| With an ever increasing human population and an | | | | is the depletion of the wetlands within the United |
| ever decreasing supply of open land and natural | | | | States. The largest of these evaporating wetlands |
| resources, wildlife conservation is a growing and | | | | may be the Florida Everglades. Not only are the |
| serious problem. An issue of such far reaching | | | | wetlands in danger but the barrier islands in the |
| and, in many cases, irreversible consequences | | | | coastal area are also at risk. Many people do not |
| requires an informed public pressuring its political | | | | comprehend the immense peril presented by the |
| leaders for answers. In an arena with so many | | | | loss of wetlands and barrier islands. These |
| disparate viewpoints, how can a lay person find | | | | formations provide habitat for a great variety of |
| the information needed to correctly assess wildlife | | | | animal species as well as protecting the water |
| conservation problems? | | | | table, reducing flood risk and shielding the Florida |
| Many people turn to wildlife conservation | | | | shoreline from storms such as hurricanes. |
| magazines for help in deciphering the questions | | | | On the other side of the table, there is the |
| facing citizens concerned with balancing the needs | | | | continuing need for land for population and |
| of mankind with the needs of the natural world. | | | | manufacturing growth. Without the ability to |
| Many of these magazines address specific | | | | expand the Florida economy could be endangered. |
| concerns within the conservation community; | | | | Yet, ironically, continued economic stability of the |
| others have a more broad based approach. | | | | area requires a healthy environment for the |
| A subject currently the focus point of vociferous | | | | natural beauty which draws many tourists to the |
| and divisive debate is whether or not the Artic | | | | area. Complex questions such as this require the |
| National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) should be opened | | | | informed essays which are many times available |
| to oil exploration. For decades heated arguments | | | | only through wildlife conservation magazines. |
| have been ongoing over whether there is | | | | Wildlife conservation magazines also address |
| sufficient oil in the region to justify exploring for | | | | topics which are of more individual concerns. Many |
| and potentially drilling for oil with the Refuge. | | | | hunters are also avid conservationists. They view |
| Some contend that the theorized oil reserves | | | | hunting as a necessary process for keeping the |
| would reduce American dependency on foreign oil | | | | wildlife population healthy and in proportion to the |
| and that investigation and drilling can be | | | | natural food supply. Thus, many of the magazines |
| accomplished without damaging the delicate | | | | which support hunting are also in their own ways |
| ecosphere of ANWR. Others assert that there | | | | wildlife conservation magazines. The articles within |
| are not enough barrels of oil hidden in the Refuge | | | | hunting magazines that delve into wildlife |
| to make the possible detrimental affect on the | | | | management often share the same viewpoints as |
| area worthwhile. The discussion has become so | | | | similar articles in wildlife conservation magazines. If |
| rancorous on both sides that independent | | | | a reader wants a truly diverse spectrum of |
| research by lay people is necessary in order to | | | | opinion, a sampling of hunting magazines should be |
| have an unbiased opinion. Consulting a variety of | | | | sprinkled in with the more traditional wildlife |
| wildlife conservation magazines is a good starting | | | | conservation magazines that make up a reading |
| point for understanding the facts. | | | | list. |
| Another important concern facing conservationists | | | | |