The Conservation Time Line
1662
The conservation movement can be traced back to John Evelyn's work Sylva, presented as a paper to the Royal Society in 1662. Published as a book two years later, it was one of the most highly influential texts on forestry ever published. Timbre resources in England were becoming dangerously depleted at the time, and Evelyn advocated the importance of conserving the forests by managing the rate of depletion and ensuring that the cut down trees get replenished. (wikipedia)
The conservation movement can be traced back to John Evelyn's work Sylva, presented as a paper to the Royal Society in 1662. Published as a book two years later, it was one of the most highly influential texts on forestry ever published. Timbre resources in England were becoming dangerously depleted at the time, and Evelyn advocated the importance of conserving the forests by managing the rate of depletion and ensuring that the cut down trees get replenished. (wikipedia)
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1847 Organized conservation efforts really got a strong start here in America. George Perkins Marsh a New England lawyer, diplomat and U.S. Congressman from Vermont. Delivered a seminal speech to the Agricultural Society of Rutland County, Vermont where he called attention to the destructive impact of human activity on the land. This lead to his writing the book Man and Nature in 1864. That same book was reissued in 1874 under the title The Earth as Modified by Human Action. |
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1849
March 3, 1849, the last day of session for the 30th Congress a bill was passed to create the Department of the Interior. The Department of Interior was created to take charge of the Nation's internal affairs. As you can see there are many Bureaus housed in the Dept of Interior. Often referred to as The Department of Everything: The US Fish and Wildlife Service and The US Geological Survey were not originally part of the Department of Interior but were added later.
March 3, 1849, the last day of session for the 30th Congress a bill was passed to create the Department of the Interior. The Department of Interior was created to take charge of the Nation's internal affairs. As you can see there are many Bureaus housed in the Dept of Interior. Often referred to as The Department of Everything: The US Fish and Wildlife Service and The US Geological Survey were not originally part of the Department of Interior but were added later.
1872:
The First Nation Park Yellowstone was established. The establishment of Yellowstone was proof of the growing appreciation of wild nature. As we all know all most everything is driven by money. The desire to protect this parkland reflected monetary interests in the area. The newly developing rail system reasoned that if people heard about the beauty of Yellowstone, they would be attracted to visit as tourists. To ensure this Union Pacific had several artists paint spectacular pictures of wild Yellowstone. These paintings were shown to the wealthy populations of the Eastern United States and Europe. Hoping that visitors would be inspired to ride their trains to Yellowstone and stay in their hotels while there. Cover of the Northern Pacific Railraod brochure "Through Wonderland"; Cover of the Oregon Short Line brochure "Where Gush the Geysers“ There were 17 different covers that I found in my search
The First Nation Park Yellowstone was established. The establishment of Yellowstone was proof of the growing appreciation of wild nature. As we all know all most everything is driven by money. The desire to protect this parkland reflected monetary interests in the area. The newly developing rail system reasoned that if people heard about the beauty of Yellowstone, they would be attracted to visit as tourists. To ensure this Union Pacific had several artists paint spectacular pictures of wild Yellowstone. These paintings were shown to the wealthy populations of the Eastern United States and Europe. Hoping that visitors would be inspired to ride their trains to Yellowstone and stay in their hotels while there. Cover of the Northern Pacific Railraod brochure "Through Wonderland"; Cover of the Oregon Short Line brochure "Where Gush the Geysers“ There were 17 different covers that I found in my search
1879: By 1879 The Dept of Interior got another Bureau. Established on March 3, 1879, just a few hours before the mandatory close of the final session of the 45th Congress, under President Rutherford B. Hayes, signed a bill appropriating money for sundry civil expenses of the Federal Government for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1879.
Mr. Gilbirt joined the Geological Survey on its founding in 1879 and served as its first Chief Geologist. Gilbert made significant contributions to the fields of tectonics, hydrology, glaciology, earthquake studies, and geological methods. He is considered one of the most distinguished American Geologists.
Mr. Gilbirt joined the Geological Survey on its founding in 1879 and served as its first Chief Geologist. Gilbert made significant contributions to the fields of tectonics, hydrology, glaciology, earthquake studies, and geological methods. He is considered one of the most distinguished American Geologists.
1903: Wildlife Refuges join the national perservation list. Pelican Island, Florida is home to the first National Wildlife Refuge established under President Theodore Roosevelt.
It is hereby ordered that Pelican Island in Indian River in section nine, township thirty-one south, range thirty-nine east, State of Florida, be, and it is hereby reserved and set apart for the use of the Department of Agriculture as a preserve and breeding ground for native birds.
—President Theodore Roosevelt, March 14, 1903
It is hereby ordered that Pelican Island in Indian River in section nine, township thirty-one south, range thirty-nine east, State of Florida, be, and it is hereby reserved and set apart for the use of the Department of Agriculture as a preserve and breeding ground for native birds.
—President Theodore Roosevelt, March 14, 1903
1930: It was in the 30’s that the Cause for Conservation got a serious boost.
The idea of protecting nature for nature's sake was furthered by American writers like Aldo Leopold, who in the 1930s talked about the need for a land ethic and the need to protect wilderness quickly. By then it was becoming clear that wild spaces were very much in retreat and unless rapid action was taken the wild country would be lost.
Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land. By land is meant all of the things on, over, or in the earth. Harmony with land is like harmony with a friend; you cannot cherish his right hand and chop off his left. That is to say, you cannot love game and hate predators; you cannot conserve the waters and waste the ranges; you cannot build the forest and mine the farm. Leopold, Aldo
An then came the dust!
As a side note: The current drought conditions we have had in the west over the past few years has been as bad if not worse than in the 1930’s. But do to good conservation practices the same type of land and top soil loss has not occurred.
The idea of protecting nature for nature's sake was furthered by American writers like Aldo Leopold, who in the 1930s talked about the need for a land ethic and the need to protect wilderness quickly. By then it was becoming clear that wild spaces were very much in retreat and unless rapid action was taken the wild country would be lost.
Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land. By land is meant all of the things on, over, or in the earth. Harmony with land is like harmony with a friend; you cannot cherish his right hand and chop off his left. That is to say, you cannot love game and hate predators; you cannot conserve the waters and waste the ranges; you cannot build the forest and mine the farm. Leopold, Aldo
An then came the dust!
As a side note: The current drought conditions we have had in the west over the past few years has been as bad if not worse than in the 1930’s. But do to good conservation practices the same type of land and top soil loss has not occurred.
1935: With the hightened sence of awarness by the public and the devastation caused by the dust storms and drought the Federal Government decided they needed to stepped in and save our natural resources and precious farm land. So yet again another department was formed this one to aid in continuing fight for conservation specifically on agricultural land.
So in 1935, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (originally called the Soil Conservation Service) was born and has been provided leadership in a partnership effort to help America's private land owners and managers conserve their soil, water, and other natural resources ever since.
So in 1935, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (originally called the Soil Conservation Service) was born and has been provided leadership in a partnership effort to help America's private land owners and managers conserve their soil, water, and other natural resources ever since.
1940: Another bureau for the Department of Interior has evolved – in comes, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this agency was created from the combination of The Bureau of Fisheries and the Bureau of Biological Survey.
The Fisheries and Habitat Conservation Program is committed to working with partners to achieve:
Healthy fish and wildlife, Healthy habitats, Healthy people, and a Healthy economy.
The Fisheries and Habitat Conservation Program is committed to working with partners to achieve:
Healthy fish and wildlife, Healthy habitats, Healthy people, and a Healthy economy.
1943: Conservation gets a local connection and Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation District is formed.
The Federal government charged all states to pursue conservation with private landholders. States in-turn looked to counties or watersheds to help deliver and promote the conservation message. Local conservation efforts began being established after the land holders voiced their distrust in Federal or State Agencies programs. Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation District received it’s certificate from the State of Indiana as an official sub-division of State Government on November 5, 1943.
The Federal government charged all states to pursue conservation with private landholders. States in-turn looked to counties or watersheds to help deliver and promote the conservation message. Local conservation efforts began being established after the land holders voiced their distrust in Federal or State Agencies programs. Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation District received it’s certificate from the State of Indiana as an official sub-division of State Government on November 5, 1943.
1970's: By the early 70’s Conservation had been given another push forward. In the early 1970s major national environmental organizations, such as the Sierra Club, the Audubon Society, and the Wilderness Society, boomed in membership, particularly as the youthful baby boom generation started to reach an age where they could spend their recreation time in the wilderness.
There was another crucial reason for the fast rising concern for the wild earth. Just before 1970, humanity saw the first pictures of earth from space, the images beamed back by the Apollo astronauts. For the first time, as the spacecraft traveled in the black abyss of space, the finiteness of our planet became starkly evident. Earth was seen for what it was, a lonely jewel of life. It became unmistakably clear that if we destroyed Earth, we would destroy ourselves. From this image the environmental consciousness we know today was born. As people began to see and understand for the first time how precious and rare Earth was, they also began to understand why it was necessary to protect nature. This new view point generated many lineages of environmental awareness, from concern about pollution, to the need to protect fresh water sources. As well, it served to intensify the tradition of protecting wild spaces, of protecting the land.
There was another crucial reason for the fast rising concern for the wild earth. Just before 1970, humanity saw the first pictures of earth from space, the images beamed back by the Apollo astronauts. For the first time, as the spacecraft traveled in the black abyss of space, the finiteness of our planet became starkly evident. Earth was seen for what it was, a lonely jewel of life. It became unmistakably clear that if we destroyed Earth, we would destroy ourselves. From this image the environmental consciousness we know today was born. As people began to see and understand for the first time how precious and rare Earth was, they also began to understand why it was necessary to protect nature. This new view point generated many lineages of environmental awareness, from concern about pollution, to the need to protect fresh water sources. As well, it served to intensify the tradition of protecting wild spaces, of protecting the land.
1980s:The most recent large scale protection occurred in the 80’s. The Alaskan Wilderness get protection. The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act added 47 million acres to the National Park System and 54 acres to the Nation Wildlife Refuge System.
There are literally 100’s of organizations out there dealing with the environment and conservation. Government agencies at the federal, state and local level have limited resources.
While the private, for and not for profit agencies seemingly get stronger and have a more limitless amount a resources available.=
There are literally 100’s of organizations out there dealing with the environment and conservation. Government agencies at the federal, state and local level have limited resources.
While the private, for and not for profit agencies seemingly get stronger and have a more limitless amount a resources available.=