What is the fundamental most important thing conservationists should be doing to save the planet?

Question

What is the fundamental most important thing conservationists should be doing to save the planet?

Answer 1

Wish this was a question that had a clear cut answer.  I think one of the better answers is to bring to a halt the massive and excessive consumerism that mankind so readily embraces.  Get rid of the gold Rolex, the Humvee and the $500 teaspoon of  caviar.  What the h**l are these people thinking?

The link below offers some great ideas on how we can all make the planet a better place.

Another key issue I think is the protection of habitat.  Preserving the places that are vital for all of the species of the world to continue to exists on this little rock circling the sun.

Answer 2

Conservationists should be putting pressure on people and groups who are "crying wolf" and claiming doom and gloom with their junk science and speculations. They are causing people not to take environmental issues seriously because of their outreagous claims. We all need to conserve but we would have better results convincing the public to conserve if it was presented in a clear and honest manner.

Answer 3

Limit your consumption of everything including limiting the size of your family. There are finite resources and finite land. Overconsumption is greed which exploits the environment and other people.

Answer 4

Save the whales.

And drink your own recycled urine.

Answer 5

Push and influence companies producing plastic bottles, bags, and other packaging material to recycle.  After the consumer purchases the product, the manufacturer at which ever level, should be responsible for contributing to the recycling effort for the waste product discarded by the consumer.

Coca Cola is in the beginning to build a $40 million dollar plant dedicated at recycling the plastic bottles it sells for its soft drink.  Every company should be influenced with a large consumer response to follow Coca Cola's lead.  If not, then environmental groups should push through lobbying and political voting power.

Unfortunately, we the consumer will probably bear the cost of the plant through a small cost increase in the soft drink makers product.

Answer 6

It may sound funny but the two most important thing a person can do personally is,, (1) become a vegetarian, and (2) only purchase second-hand products.  

Really, other major impact things require coordinated efforts of many people working together.  Recycling is only effective when many people do it..  Its the same for cutting your use of fossil fuels for transportation or heating.