just how important is conservationalism to God?

While I am no tree hugger, I do see that we are to take care of the Earth..That is one of the duties of mankind.

 

The fact is that mankind, thru most of the big businesses, will sacrifice anything to the altars of 'progress' so spending, as the OP said, "tremendous effort at sustaining" nature will probably be really a waste of time.
However, we can preach about it, as tinytim says, because it is one of the charges to Adam and Eve before the fall, and in the garden.
Don't misunderstand me.
I come from a country that used to have verdant rain forests until the big logging and mining companies came and stripped our hills and mountains of the trees and vegetation.
And then there is an area that used to be held by the US Navy and where some Special Forces trained for Vietnam that the US Navy kept verdant and forested, while in some parts of the south, US-led multinational companies stripped the country of trees.

 

God told Adam to care for the garden, not destroy it. He gave us dominion over the animals, that doesn't mean we are careless with them.

 

I am careful with animals. I carfully chew my meat.:laugh: i

 

I do believe that hunting is part of conservation.

But not too sure if that is what the OP wants to discuss

 

Answer. Neither. God calls individuals. Not nations. (An argument could be made for Israel as an exception to the latter, but let's not hijack the thread) since this is true then we each have a duty to use the resources God has given to us in a wise and careful manner. this is not to say we abuse what He hasgiven us but on the other hand we are not to make an idol out of the resources either. Balance.

You must remember that God has decreed that nature is put under a curse for our sake. Hmmmmmm. that is interesting isn't it. A curse for our sake? Study THAT one out and you will find your Biblical balance.