Conservation is the science-informed actions that preserve the health and resiliency of natural environments, safeguard the intrinsic value of nonhuman nature, and provide equitable benefits to current and future generations of humans and nonhuman life. It involves managing the Earth’s natural resources – air, soil, water, biodiversity and ecosystem processes – for the benefit of human society.
Many people consider conservation to include the careful exploitation of renewable natural resources (such as fish) so that they remain abundant and are not depleted. Others define conservation more broadly, to include the protection of living things and natural areas that are at risk of being lost or damaged.
We publish articles about conservation that have two important qualities: They address a topic that is broadly relevant to the world’s readers and they provide practical insights into how to make a difference. These articles can take the form of a how-to, an investigative report, a personal account, or a debate between authors with opposing views.
Readers of Oryx come from a wide range of backgrounds, but all share an interest in wildlife, the health of the planet and connecting with nature. This includes wildlife activists and gardeners, environmental-justice advocates and educators, armchair travelers, hunters, anglers, outdoor adventurers, birdwatchers and a host of others.
It is widely accepted that extreme poverty impedes conservation, and that policies that could lessen such inequality are powerfully opposed by those who benefit from it. Yet it is also widely recognized that promoting principles of just conservation cannot be achieved through enforcement mechanisms alone.