History of Environmentalism Conservation Vs. Preservation

CONSERVATION

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Managing and protecting natural resources and using them sustainably.

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Focus on instrumental value

Teddy Roosevelt’s Administration- early 1900’s

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Creation of the US Forest Service Expansion of National Forest holdings Establishment of 53 wildlife refuges

National Forest Service

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Created 1905 Multiple, Sustainable Use Policy To be “used for the greatest good, for the greatest number for the longest time”

Gifford Pinchot

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1865-1946 First American-born Forester Began his career at Biltmore Estate Appointed First Chief of the U.S. Forest Service

Carl Schenck

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German-born Forester hired to manage Biltmore Estate Forest Land now known as Pisgah National Forest.

Developed the First American Forestry School 1895

George Perkins Marsh

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Man and Nature published in 1864 Called attention to the destructive impact of human activity on land, especially through deforestation.

Advocated conservation

PRESERVATION

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Protecting natural environments from human development

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Focus on intrinsic value

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“nature deserves to exist for its own sake regardless of its usefulness to us.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

• Wrote Nature 1836 • A Unitarian Minister, he believed that nature was the manifestation of the spiritual world.

• “Mystical unity of nature” basis for transcendentalism

Henry David Thoreau

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Wrote Walden Pond Utopia Called for the establishment of “national preserves” of virgin forest

John Muir

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Believed in preservation of pristine wilderness areas Founded the Sierra Club in 1892 “Father of National Parks”

Frederick Law Olmstead

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Father of American Landscape Architecture Developed Central Park in 1857 Worked extensively on Biltmore Estate

Olmstead’s Words

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Served as the foundation for legislation establishing the National Park Service: “To conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations..”

National Park Service

• Founded in 1916 • To preserve for the benefit, use, and inspiration of present and future generations…

Creation of National Parks

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1872 Yellowstone World’s First National Park

1930’s Ecology and Economy Clash

• Hetch-Hetchy Valley • Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) • Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) • Soil Conservation Service (SCS)

Post WWII

• Strong economic and Population Growth • Dramatic increase in recreation in National Parks 1940 16 million 1950 33 million 1960 79 million

Science and Awareness Scientific research documented the effects of humans on the environment.

Major popular books: • Aldo Leopold’s Sand County Almanac 1949 • Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring 1962 • Paul Ehrlich’s Population Bomb 1968

Rachel Carson

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Alerted the general public in 1962 to the dangers of pesticides in her book Silent Spring.

This work led to the banning of DDT in 1972.

Polarization

Continued urban growth and associated pollution caused divergence of: 1. Those who supported and profited from industrialization (‘industry’).

2. Those who worried about the effects of pollution (‘environmentalists’).

The Rise of National Green Organizations (NGO’s)

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World Wildlife Federation (WWF) 1961 Environmental Defense Fund 1967

Catalysts

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1969 Burning of the Cuyahoga River, OH

Catalyst

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1969 Santa Barbara Oil Spill

New Legislation

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The Federal Government Responds: 1963 Clean Air Act 1965 Water Quality Act 1966 Endangered Species Conservation Act 1968 National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

Issues of the 1960’ and 1970’s Human Population Growth Fossil Fuel Drilling Water Pollution Nuclear Weapons Testing Recycling Wilderness Protection Nuclear Power Air Pollution Landfilling Waste

1970’s The Environmental Decade

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The Federal Government Responds: 1969 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 1970 Creation of EPA by Nixon 1970 Clean Air Act amended 1973 Endangered Species Act 1977 Clean Water Act

Earth Day April 22, 1970

The Empire Strikes Back?

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Industry responds to new regulations: Form research groups Develop educational materials

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Enhance public relations Industry successfully battles NGO’s in the courts.

Shifting Strategies Broadening issues weakens NGO’s

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Rise of Radical Environmentalism Greenpeace 1971 Sea Shepherd 1977 Earth First 1980

Deregulation

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Reagan Administration 1980-1988 Goal to minimize federal regulations CEQ: 1 member and a small budget Reagan used White House councils to sidestep the EPA

Environmental Disasters

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These disasters kept focus on the environment.

Love Canal 1978 Ixtoc I 1979 Three Mile Island 1979 Bhopal 1984 Chernobyl 1986 Exxon Valdez 1989

Global Awareness

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1990’s: elevation of environmental issues Scientific evidence of ozone hole, global warming, declining resources.

1990 Earth Day; 1992 Earth Summit Strong environmental policy of Clinton Gore Administration (1992-2000)

Global Awareness Photo taken of the Earth from the Apollo 17 mission to the moon.

21 st Century

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Environmental issues low priority Bush-Chaney Administration Economic downturn Energy issues Terrorism and National Security War