Which term describes the protection of natural resources and the environment?

• A. Preservation
• B. Protection
• C. Stewardship
• D. Conservation

Answer: (D)

Protecting natural resources and the environment means managing and using them in a way that their health endures over time. The best term for this is conservation, which captures both safeguarding ecosystems and using resources in a sustainable manner so they remain available for future generations. Preservation focuses on keeping things in their original, untouched condition and generally limits use; protection is a broad safeguard concept without specifying sustainable use; stewardship refers to responsible caretaking, but conservation is the term that most directly describes protecting and wisely using natural resources. In practice, conservation underpins efforts like habitat protection, sustainable harvesting, and resource management.