'preservation-oriented' is a compound formed from 'preservation' (from Latin) and 'oriented' (from French/Latin). 'preservation' ultimately derives from Latin 'praeservatio'/'praeservare' (prae- 'before' + servare 'to keep'), and 'oriented' comes from French 'orienter' (from Latin 'oriens', 'rising, east').

'preserve' entered English via Old French 'preserver' from Latin 'praeservare'; 'orient' came from Latin 'oriens' through Old French into English as a verb 'orient' and later formed the adjective 'oriented'. The modern compound 'preservation-oriented' is a recent English formation combining these two elements.

Individually, 'preserve' originally meant 'to keep safe' and has retained that sense; 'orient' originally meant 'to face east' (from 'rising') and later acquired senses of 'to direct' or 'to position toward'—combined in 'preservation-oriented' to mean 'directed toward preservation'.