Many people believe that Conservation and Restoration are essentially the same thing. Sadly, this misconception is something we hear a lot, so we felt it’s time to clear things up. The first logical step would be to define both terms. So let’s begin with a little help from Merriam-Webster:




    Conservation: a careful preservation and protection of something; especially : planned management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect

    Restoration: a bringing back to a former position or condition; a restoring to an unimpaired or improved condition

The difference? In a nutshell, conservation is prevention. Restoration is repair.

What are we?

Let me stop right here and send out a disclaimer. We have nothing against conservationists. They are great people with great causes. But we are not conservationists. And here’s why:

Biological conservation typically focuses on single organisms, often from the endangered species list. As far as we’re concerned, that limits the progress you can make. Look, saving the whales, polar bears, or whoever else—these are all noble and much-needed causes. You won’t hear anyone around here disputing that fact.

However, there’s a lot more to it than that. When a species goes extinct, that species isn’t the only group affected. Take the case of grey wolves in Yellowstone National Park. Many years ago, they were hunted and basically killed off and driven from their natural habitat. In turn, their former prey, the elk, multiplied at uncontrollable rates. These herbivores in turn ravaged local plant life, eradicating some species, and overgrazing near rivers. As a result, shorelines lost plants which naturally provided erosion protection. Riverbanks began to recede and the water grew shallow. Shallow waters negatively affected fish. And so on, and so forth.

Do you see where I’m going with this?

Restoration focuses on entire ecosystems. The animals, the plants, the decomposers, the soil—they all go together. They’re inseparable.

As TENTHMIL’s founder, Steve Munson, plainly states, “Conservation’s not enough. We need Restoration.”

Not all forms of restoration involve huge, elaborate plans to extensively modify habitats and ecosystems.  The term “Passive Restoration” is also something we support, when it’s appropriate.  Passive restoration is basically:

  1. putting an end to destructive processes in a particular ecosystem
  2. leaving Mother Nature alone to fix herself

Like conservation, there’s a time and place for passive restoration. But sadly, we’ve found that the majority of the ecosystem damage we’ve caused in this country has progressed beyond what Mother Nature can do on her own without needing hundreds, or even thousands of years.

Let’s face it. The destructive forces of human civilization aren’t just sitting back and waiting for someone to make a move. No, they’re actively trampling the Earth. Ignorantly overusing non-renewable resources and crippling the balance of nature. Aggressively destroying the world, one ecosystem at a time. The time for sitting back and hoping it will all work out… it has long since passed. We must fight fire with fire.

We thrive on stories of those who get their hands dirty.  Those who see natural streams falling victim to pollution and do something about it. Those who get out and grow oysters in mesh bags and plant trees to help reverse deforestation. Those who see the big picture and truly understand what’s at stake.

We celebrate those who step out and say “Enough is enough. It’s time for a change.” And they don’t just talk. They force that change into existence—no matter how big or how small.

We are TENTHMIL, a community of restoration activists. Won’t you join us?