Definition of: conservation

(kon′sər·vā′shən) noun
1. The act of keeping or protecting from loss or injury: the conservation of health, or of social order.
2. The preservation of natural resources for economical use; specifically, the preservation of forests, fisheries, harbors, etc. [<L conservatio, -onis <conservare. See CONSERVE.]
—con′ser·va′tion·al adjective
—con′ser·va′tion·al·ly adverb
—con′ser·va′tion·ist noun