History of American Conservation Movement

1. History of American Conservation Movement

2. Environmental HistoryTribal Era • Native Americans: Hunters & Gatherers • Depleted renewable resource and moved on. • Deep respect for the resource • Low Ecological Impact • Low population • Limited technology • Low affluence • High stewardship

3. Environmental HistoryFrontier Era ( 1607-1890): Westward expansion: Taking over of a continent • Infinite Resources • Wilderness was the embodiment of evil • It needs to be conquered • Manifest Destiny • 1845 Manifest Destiny: The pervasive belief in American cultural (Christianity) and racial superiority • Andrew Jackson: Trail of Tears

4. Conservation Movement in AmericaThe Early Conservation Movement 1832-1960 George Perkins Marsh Man and Nature published in 1864 voices concerns about the poor use of natural resources Easter Island Population in 1400 AD 15 – 20k 1. Depleted forest ecosystem 2. Soil erodes & becomes infertile 3. Lack of suitable soil promotes famine 4. Disease, famine, war destroyed the civilization Population in 1722 AD 2-3k

5. Environmental HistoryFrontier Era ( 1607-1890): Westward expansion: Taking over of a continent • 1890 the “frontier” is closed • 1891 Forest Reserve Act • 1892 Yellowstone 1st National Park • T. Roosevelt ’01-’09 Golden Age of Conservation

6. Conservation Movement in AmericaThe Early Conservation Movement 1870-1930 HetchHetchy Debate Preservationist Conservationist Gifford Pinchot- First Chief Forester(1905) “Greatest good for the greatest number for the longest time” Teddy Roosevelt 26th President 1901-09 The Antiquities Act of June 8, 1906 allowed Roosevelt and his successors to proclaim "historic landmarks, historic or prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest" in federal ownership as national monuments. John Muir – President Sierra Club (1892) Nature deserves to exist for its own sake - regardless of degree of usefulness to humans. (Biocentric Preservation) Idea led to the Wilderness Act of 1964

7. Conservation movement in America Modern Environmental Movement 1960-2004 • The industrial expansion after WW II added new concerns to the environmental agenda. • Rachel Carson – awakened the public to the environmental threat posed by pesticides (DDT)in her book Silent Spring (1962) • Ecosystem concept: wildlife & quality of air, water

8. Conservation movement in AmericaModern Environmental Movement 1960-2004 • 1970s The Environmental Decade The field of ecology emerges • Earth Day 4-20-1970 • First Ecology Flag • EPA established 1970 • Endangered species act -1973 • Federal Land Policy & Management Act -1978 • Sagebrush rebellion • Superfund-1980 • Love Canal

9. Conservation movement in AmericaModern Environmental Movement 1960-2004 • 1980s Environmental Backlash • Farmers, ranchers, leaders of natural resource industries strongly opposed many environmental laws. • Ronald Reagan increased use of public lands, cut federal funding for energy conservation, relaxed air and water quality standards • Wise-use movement: weaken or repeal environmental laws & policies

10. Important Environmental Legislation • 1906 : Antiquities Act: first law to protect cultural or natural resource. Gave the President the power to declare landmarks, structures or objects of historical or scientific importance as National Monuments. Grand Canyon is an example • 1916: National Park Act: Parks are to be maintained in a manner that leaves them unimpaired for future generations. • Wilderness Act of 1964: Authorized the protection of undeveloped public lands. • Endangered Species Act of 1973: Provides for the conservation of ecosystems upon which threatened or endangered species of fish, wildlife, and plants depend.