To Protect
する verb
ほごする
あそこで虫をついばんでいる鳥は、国際間で保護することが取り決められた鳥です。
The bird pecking at worms over there is actually an endangered bird species and is to be protected worldwide.
To preserve and defend something is to conserve and to protect. I won't let you destroy this land I'm trying to protect!
This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. If you know the readings of your kanji you'll know how to read this as well.