Nature conservation is a vital movement focused on protecting species from extinction, maintaining and restoring habitats, and preserving biological diversity. It is guided by diverse philosophies, ranging from valuing nature intrinsically (biocentrism) to considering human well-being (anthropocentrism) and even the welfare of sentient animals, with a recent shift towards evidence-based conservation.
In the United States, foundational works like Henry David Thoreau's Walden and George Perkins Marsh's Man and Nature, both published in 1864, significantly shaped early conservation ethics and the establishment of National Parks. As of 2021, 16.64% of land and 7.9% of the oceans were protected globally. However, environmentalists, the UN's Convention on Biodiversity, and the 2022 IPCC report advocate for a much more ambitious goal: conserving 30% to 50% of the Earth's land and marine areas by 2030 to mitigate climate impacts and safeguard natural ecosystems.