Advantages and Disadvantages of Conservation

Advantages

Many species contain unrecognised resources for humans, i.e. medicine
Vegetation helps to maintain air quality and supply oxygen
Plants absorb atmospheric carbon, reducing greenhouse effect
Many natural environments provide native populations with resources, such as fuel and wood
Vegetation filters the water and wetlands by removing nitrogen from the water
Vegetation reduces flooding through intercepting the flood water and absorbing surface runoff
Increases the genetic pool as multiple species are grown, preventing the spread of disease
Maintains soil health through the right balance of nutrients and soil flora and fauna, reducing soil erosion
Aesthetic, helps to reduce stress levels due to natural beauty
Helps with scientific research, further research in the area can be carried out to understand how the different species interact

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Conservation can displace or disrupt local communities, i.e. the Maasai in the Maasai Mara Reserve, Kenya
Can over-protect by removing natural threats, i.e. fire prevention in the Smoky Mountains National Park, USA, has led to the loss of species needing fire to regenerate
Prevents natural change, ecosystems are dynamic and so need to be able to change

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