con ‧ ser ‧ va ‧ tion /ˌkɒnsəˈveɪʃ ə n $ ˌkɑːnsər-/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
1 . the protection of natural things such as animals, plants, forests etc, to prevent them from being spoiled or destroyed SYN preservation ⇨ conserve :
wildlife conservation
a local conservation group
conservation of
conservation of the countryside
2 . when you prevent something from being lost or wasted ⇨ conserve :
energy conservation
conservation of
the conservation of resources through recycling
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + conservation
▪ nature conservation
a government adviser on nature conservation
▪ wildlife conservation
More woodland is needed for wildlife conservation.
▪ environmental conservation
It is important to encourage environmental conservation and awareness.
▪ marine conservation (=relating to the sea and the life in it)
marine conservation in offshore Australia
■ conservation + NOUN
▪ a conservation area (=an area where animals and plants are protected)
a wildlife conservation area
▪ conservation measures/policies/issues etc
It is important that nature conservation issues are taken into account.
▪ a conservation programme/project
A conservation programme has been underway since 1980.
▪ a conservation group (=a group of people who support or work for conservation)
the growing number of conservation groups
▪ conservation work
The group spent four months carrying out conservation work in the rainforest.