What is Conservation?

Difficulty of Project

Medium

Cost

Less than $50

Safety Issues

None

Material Availability

Most materials can be purchased at any local office supply retailer. Objects to display may be borrowed or purchased at the organizations that are researched (zoos, nature centers etc.).

Approximate Time Required to Complete the Project

One day to one month

Objective

• Conservation related organizations
• Display board
• Photographs
• Items related to conservation (for example: seeds, paw prints, plants, recycled items, etc.)

Introduction

Research Questions

• Are there different philosophies related to conservation?
• What types of natural resources are being conserved?
• What are the different methods an organization uses to conserve nature?
• What types of conservation projects are happening locally, nationally and internationally?

Terms, Concepts and Questions to Start Background Research

• Conservation – the act of conserving or protecting natural resources
• Natural Resource – anything in the natural word or environmental that gets used by people, whether as a product (ex: trees turned into paper), or for recreation (ex: parks and lakes)

• Find several organizations (at least 3) dedicated to conservation. Choose organizations that have distinctly different conservation missions.
• Research what each organization conserves and how they do it. Use their website, newspaper articles, and interviews to conduct this research.
• Visit one local conservation place (zoo, wildlife center, protected park or refuge etc.) and interview a staff member or volunteer about the organization’s work.
• After researching conservation, decide what conservation means to you and what types of conservation you find important.
• Create a display showing your research. Include a collage or other creative way to show your own conservation values. Include photos, brochures from the organizations, and any other objects that relate to, or were collected, during your research.

Bibliography

Conservation International

Association of Zoos and Aquariums

NOAA Fisheries: Restoration Center

The Conservation Fund

Arizona Game and Fish Department: Wildlife & Conservation