Natural Resources Conservation and Management Past, Present, and Future Lecture #1 MS LC Fort High School

’s- a time of plenty

Land stretched for miles! Land stretched for miles! Endless resources! Endless resources! Huge forests leveled Huge forests leveled Prairies converted to farmland Prairies converted to farmland Swamps were drained for useable land Swamps were drained for useable landAttitude: USE IT UP, AND MOVE ON!

Conservation in the 19 th Century Need for conservation of land and resources became evident: Need for conservation of land and resources became evident: Trees disappeared Trees disappeared Soils were eroded Soils were eroded Several leaders and visionaries stepped forward to intervene.

George Perkins-Marsh Diplomat-naturalist Diplomat-naturalist Identified fragile nature of our resources Identified fragile nature of our resources Attracted attention to abuses by humans Attracted attention to abuses by humans Wrote the book Man and Nature in 1864 Wrote the book Man and Nature in 1864 Began the environmental movement Began the environmental movement a.org/wiki/Georg e_Perkins_Marsh Wikipedia link to find out more about this great man

John Muir True naturalist, loved nature True naturalist, loved nature Journaled amazing adventures Journaled amazing adventures Devoted his life to preservation of great places Devoted his life to preservation of great places Lobbied hard for the establishment of national parks Lobbied hard for the establishment of national parks Wrote many books that spread the idea of preservation of amazing places for future generations Wrote many books that spread the idea of preservation of amazing places for future generations Wikipedia link to more information on John Muir a.org/wiki/John_ Muir

Parks and Happenings due to Muir Yellowstone 1872 Yellowstone 1872

Parks and Happenings due to Muir Yosemite 1890 CA Yosemite 1890 CA

Parks and Happenings due to Muir Sequoia 1890 CA Sequoia 1890 CA

Parks and Happenings due to Muir Congress established 28 forest reserves in 1891 Congress established 28 forest reserves in 1891 Forest Reserve Act of 1881 Land Revision Act of 1881 These Acts not only set aside land, but set up the infrastructure to manage them. National Forests U.S. Forest Service

Parks and Happenings due to Muir Sierra Club founded by Muir in 1892 Sierra Club founded by Muir in Explore, Enjoy, Protect the Planet! John started this political activist group to lobby for the protection of our natural resources. Please understand this is different than conservation!

Conservation in the 20 th Century Four Waves of Conservation The First Wave ( ) The Second Wave ( ) The Third Wave ( ) The Fourth Wave (1980-present)

The First Wave ( ) Teddy Roosevelt got involved and used his power to establish governance over our natural resources. Let’s look at what he did!

John Muir and Teddy John and Ted hung out and camped John and Ted hung out and camped John taught Ted to see the woods as having beauty and a value just because, not just as a resource. John taught Ted to see the woods as having beauty and a value just because, not just as a resource. As you may know, Ted was a big game hunter, and didn’t really GET the tree hugger mentality. As you may know, Ted was a big game hunter, and didn’t really GET the tree hugger mentality.

Gifford Pinchot Introduced scientific principles to forest management Introduced scientific principles to forest management Favored conservation and future growth Favored conservation and future growth Use the resources wisely to provide a steady supply to the people Use the resources wisely to provide a steady supply to the people Crucial advisor to Teddy in creating public policy Crucial advisor to Teddy in creating public policy First Head Chief of the newly formed US Forest Service! Governor of PA for a while too! Teddy’s head advisor

Teddy Roosevelt created the White House Conference on Natural Resources (1908) WHY did he do this? Deep concern among scientists about timber depletion in the great lakes states Deep concern among scientists about timber depletion in the great lakes states Gross mismanagement of the US natural resources Gross mismanagement of the US natural resources Worried about economic hardship Worried about economic hardship Hunters, anglers, scientists, resource experts met and talked! WOW! Hunters, anglers, scientists, resource experts met and talked! WOW!

Domino Effect 41 state conservation departments were formed at this time and most art still operating today!

The Second Wave ( ) Roosevelt was on a roll! The right man In the right place At the right time!

Roosevelt’s programs: Prairie State Forestry Project 1934 Prairie State Forestry Project 1934 The Civilian Conservation Corps 1933 The Civilian Conservation Corps 1933 Soil Conservation Service 1935 Soil Conservation Service 1935 Tennessee Valley Authority 1933 Tennessee Valley Authority 1933 North American Wildlife and Resources Conference 1936 North American Wildlife and Resources Conference 1936

Prairie State Forestry Project 1934 To establish a shelterbelts of trees and shrubs to reduce erosion on farmland To establish a shelterbelts of trees and shrubs to reduce erosion on farmland This project did much to stop soil erosion from wind This project did much to stop soil erosion from wind

The Civilian Conservation Corps 1933 Functioned from Functioned from camps, 200 men each 2652 camps, 200 men each Located in national parks and forests Located in national parks and forests Two groups of men were established Two groups of men were established

CCC Forest workers Constructed fire lanes Constructed fire lanes removed fire hazards removed fire hazards fought fires fought fires controlled pests controlled pests and planted trees and planted trees

CCC Park Workers Constructed bridges Constructed bridges Improved roads Improved roads Built hiking trails Built hiking trails Improved lakes Improved lakes Improved streams Improved streams Flood control projects Flood control projects

Soil Conservation Service 1935 Severe dust storms prompted it’s formation Dust Bowl 1920s-1930s Severe dust storms prompted it’s formation Dust Bowl 1920s-1930s Showed farmers better techniques Showed farmers better techniques Improved erosion control Improved erosion control Now known as the Natural Resource Conservation Service

Tennessee Valley Authority 1933 Bold experiment Bold experiment Tried to integrate the management of an entire river basin (soil, forests, wildlife) Tried to integrate the management of an entire river basin (soil, forests, wildlife) Has been a model here and worldwide Has been a model here and worldwide

North American Wildlife and Resources Conference 1936

The Third Wave ( )

The Fourth Wave (1980-present)