Environmental protection/conservation is a practice of protecting the natural environment on individual, organisation controlled or governmental levels, for the benefit of both the environment and humans. Due to the pressures of over consumption, population and technology, the biophysical environment is being degraded, sometimes permanently. Various efforts at both national and international level are being taken.

Conservation at national level:-

• National governments are vital to the preservation of biodiversity through the passing of laws requiring protection of species and habitats. If national laws do not protect species, then there is little hope of preserving them.
• However, it is not enough just to have laws, there must also be the will and the resources to enforce them. Even in economically developed nations, the necessary resources to properly enforce laws are not always made available.
• In under-developed nations, even the most basic resources for enforcement may be lacking. In addition, national laws may not in the end translate into local action, in which case they do not accomplish much.
• In democratic nations, national laws are also driven to a large extent by public opinion. They may in some cases be drafted more as a response to emotion than by actual scientific need.
• Several international conventions exist for the preservation of biodiversity. These include such conventions as the Ramsar Convention (1976) which provides for the conservation of internationally important wetlands and the Bern Convention (1979) which requires the protection of endangered and vulnerable species of flora and fauna
• There are many others. Signatory nations to these conventions must ratify national laws to ensure compliance with the conventions.
• In addition to the enforcement of laws, the Environment Agency is also responsible for data collection and monitoring.
• Environmental monitoring and biodiversity surveys at national level are important because they provide information on the condition of ecosystems and the changes that are taking place within them.
• They therefore provide the scientific information on which to base environmental policy decisions. Similarly, assessments of the environmental impact of large development projects are vital before relevant authorities can either grant permission to proceed, or require that changes be made to development designs.

International level conservation:-

• Species and ecosystems are seldom neatly confined within national boundaries. Many species roam across countless national borders and the oceans are owned by none.
• Trade in endangered species (or parts thereof) is international and pollution produced on one side of the world may wind up affecting regions on the other side of the globe. Biodiversity conservation is thus an international problem requiring international solutions.
• The role of international conservation organizations is a vital one, particularly in terms of brokering international agreements between governments concerned with protecting their national interests.
• The most far-reaching agreement on biodiversity in recent years is the Convention on Biodiversity, signed by 156 nations at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development ( the Earth Summit ) in Rio in 1992.
• Many others have signed since, and as they ratify the convention, governments accept responsibility for safeguarding biodiversity in their nations. Many international conservation organisations includingWRI ( World Resources Institute ) and IUCN ( The World Conservation Union ) contributed to the formulation of the documents signed at the convention.
• International conservation organisations play an important role in the wide publicising of environmental information.IUCN was responsible for the idea of compiling lists of threatened species as a means of drawing attention to the plight of species faced with extinction. These lists became known as Red Data Books ( RDBs ). In these, species are placed into one of several categories which range from ‘extinct’ to ‘vulnerable’ or ‘rare’, depending on the degree of threat to their existence.
• Organisations such asWWF, founded in 1961 by Sir Peter Scott, the eminent naturalist, are highly effective in publicising the plight of endangered species world-wide. They also play a large role in raising charitable funds towards projects concerned with saving wildlife in various areas of the globe. 

The objectives of these strategies are to:-

• increase public awareness through media, government agencies, NGOs, etc
• implement strict restrictions on export of rare plants and animals.
• preserve all varieties of old and new flora, fauna and microbes.
• protect natural habitats.
• protect all critically endangered, endangered, and rare species.
• reduce pollution.
• maintain ecological balance.
• utilize the natural resources in a sustainable way.

The effectiveness in positive way can be seen in following results:-

At National level

• Increase in Tiger count due to extensive ‘Tiger Project’ effectively implemented by NTCA
• Similarly increase in count of Gir Lions, Assam Rhino, etc.
• Increased Arrival of Olive Ridley Turtle – Odisha Coast.
• Increase in renewable energy production to 45GW and Target of 175 GW
• Increase in Forest Cover and Target to Increase Carbon Sink.

At international level

• Montreal Protocol is a Success – Healing of Ozone.
• Push for renewable energy – Costa-Rica (100% Renewable) and Germany producing Excess Wind Energy
• World Network of Biosphere Reserves and Ramsar Sites being Intensively Protected.
• Recent Signing of Paris Deal.

The effectiveness at negative front can be seen as:

At national level

• Numerous laws on same subject – Creates confusion of Authority and Accountability.
• Conflicting Interests – Tribal Population vs Govt responsibility, Livelihood vs Conservation, Development vs Environment. 
• Implementation flaws – fund shortage, no clear guidelines, lack of accountability and love for nature. 
• Participation – people’s participation is must for success of such strategy which is lacking.

International level 

• Taking Responsibility – Historical emission of developed countries and developmental needs of developing countries
• Trans-boundary sites – lack of cooperation and coordination among nations.
• Funding – with developing nations stuck with poverty the developed nations hesitation to funding have created major hurdles
• Cooperation and Consensus – among nations is lacking, developed countries not taking lead