Natural Resource Conservation

The conservation of natural resources encourages the wise use of the Earth's resources. The term "conservation" came into use in the late 19th century and referred to the management of such valuable natural resources as timber, fish, game, topsoil, pastureland, and minerals. It also speaks to the preservation of forests, wildlife, parkland, wilderness, and watershed areas.

Local government agencies and municipalities have conservation committees, conservation commissions, and other councils in place to help with these efforts.

Each state also has a Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The DNR is tasked with maintaining natural areas such as state parks, state forests and recreation areas. It also manages Indiana's game, fish and wildlife, reclaims coal mine grounds, aids in the management of wildlife on private lands, and enforces Indiana's conservation laws.

There are several divisions within the DNR, each having a very specific role. According to the department's website, their mission is "to protect, enhance, preserve, and wisely use natural, cultural, and recreational resources for the benefit of Indiana's citizens through professional leadership, management, and education."

The primary federal agency that works with private landowners to help them conserve, maintain and improve their natural resources is called the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). “The Agency emphasizes voluntary, science-based conservation; technical assistance; partnerships; incentive-based programs; and cooperative problem solving at the community level.”

Conservation Programs

The NRCS’s natural resources conservation programs help people reduce soil erosion, enhance water supplies, improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat, and reduce damages caused by floods and other natural disasters.

The Farm Bill

The 2014 Farm Bill was enacted on February 7, 2014. With this bill, the NRCS offers voluntary conservation programs that benefit both agricultural producers and the environment, such as easements, partnerships, and financial assistance.

The easement programs are meant to help eligible landowners to conserve working agricultural lands, wetlands, grasslands and forestlands.

Partnership programs leverage additional conservation assistance for agricultural producers and landowners in specific conservation areas.

Financial and technical assistance are put in place to help agricultural producers make and maintain conservation improvements on their land in order to work the land while maintaining its integrity.

Soil

Soil conservation is a set of management strategies to aid in the prevention of erosion or chemical alteration from overuse, acidification, salinization or other chemical contamination.

Water

Conservation is the most cost-effective and environmentally sound way to reduce our demand for water. This makes our current water supplies go farther. Using sophisticated conservation efforts, the city of Los Angeles has grown by one million people since the 1970s but still uses roughly the same amount of water.

All of these efforts combined help us to understand just how important conservation is in regard to the environment. When paired with such conservation programs like recycling, the cumulative effect can be astounding.  For more information on recycling efforts and programs visit www.wasteawaygroup.com.

infoplease.com

usda.gov

wikipedia.org

epa.gov

in.gov/dnr