Why should we conserve natural and human habitats?

Healthy habitats provide an abundance of resources for the organisms that live in them. For example, soil — whether it is silt, sand or clay — provides nutrients and so helps to maintain life. Native plants such as grasses, shrubs and trees can be a sustainable source of food and protection. Birds and insects pollinate plants, and animals live in balance, eating any available food and often being eaten by larger animals.

Every day you make choices. Many of them relate to the conservation of natural resources and the immediate environment that you live in — for example, whether to clean up your garden or collect dead leaves and twigs to use as garden mulch, or whether to grow your own vegetables and fruits. Those choices influence your thoughts and actions, and your thoughts and actions develop your habits. Your habits then become a part of the daily activities that you choose to do.

We also need to protect and conserve marine life. Some Indigenous communities live by the sea or ocean, and all their needs are met by them.

Watch the video What Is Habitat Conservation? Tips For Conserving Habitats by Dynamic Earth Learning to learn more about habitat conservation. Habitat conservation means protecting the places where plants, animals and humans live. We must keep these places healthy and fix them when they have been damaged. Many plants and animals would die if their natural habitats were destroyed. When we conserve habitats, we give plants and animals a chance to live healthy lives. When we lose or destroy habitats, animals, plants and the environment in general can suffer.

Reflection

Take a few minutes to think about what choices you can make to clean, conserve and protect your dwelling or household area and the wider area where you live. In your personal journal, write down five choices you can make and that you can use to form a habit of helping to conserve the area where you live.