Starting around 1970, conservation organizations launched efforts to preserve rare heritage chicken breeds threatened by industrial agriculture's focus on high-yield hybrids. Groups worked to maintain genetic diversity through breeding programs and awareness campaigns. These initiatives highlighted tensions between tradition and modernity, paralleling literary themes of cultural preservation and biodiversity in an era of rapid change.

Heritage breed conservation efforts in 1970 inspired poetry celebrating biodiversity and cultural heritage. Poets like Alice Walker began to explore themes of nature and preservation, intertwining personal narratives with broader ecological concerns. Walker's poetry often reflects a deep connection to the land, emphasizing the importance of preserving both cultural and biological diversity.