Conservation of forests and wildlife has become essential due to the rapid decline in wildlife population and forestry. Several good practices have been adopted towards this goal.

Conservation preserves ecological diversity and our life support systems – water, air and soil. It also preserves the genetic diversity of plants and animals for better growth of species and breeding. In agriculture, we remain dependent on traditional crop varieties, and fisheries rely on the maintenance of aquatic biodiversity.

In the 1960s and 1970s, conservationists demanded a national wildlife protection programme, leading to the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. This legal framework has been used by communities to protect forests, such as villagers in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, who fought against mining by citing this Act.

Community participation is a crucial practice. Local communities are struggling to conserve habitats along with government officials, recognising that this secures their own long-term livelihood. In many areas, villagers themselves protect habitats and reject government involvement. For instance, inhabitants of five villages in Alwar district, Rajasthan, declared 1,200 hectares of forest as Bhairodev Dakav 'Sonchuri', establishing their own rules that prohibit hunting and protect wildlife from outside encroachments.

Movements like Chipko Movement and Beej Bachao Andolan represent community-driven conservation practices. Additionally, Joint Forest Management involves collaboration between communities and government for forest conservation.