
environment and release oxygen. But as the population is increasing, humans are cutting down trees
to build industries and houses. Cutting of trees or deforestation contributes to increased carbon
dioxide levels, and as a result, the climate is changing.

3. Livestock Farming
The increase in the population, income rise in developing countries, and urbanization have increased
the demand for livestock-related products. The livestock industry depends on natural resources, and
it is responsible for about 14.5% of the total greenhouse gas emissions. The reason is that cows,
goats, and sheep produce significant amounts of methane (CH4) when they digest their food.
 4. Fertilizers
As the world’s population is increasing, the demand for food has also increased. In order to make
land fertile, Nitrogen-based fertilizers are being used. The excessive use of fertilizers that aren’t
absorbed or consumed by plants reacts with soil and generates harmful greenhouse gases. The
emission of nitrous oxide globally is about 8 to 14%.

5. Fluorinated Gases

Fluorinated gases are another significant cause of climate change. These gases are used in aerosol
propellants, fire suppressants, solvents, refrigerants, and foam-blowing agents. Fluorinated gases
are human-made gases that stay in the atmosphere for hundreds of years, and their effect is 23,000
times greater than carbon dioxide (CO2).

The Problem’s Consequences

Climate change or global warming is one of the biggest problems, and as the earth’s temperature
rises by 5oC, it will have consequences. Even today, as the temperature is rising, the world is facing
different problems. Here are some of the consequences that the world is facing, and these problems
will worsen as the world’s temperature will rise.

1. Frequent Severe Weather

As the world’s temperature is rising, natural disasters such as heatwaves, droughts, floods, and
storms are becoming the new normal. When the climate gets warmer, it develops an atmosphere
that retains, drop, and collect more water. As a result, weather patterns change, making wet areas
wetter and dry areas drier. As per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there were
10 climate and weather disasters in the United States (Melissa Denchak, 2016). The increasing
number of natural disasters poses a significant risk to the public’s health and safety.

2. Ice Melt

Melting of ice is one of the primary manifestations of climate change. Asia, Europe, and North
America have seen less snow from the 1960s to 2015. As per the National Snow and Ice Data Center
data, there are 10% less frozen grounds in the Northern Hemisphere. The lessening number of
frozen grounds can cause land collapse or landslide (Alina Bradford, 2017). Another effect of climate
change is the melting of arctic glaciers. As glaciers are melting, the sea levels are rising, which poses
a great threat to cities near the sea. Figure No. 3 shows the average melting of arctic ice over the
years.

Figure 3: Average Melting of Arctic Ice Over the Years.

 3. Air Pollution

A rise in the temperatures makes air pollution worst by increasing the levels of ground ozone. It is
created when factories, cars, and other sources react to heat and sunlight. The ground ozone is the
major component of smog, air pollution or the dirtier air increases hospital admission rates and
death rates for asthmatic patients. The dirty air worsens the health condition of patients suffering
from pulmonary and cardiac diseases. Moreover, the increase in temperature increases airborne
pollen, which becomes a problem for people who are allergic to pollen.

4. Western Wildfires & the Extinction Rate

According to a National Academy of Sciences report, as the world is becoming warm, the area
burned by the wildfires has increased by two to four times. According to an assessment by the
National Climate Assessment, temperatures in the Southwest United States have increased over 1oC
since the 1970s, causing major wildfire events (Leslie Baehr, 2014). Not only in the United States, but
wildfires events are happening across the world, which are wiping out different species. According to
a study in 2015, the different mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians are disappearing 114 times
faster (Gerardo Ceballos, Paul R. Ehrlich, Anthony D. Barnosky, Andres Garcia, Robert M. Pringle, and
Todd M. Palmer, 2015). Figure No. 4 shows the number of wildfires over the years.

Figure 4: The Number of Wildfires Over the Years.

Nature Conservation
Nature conservation is a movement that focuses on protecting different species from extinction,
restoring habitats, protecting biological diversity, and enhancing ecosystem services. The
conservation goals include preventing deforestation, mitigating climate changes, conserving
habitats, lowering overfishing, and stopping species extinction. Nature conservation and
preservation are both similar because both strive to protect nature in different ways. Conservation
means the sustainable use of nature, while preservation means protecting nature from humans.

Background
Nature conservation has a long history; as humans are polluting the environment, some people are
working to protect the environment. The United States established a national park known as Yellow
Stone National Park, which was established to conserve nature. Different countries followed the
footsteps of the United States and established national parks to conserve nature.

After the creation of the first national park, the US established the Sierra Club in 1892. The club’s
objective was to protect the land from human development and preserve it for the coming
generations. The modern nature conservation or environmental movement began in the 1960s; its
primary focus was habitat loss, air, and water pollution. Today environment conservation is a
broader concept, and different independent organizations are working to conserve nature (K. Jan
Oosthoek, 2015).

Real-Life Application of Nature Conservation

Nature means protecting different species, restoring habitats, and protecting biological diversity.
People are taking steps to conserve nature, and here are some of the real-life applications of nature
conservation.

1) Organic Farming

Organic farming is another real-life application of nature conservation. In organic farming, biological
fertilizers and ecological-based pests are used instead of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. As
compared to the yield of inorganic crops, the yield of organic crops is lower, but it is free from
pesticides, fertilizers, and it is suitable for the environment. Organic farming benefits include
decreased nitrate leaking into the groundwater, lowers soil erosion, and recycles animals waste
(Raoul Adamchak, 2020). Figure No. 5 illustrates the top 10 countries that produce organic products.

Figure 5: Top 10 Organic Products Producing Countries.

 2) Forest Conservation

Forest conservation is an application of nature conservation. Forests are home to different species,
and they play an essential role in absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen into the
atmosphere. Due to deforestation, the species are getting extinct, and ecosystems have been
disturbed. Forest conservation helps restore the home of different animal species, lower greenhouse
gases, prevent soil erosion and control the ecosystem’s moisture levels. Moreover, plantation of
trees or conservation of forests reduces flood and lower incidents of land sliding. Different countries
are making laws to regulate forest cutting to ensure the conservation of forests.

3) Soil Conservation

Soil conservation is a combination of different practices that are used to protect the soil from
degradation. The first step in soil conservation is treating soil as the living ecosystem and returning
the organic matter to the soil regularly. The conservation of soil helps in maintaining an adequate
amount of organic matter in the soil. It improves wildlife habitat and helps in creating an
environment free from pollution. Moreover, the conservation of soil improves water quality.

Why it is Considered as a Solution?

There are two types of solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change. Firstly, the technology-
based solutions and secondly, the nature-based solutions. Nature conservation or nature-based is
considered the best solution because it is cost-effective. In nature-based, the goal is to preserve the
ecosystems necessary for humans in the face of climate change and lower the potential adverse
effects of climate change.

As compared to technology-based solutions to fight climate change, nature conservation has a lower
cost, and it uses organic techniques to mitigate climate change and restore the ecosystems.
Moreover, the conservation of nature is a long-lasting solution and has benefits not only for humans
but also for the animals because it helps protect different species and stop them from getting extinct
(Sandra Naumann, Timo Kaphengst, Keighley McFarland, Jutta Stadler, 2014).

Conclusion
Our planet earth is facing a crisis of climate and biodiversity. As the earth’s temperature rises,
humans face the threat of extreme heatwaves, and the rise of sea levels could drown entire cities.
Due to deforestation and wildfires, hundreds and thousands of animals and plant species are facing
the threat of extinction.

In order to fight climate change, nature conservation is one of the best solutions. It helps in lowering
greenhouse gases and protects species from extinction. The solution to nature conservation is long-
lasting and cost-effective. Although nature conservation is the best solution, much needs to be done
to fight climate change impacts.
Recommendations
As discussed, nature conservation is the best solution, but we humans need to fight climate change’s
adverse effects. Below are some of the recommendations:

1) The number one priority of the countries should be to develop policies related to climate
change. Each country should have a policy for deforestation, wildlife, and the environment.
Moreover, countries should implement those policies without any delay.
2) The budget should be allocated for tree plantation and nature conservation programs.
3) It is recommended to promote organic farming and try to discourage the use of synthetic
fertilizers and pesticides.
4) Policies should be made to lower the carbon footprint, and industries responsible for
releasing heavy carbon dioxide into the atmosphere should be penalized.
5) Governments should compel companies producing and burning fossil fuels to invest a part of
their profits into nature conservation initiatives.
6) Finally, educate the public and especially youth about climate change, its adverse effects,
and nature-based solutions. Moreover, engage them in different activities related to nature
conservation such as tree plantation.
 References
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https://www.livescience.com/37057-global-warming-effects.html

Gerardo, Ceballos., Paul R. Ehrlich., Anthony, D. Branosky., Andres, Garcia., Robert, M. Pringle.,
Todd, M. Palmer. (2015). Accelerated Modern Human-Induced Species Losses: Entering the
Sixth Mass Extinction. Science Advances, Vol. 1, No. 5, e1400253. DOI
10.1126/sciadv.1400253.
K., Jan, Oosthoek. (2015). The Origins of Nature Conservation in Britain – A Short Introduction.

Environmental History Resources. Retrieved from https://www.eh-resources.org/origins-

nature-conservation-in-britain/

Leslie, Baehr. (2014). 22 Devastating Effects of Climate Change. Business Insider. Retrieved from

https://www.businessinsider.com/effects-of-climate-change-2014-6

Melissa, Denchak. (2016). Are the Effects of Global Warming Really that Bad? NRDC. Retrieved from

https://www.nrdc.org/stories/are-effects-global-warming-really-bad

Sandra, Naumann., Timo, Kaphengst., Keighly, McFarland., Jutta, Stadler. (2014). Nature-Based

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https://www.ecologic.eu/11240

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https://www.britannica.com/science/climate-change

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https://www.britannica.com/topic/organic-farming