Then what would you call someone who holds those beliefs? The belief that some things ought to be conserved and progress ought to be held back in some circumstances? I would call that conservative in a small c kind of way, as opposed to big c Conservatives that are all about centralised power and handing everything over to big businesses to strip the world clean of anything of value.

Political conservatism definitely has meant conserving heritage and nature, just not in your lifetime. Example: Theodore Roosevelt created America's national park system. But since at least as far back as 1980 conservatism has been co-opted by con men as a beard for their own gain. I think the main reason they've succeeded is that so many conservatives, although basically good at heart, were brought up with the biblical family model of putting absolute faith in a strong and wise Daddy who looks after them. They want to believe in that so hard because it's so much a part of who they are, once they identify a Daddy they'll give him a pass on just about everything. Once you figure out how to become Daddy they're all yours.