'conservation-minded' is a Modern English compound formed from 'conservation' + 'minded'. 'Conservation' comes via Middle French/Medieval Latin from Latin 'conservatio' (from 'conservare') meaning 'the act of preserving', and '-minded' is derived from 'mind' (Old English 'gemynd') with the adjectival suffix '-ed' meaning 'having a specified disposition.'

'conservare' (Latin) produced Medieval Latin 'conservatio', which entered English as 'conservation' in the 17th century; 'mind' evolved from Old English 'gemynd' (memory/attention) to Middle English 'mind', and the compound pattern 'X-minded' (meaning 'having a disposition toward X') developed in Modern English, giving 'conservation-minded'.

Originally the Latin root 'conservare' meant 'to keep or preserve'; 'mind' originally signified 'memory' or 'thought' and later 'disposition' or 'attitude'. The compound came to mean 'having an attitude inclined to preserve (the environment)'.