History of American Conservation
Movement
Environmental History
Tribal Era
• Native Americans: Hunters & Gatherers
– Depleted renewable resource and moved on.
– Deep respect for the resource
– Low Ecological Impact
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Low population
Limited technology
Low affluence
High stewardship
Environmental History
Frontier 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
Conservation Movement in America
The 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
Environmental History
Frontier 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
Conservation Movement in America
The Early Conservation Movement 1870-1930
Hetch Hetchy Debate
Preservationist
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
Conservationist
Gifford PinchotFirst 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.
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
Conservation movement in America
Modern 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
Conservation movement in America
Modern 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
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.