General Studies - Environmental Conservation for UPSC 2020

According to the UPSC Schedule, in UPSC 2020 Conservation is an important topic and this article will help you prepare for the same. 

Environmental conservation is anything we do to conserve our planet and its natural resources. Sustainable use of all the resources available to us is essential. An increase in the human population is one of the major causes of environmental degradation.

Removal of habitat has caused the extinction of several species and many of them left endangered. Conservation is the protection of the environment and maintaining a healthy natural world through sustainable use of all our resources with keeping in mind the needs of our future generations.

The extinction of the wildlife species is increasing at an alarming rate and global temperature is rising to cause the glaciers to melt and if necessary steps are not taken towards the conservation of the environment, Humans and all other species on the earth is at a high risk which is threatening the existence of life on earth.

Conservation of the environment has become very important and there are many types of conservation methods that help us conserve our environment and live on a healthy planet. 

TYPES OF CONSERVATIONS ARE: 

WATER CONSERVATION: 

Water conservation is protection and careful use of water. It is important to save water because only 0.02% of the water on the earth is fresh water and water is essential for everyday basic needs. Using water judiciously can help in water conservation.

Creating awareness among the people about the problem of water scarcity and teaching them to take various steps towards the conservation of water can help solve the problem to a great extent. According to the world health organization, over one billion people worldwide do not have the access to safe drinking water so strict measures need to be taken towards the conservation of water. 

SOIL CONSERVATION: 

Soil conservation is the protection of soil from erosion or reduced fertility. Due to acidification, Stalinization or chemical soil contamination soil erosion is taking place.

Most of the soil nutrients are found in its top layer so the loss of the top layer could be very harmful to the environment since it is considered to be a non-renewable resource.

We can prevent soil erosion by encouraging the seepage of water in the soil, A forestation is one of the methods of soil protection and preventing soil erosion. Replenishment of soil can help in soil conservation by practices like crop rotation, mixed cropping, the addition of manures and fertilizers and cover crops. 

ENERGY CONSERVATION: 

An increase in population has increased the consumption of energy. Fossil fuels are being used at a rapid rate. The solutions to conserve energy are the use of alternative fuel power plants.

Generation of renewable energy can help the problem energy reduction. Increasing the use of solar energy, wind energy, hydro energy, and geothermal energy can help reduce the problem.

Non-renewable energy like energy from fossil fuels, coal and gas cannot be replaced easily so the wise use of resources is the biggest solution for conservation. 

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION: 

Biodiversity is important for humans to exist. There is an urgent need to educate people and spread awareness to adopt practices that are environment-friendly and do no harm in the environment. Disturbing biodiversity can cause an imbalance in the environment. Preservation of the habitat of flora and fauna is necessary.

The endangered species need protection so that they can be preserved and extinction of species needs to be prevented. Climate change in our environment is also causing harm to our biodiversity and immediate steps are required to take care of these problems.

Biodiversity conservation is of two types In situ conservation like biosphere reserves, national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries and Ex-situ include botanical gardens, zoological gardens, and DNA banks.

As of now the date of UPSC 2020 Notification is 12 February 2020 and the last date for the UPSC 2020 Form is 3rd March 2020. Do keep yourself updated if in case of any changes. 

All The best To All The UPSC 2020 Aspirants !