Transcript Document
A History of Wildlife Conservation: What have we learned in 150 years? Conservation Biology 22-24 September 2004 History of Conservation • Why North America? - Clear examples of our worst and our best - Milestones from 1850 to 2004 - Philosophies & politics of natural resources • Foundations of Conservation Biology: - Biological Diversity: assessment & losses - Sustainable development of human populations European Origins and the American Experience • Medieval Europe & hunting preserves. • Hunting & use of resources in the colonies. • Rise of the common man & the concept of public ownership of natural resources. • Six (?) Periods in our history of exploitation and conservation of natural resources in North America. Time Periods in Conservation • • • • • • Prior to 1850: Wilderness and Abundance 1850-1900: Depletion of Natural Resources 1900-1932: Regulation and Preservation 1933-1961: Resource Management 1962-1980: Environmental Concern 1981- (?) : Global Environment and Sustainable Development Prior to 1850: Wilderness and Abundance l • Few people with little impact • Subsistence hunting vs. market hunting • Values and ethics of natural resources use throughout our history • Utilitarian values & views of nature • Intrinsic value of the natural world • Transcendentalism: H.D. Thoreau Walden Pond - 1854 1850-1900: Depletion of Resources • Immigration from Europe: American population, 1840 = 17 million, 1850 = 23 mill., 1860 = 32 million • Railroads and market hunting • Deliberate destruction of bison (5 million in 1872) herds and Native Americans • Early Restrictions and Organizations • 1872 - Yellowstone National Park • 1885 - Adirondack Forest Preserve • 1892 - Sierra Club, Founded by John Muir 1900-1932: Period of Regulation & Preservation • The Lacy Act - 1900 • President Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) • Gifford Pinchot and the concept of "Conservation" 1900 - American Society of Foresters • Power of the Federal Government in conservation • Restrictive regulations - buck laws in Pennsylvania • 1916 Migratory Bird Treaty with Canada • The early career of Aldo Leopold 1900-1932: Period of Regulation & Preservation • The Lacy Act - 1900 • President Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) • Gifford Pinchot and the concept of "Conservation" 1900 - Am. Society of Foresters • Power of the Federal Government in conservation • Restrictive regulations - buck laws in Pennsylvania • 1916 Migratory Bird Treaty with Canada • The early career of Aldo Leopold 1933-1961: Period of Resource Management • • • • • • • Aldo Leopold 1933. Game Management Growing influence Federal Government & FDR 1935 - North American Wildlife Conference First Cooperative Wildlife Research Units (OSU) 1937 - Pittman-Robertson Act The Wildlife Society Growth of scientific wildlife training and research • Others? 1962-1980: Period of Environmental Concern & Legislative Response • Rachel Carson. 1962. Silent Spring • • • • • • • New technologies applied - chemical restraint, telemetry, computerized models Toxicology, Bioaccumulation of DDT 1970 - The first Earth Day 1973 - Endangered Species Act & the EPA 1980 - Presidential Election - Other important events? 1981 - Present: Global Concerns & Sustainable Development • • • • • • • Soule and Wilcox 1980. Conservation Biology E.O. Wilson. 1992. Diversity of Life Concern for global conservation & extinction Earth Summit (Rio 1992) Biological diversity 1997 – Kyoto Protocol (greenhouse gases) Realism and revision of environmental laws Goal of sustainable development • 1994 & 2000 Congressional & Presidential Elections 1981 - Present: Global Concerns & Sustainable Development • • • • • • • Soule and Wilcox 1980. Conservation Biology E.O. Wilson. 1992. Diversity of Life Concern for global conservation & extinction Earth Summit (Rio 1992) Biological diversity 1997 – Kyoto Protocol (greenhouse gases) Realism and revision of environmental laws Goal of sustainable development • 1994 & 2000 Congressional & Presidential Elections What have we learned (1850-2004)? • Natural resources are public property • Personal leadership & public concern periodically drives governmental action • Issues change but underlying forces and views of nature (utilitarian vs. intrinsic value) remain. • Fundamental issue: Human population growth and resource consumption. • What should we do in 2004 & the future?