APES Chapter #2APES Chapter #2

Environmental Environmental History: Learning History: Learning

from the Pastfrom the Past

Cultural Changes and the Cultural Changes and the EnvironmentEnvironment

Human HistoryHuman History Homo sapiens Homo sapiens have have

been on Earth 160,000 been on Earth 160,000 yearsyears

Until 12,000 years ago Until 12,000 years ago we were hunter-we were hunter-gatherers, moving as gatherers, moving as we needed for foodwe needed for food

Cultural Changes and the Cultural Changes and the EnvironmentEnvironment

Three Cultural ChangesThree Cultural Changes Agricultural revolutionAgricultural revolution

Began 10-12,000 yrs agoBegan 10-12,000 yrs ago Industrial revolutionIndustrial revolution

150 years ago150 years ago Information and globalization Information and globalization

revolutionrevolution 50 years ago50 years ago

Cultural Changes and the Cultural Changes and the EnvironmentEnvironment

Three Cultural ChangesThree Cultural Changes Have increasedHave increased our impact on our impact on

environment in several waysenvironment in several ways More energy and technologyMore energy and technology Increased food productionIncreased food production Expansion of human populationExpansion of human population Increase in resource useIncrease in resource use

Cultural Changes and the Cultural Changes and the EnvironmentEnvironment

Hunters-GatherersHunters-Gatherers Most of our existenceMost of our existence

Collect edible plants, fish, huntCollect edible plants, fish, hunt Lived in small nomadic bandsLived in small nomadic bands Worked together to surviveWorked together to survive

Population grew slowlyPopulation grew slowly Small environmental impactSmall environmental impact South Africa: San, Khwe, Sho, South Africa: San, Khwe, Sho,

Bushmen, and Basarwa Bushmen, and Basarwa Australia: Australia: Spinifex people

Cultural Changes and the Cultural Changes and the EnvironmentEnvironment

Hunters-GatherersHunters-Gatherers

Small environmental Small environmental impact due to:impact due to: Understanding of natural Understanding of natural

surroundingsurrounding Low populationLow population Low resource useLow resource use Migration to allow reparationMigration to allow reparation Lack of technologyLack of technology

Cultural Changes and the Cultural Changes and the EnvironmentEnvironment

Agricultural RevolutionAgricultural Revolution Agricultural Revolution-Agricultural Revolution-

Began 10-12,000 years agoBegan 10-12,000 years ago H-G H-G settled, agricultural settled, agricultural

communitiescommunities Plant cultivation developedPlant cultivation developed

Slash and burn/shifting Slash and burn/shifting cultivationcultivation

SustainableSustainable Grew food for subsistenceGrew food for subsistence Little impact on the environment-Little impact on the environment-

no machineryno machinery

3

Harvesting for2 to 5 years

1Clearing

and burningvegetation

2

Planting

4Allowing

to revegetate10 to 30 years

Agricultural Revolution

Good News Bad News

More food Destruction of wildlife habitats from clearing forests and grasslands

Longer life expectancy

Fertile land turned into desert by livestock overgrazing

Supported a larger population

Formation of villages, towns, and cities

Towns and cities served as centers for trade, government,and religion

Killing of wild animals feeding on grass or crops

Soil eroded streams and lakes

Increase in armed conflict and slavery over ownership of land and water resources

Towns and cities concentrated wastes and pollution and increased spread of diseases

Higher standard of living for many people

Cultural Changes and the Cultural Changes and the EnvironmentEnvironment

Industrial/Medical RevolutionIndustrial/Medical Revolution Industrial/Medical Industrial/Medical

Revolution-Revolution- Began in England in Began in England in

17001700’’ss U.S. in 1800U.S. in 1800’’ss Huge shift in cultureHuge shift in culture

Cultural Changes and the Cultural Changes and the EnvironmentEnvironment

Industrial/Medical RevolutionIndustrial/Medical Revolution Cultural shiftsCultural shifts

Renewable (wood, water) Renewable (wood, water) nonrenewable nonrenewable Localized goods Localized goods large scale, machine large scale, machine

mademade Rural Rural urban urban Increased crop yields/acre w/ farm Increased crop yields/acre w/ farm

machinery machinery Population Population ↑↑ sharply sharply Environmental impact Environmental impact ↑↑

Industrial-Medical Revolution

Trade-Offs

Good News Bad News

Mass production of useful and affordable products

Increased air pollution

Longer life expectancy

Soil depletion and degradation

Greatly increased agricultural production

Increased urbanization

Lower rate of population growth

Increased water pollution

Groundwater depletion

Habitat destruction and degradation

Higher standard of living for many

Lower infant mortality

Increased waste pollution

Biodiversity depletion

Cultural Changes and the Cultural Changes and the EnvironmentEnvironment

Information and Global Information and Global RevolutionRevolution Information and Global Revolution-Information and Global Revolution-

19501950’’ss New technology to gain rapid access to global New technology to gain rapid access to global

infoinfo TVTV TelephoneTelephone SatellitesSatellites ComputersComputers

Did You Know?

Information-Globalization Revolution

Trade-Offs

Good News Bad News

Remote-sensing satellite surveys of the world’s environmental systems

Ability to respond to environmental problems more effectively and rapidly

Globalized economy can increase environmental degradation by homogenizing the earth’s surface

Globalized economy can decrease cultural diversity

Computer-generated models and maps of the earth’s environmental systems

Information overload can cause confusion and sense of hopelessness

Environmental History of theEnvironmental History of theUnited StatesUnited States

4 Eras4 Eras The environmental history of the US can The environmental history of the US can

be divided into 4 eras:be divided into 4 eras: TribalTribal FrontierFrontier Early conservationEarly conservation EnvironmentalEnvironmental

Environmental History of the Environmental History of the USUS

Tribal EraTribal Era Tribal Era-Tribal Era-

Native AmericansNative Americans 10,000 years before 10,000 years before

European settlement European settlement Hunter GatherersHunter Gatherers Slash and burn/shifting Slash and burn/shifting

cultivationcultivation Small populationSmall population Low environmental Low environmental

impactimpact

Environmental History of the Environmental History of the USUS

Frontier EraFrontier Era Frontier Era-Frontier Era- Early 1600Early 1600’’s—European s—European

settlementsettlement Frontier environmental Frontier environmental

worldview—vast and worldview—vast and inexhaustible resourcesinexhaustible resources

Tribes and land conqueredTribes and land conquered PublicPublicprivate landprivate land Government declared frontier Government declared frontier

officially closed in 1890officially closed in 1890

Environmental History of the Environmental History of the USUS

Early Conservation EraEarly Conservation Era 1832-18701832-1870 Early Conservation Era-Early Conservation Era-

Alarm at resource depletionAlarm at resource depletion Urged part of unspoiled wilderness be protected as Urged part of unspoiled wilderness be protected as

legacy to future generationslegacy to future generations Thoreau (Thoreau (Life in the Woods)Life in the Woods) and other writers and other writers

addressed these issues but not taken seriouslyaddressed these issues but not taken seriously Active role of government increasesActive role of government increases Environmental change within democracies involves

voicing opinions through elected officials, legislation, budgeting, and lobbying by special interest groups.

Environmental History of the Environmental History of the USUS

Early Conservation EraEarly Conservation Era1870-19301870-1930

Actions Actions ↑ role of government ↑ role of government and private citizens in resource and private citizens in resource conservationconservation

1891-Forest Reserve Act1891-Forest Reserve Act established federal established federal government as responsible for protecting government as responsible for protecting public landspublic lands

1892-John Muir1892-John Muir founded Sierra Club and led founded Sierra Club and led preservationist movementpreservationist movement

1890-Yosemite National Park1890-Yosemite National Park

Environmental History of the Environmental History of the USUS

Early Conservation EraEarly Conservation Era1870-1930 cont….1870-1930 cont….

Theodore Roosevelt 1901-1908Theodore Roosevelt 1901-1908 Established wildlife reserves and tripled Established wildlife reserves and tripled

size of national reservesize of national reserve President given power to designate President given power to designate

public land as federal wildlife reservespublic land as federal wildlife reserves 1905-US Forest Service1905-US Forest Service 1906-Antiquities Act1906-Antiquities Act President can President can

protect areas on federal lands as protect areas on federal lands as national monuments (Grand Canyon)national monuments (Grand Canyon)

““Golden Age of ConservationGolden Age of Conservation””

Environmental History of the Environmental History of the USUS

Early Conservation EraEarly Conservation Era1870-1930 cont….1870-1930 cont…. 1916-National Park 1916-National Park

Service Act Service Act creates creates National Park SystemNational Park System

President Hoover President Hoover wanted to return or wanted to return or sell federal lands but sell federal lands but the Great Depression the Great Depression left people unable to left people unable to do businessdo business

GOOD THING!!GOOD THING!!

Environmental History of the Environmental History of the USUS

Early Conservation EraEarly Conservation Era1930-19601930-1960 Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin D. Roosevelt

(FDR)(FDR) 1933-Civil Conservation 1933-Civil Conservation

Corp (CCC)Corp (CCC) 2 million people 2 million people

employedemployed Restore degraded Restore degraded

environment, built dams, environment, built dams, etc.etc.

19401940’’s and 50s and 50’’s had little s had little changechange

Environmental History of the Environmental History of the USUS

Environmental EraEnvironmental Era19601960’’ss Environmental Era-Environmental Era-

Citizens began modern Citizens began modern environmental movementenvironmental movement

1962-Rachel Carson1962-Rachel Carson published published Silent SpringSilent Spring about pesticide effects about pesticide effects

1963-Clean Air Act1963-Clean Air Act 1964 Wilderness Act1964 Wilderness Act protecting protecting

tracts of land in the Wilderness Systemtracts of land in the Wilderness System 1968-Garrett Hardin1968-Garrett Hardin 1969-Spaceship Earth worldview1969-Spaceship Earth worldview

Environmental History of the Environmental History of the USUS

Environmental EraEnvironmental Era19701970’’ss Environmental decadeEnvironmental decade

1970-11970-1stst Earth Day Earth Day NixonNixon

1970-EPA established1970-EPA established 1973-Endagered Species Act1973-Endagered Species Act 1978-Bureau of Land Management1978-Bureau of Land Management

started to manage public lands started to manage public lands through Federal Land Policy and through Federal Land Policy and Management ActManagement Act

““Sagebrush rebellionSagebrush rebellion””

Environmental History of the Environmental History of the USUS

Environmental EraEnvironmental Era19701970’’s cont…..s cont….. Jimmy CarterJimmy Carter

1977-Department of Energy (DOE)1977-Department of Energy (DOE)

to reduce dependence on foreign to reduce dependence on foreign oiloil

1977-Clean Water Act1977-Clean Water Act 1980-Superfund1980-Superfund created in created in

response to Love Canal to clean response to Love Canal to clean up abandoned hazardous wasteup abandoned hazardous waste

Tripled land in National Tripled land in National Wilderness system and doubled Wilderness system and doubled land in the National Park Systemland in the National Park System

Environmental History of the Environmental History of the USUS

Environmental EraEnvironmental Era19801980’’ss AntiAnti-environmental movement formed to -environmental movement formed to

weaken laws of 60weaken laws of 60’’s and 70s and 70’’ss Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan

Increased private energy, mineral Increased private energy, mineral

development and timber cuttingdevelopment and timber cutting Funding for environmental resources cutFunding for environmental resources cut The The ““wise usewise use”” movement formed to movement formed to

weaken government over environmental weaken government over environmental issuesissues

Environmental History of the Environmental History of the USUS

Environmental EraEnvironmental Era1990-2004 cont….1990-2004 cont…. George Bush Sr.George Bush Sr.

Weakened protections on almost as Weakened protections on almost as much public lands as Teddy much public lands as Teddy Roosevelt protectedRoosevelt protected

Passage of Clean Air Act Passage of Clean Air Act Amendments into LawAmendments into Law

Tightened emissions from automobiles,Tightened emissions from automobiles, Established procedures for regulating Established procedures for regulating

hazardous air pollutantshazardous air pollutants Regulated the use and emissions of Regulated the use and emissions of

ozone-destroying chemicalsozone-destroying chemicals..

Environmental History of the Environmental History of the USUS

Environmental EraEnvironmental Era1990-20041990-2004 Clinton protected more public Clinton protected more public

lands as national monuments lands as national monuments than any other President.than any other President.

1997-Kyoto Japan1997-Kyoto Japan 161 nations 161 nations

met to negotiate a treaty to met to negotiate a treaty to decrease emissions and slow decrease emissions and slow climate changeclimate change

Environmentalists countering Environmentalists countering claims climate change and claims climate change and ozone depletion are hoaxesozone depletion are hoaxes

Environmental History of the Environmental History of the USUS

Environmental EraEnvironmental Era1990-20121990-2012 George Bush JrGeorge Bush Jr

Just like dadJust like dad Withdrew US totally Withdrew US totally

from Kyoto treatyfrom Kyoto treaty

Environmental History of the Environmental History of the USUS

Environmental EraEnvironmental Era1990-20121990-2012

Barack ObamaBarack Obama http://change.gov/age

nda/energy_and_environment_agenda/

Some of the key types of environmental Some of the key types of environmental protection laws in the United States (see protection laws in the United States (see Appendix in book):Appendix in book):•Setting pollution standards (e.g, Setting pollution standards (e.g, Clean Air ActClean Air Act))

•Cleanup and restoration ("Cleanup and restoration ("Superfund ActSuperfund Act" = " = Comprehensive Environmental Response, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act)Compensation, and Liability Act)

•Screening substances for safety Screening substances for safety (e.g., (e.g., Toxic Substances Control ActToxic Substances Control Act))

•Requiring environmental impact assessment Requiring environmental impact assessment (e.g., (e.g., National Environmental Policy ActNational Environmental Policy Act))

•Protecting ecosystems, resources, and species Protecting ecosystems, resources, and species (e.g., (e.g., Endangered Species ActEndangered Species Act))

•Encouraging resource conservation Encouraging resource conservation (e.g., (e.g., National Energy ActNational Energy Act))

Types of Environmental Laws

Primary forces involved in making environmental policy at the federal level in the United States.

Policy in the United States

Various mainstream environmental groups Various mainstream environmental groups actively influence environmental policy in the actively influence environmental policy in the United StatesUnited States

•Nature ConservancyNature Conservancy works to evaluate, works to evaluate, purchase, and protect critical habitat;purchase, and protect critical habitat;

•Sierra ClubSierra Club works to focus public attention works to focus public attention on key environmental issues, especially with on key environmental issues, especially with respect to land management and protection;respect to land management and protection;

•National Wildlife Federation, National National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, and World Wildlife Audubon Society, and World Wildlife FundFund focus attention on wildlife focus attention on wildlife conservation;conservation;

Environmental Groups

•Worldwatch InstituteWorldwatch Institute serves as a think serves as a think tank and research center to compile and tank and research center to compile and communicate environmental information;communicate environmental information;

•GreenpeaceGreenpeace focuses public attention by focuses public attention by activism.activism.

Environmental Groups

•Recently experienced declined Recently experienced declined membership and reduced membership and reduced budgets budgets

•““Group of 10" largest U.S. Group of 10" largest U.S. environmental organizations environmental organizations depend heavily on corporate depend heavily on corporate donationsdonations

•6,000+ grassroots organizations 6,000+ grassroots organizations address issues of concern to address issues of concern to citizens, focused locally, citizens, focused locally, regionally, or on a specific issue.regionally, or on a specific issue.

•Anti-environmental groups focus Anti-environmental groups focus on weakening or repealing on weakening or repealing existing environmental laws.existing environmental laws.

Environmental Groups