For the protection of our treasure, the world

1. Nature Conservation Concept By Majid Popo For the protection of our treasure, the world

2. What is Nature Conservation? • Nature conservation is a moral practice of resource use, allocation, and protection. • Its primary focus is upon maintaining the health of the natural world: its, fisheries, habitats, and the biological diversity of the flora, fauna and physical features of this country. • Its secondary focus is on materials conservation and energy conservation, which are seen as important to protect the natural world.

3. The objectives/aims of Nature Conservation are: • To conserve local flora, fauna and natural habitats by offering professional advice on development proposals, planning strategies and environmental impact assessments. • To draw up and implement biodiversity conservation plans. • To conduct regular ecological surveys, update inventories and manage an ecological database.

4. The Objectives/aimsContinued: • To monitor and evaluate plant and wildlife ecosystems in order to develop and manage St. Lucia's rainforest. • To protect endangered animal and plant species. • To promote public awareness and participation in nature conservation through publicity and educational activities.

5. Some Strategies of Nature Conservation are: • Educate the society and general population about the importance of nature conservation allowing them to be able to start a group or a non profit organization dedicated to protecting St. Lucia’s biodiversity. • Create fund raising events to generate revenue that will help provide adequate protection for and information about the wildlife and plant life in St. Lucia. • Promote the celebration of world environmental commemorative days such as World Environment Day and World Earth Day to encourage the respect for nature and to assist by planting trees and protecting wildlife habitat.

6. Strategies Continued: • To provide a service for people who are interested in experiencing an interaction with St. Lucia’s rainforest first hand. • The development ,implementation and enforcement of policies and laws for the protection of the forest ecosystem. • Nature conservation is achieved through partnerships that promote research, invest in, and coordinate the management of St. Lucia’s biodiversity. • Use of the eco-tourism product as a protection and conservation tool and revenue generator through the provision of livelihoods especially to rural communities. Only after the last tree has fallen, Only after the land has been destroyed, Only after the last fish has been caught, Only then will we realise that money cannot be eaten

7. Interpretation of Data • The following results were obtained through the interviewing of ten randomly selected persons in an attempt to find out what people knew about nature conservation. The interviewees were asked three questions each, their responses were recorded below. Question 1 :“In your opinion what is nature conservation ?” This question was answered fairly consistently throughout. Interviewees discussed that they thought that nature conservation was the protection of plant and animal life and the prevention and reduction of waste and other pollutants in a country. Only one of the ten persons interviewed was of the opinion that nature conservation was the protection of only endangered plants and animals and that it was only the government’s job to ensure the safety of these organisms. As stated earlier it is everyone’s responsibility to take care of the environment and not only because it might be endangered though if it is extra effort must be applied to conserve it.

8. Interpretation of Data • Question 2 “In what way do you think nature conservation affects you’re life?” This question was answered very differently based on people’s experience, though there was a sense of consistency where most answered that the eventual deforestation would cause droughts where in an already poorly facilitated water system could prove detrimental to communities. Most were of the opinion that the adverse effect of the lack of nature conservation would affect them sooner rather than later. One interviewee was of a different opinion where he thought that all this could destroy the land over a period of ten years, drastically hurting the agriculture industry which supports the country and creating desert like land, completely infertile and very susceptible to landslides.

9. Interpretation of Data • Question 3 “Do you think that our methods of nature conservation helps to promote awareness and knowledge of our environment? This question was very worryingly answered where all interviewees answered that they were almost unaware of any attempt by government to encourage nature conservation in the country. They stated that they knew about the destruction of the environment but through other forms of media not produced by the government. This showed that one of the main problems in the fight to protect the environment; the biggest enemy may be pure ignorance on the part of people who are not totally aware of what they are doing and how it affects the world.

10. In the future: • Nature conservation should be part of every school curricular to help engender an appreciation of the environment in students. Knowledge (public awareness) is key to saving the environment in helping every citizen realise their moral obligation as it appears that this is lacking. • We must above all attack the problem of ignorance where it is putting a strangle hold on our collective attempt to save the environment. This could be done by collecting funds and creating posters, advertisements, information services which would provide free information for interested people. • We should also create fund raising events and businesses that promote the usage of nature for example parks, nature trails and zoos.