The Exploitation Years (1620-1900)

A. The Roots of Abuse1. The first colonists

o disease, starvation, war

2. Manifest Destiny & Westward Expansiono Manifest Destiny was the widely held belief by Americans in

the 19th century (1800s) that the US was destined to expand across the continent, explaining the need to expand past the Louisiana territory

The Exploitation Years (1620-1900)

B. Myth of Super Abundance○ Raid on resources; hunting to extinction○ Increased pollution

conservation- an ethic of resource use, allocation, and protection, especially of the natural environment

C. Early Philosophers of Conservation (1840’s)1. Henry David Thoreau o author of Walden, a reflection upon simple living in

natural surroundings

2. George Perkins Marsh ○ Wrote and spoke against destructive impact of

human activity on land

Conservation Years (1900-WWII)A. The Early Leaders

1. John Muiro Naturalist and early advocate of preservation of

wilderness in the US, considered "Father of the National Parks“

o Founded Sierra Club- conservationist organization

2. Gifford Pinchoto First Chief of US Forest Service

3. Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909)o the nation's first conservation President

“We do not intend our natural resources to be exploited by the few against the interests of the many.”

Theodore Roosevelt

& John Muir

Conservation Years (1900-WWII)B. FDR & Renewed Conservation Initiatives

1. Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

2. Eastern National

Forests Created

(WI- Nicolet &

Chequamegon NF,

1934)

The Environmental Era (1948- ??)A. Aldo Leopold & an Environmental

Philosophyo UW professor & environmentalist, wrote A Sand

County Almanac

B. The Awakening of Environmental Consciousnesso Rachel Carson and “Silent Spring”o Other books alert public to danger

The Environmental Era (1948- ??)C. A Decade of Unrest (1960s)

1. Racism & Vietnam

2. The Santa Barbara Oil Spill

3. Cuyahoga River burns in Ohio

4. A view from space- able to see systemic and rapid deforestation, due to first satellite

D. A Grass-Roots Movement Explodes1. First Earth Day, 1970

The Environmental Era (1948- ??)E. The “Environmental Decade”-significant

legislation1. Wilderness Act, 1964

2. National Environmental Policy Act, 1969

3. The Clean Air Act, 1970

4. The Clean Water Act, 1972

5. Endangered Species Act, 1973

6. Alaska Lands Bill, 1980

7. Superfund, 1980o federal law designed to clean up sites contaminated with

hazardous wastes

The Environmental Era (1948- ??)F. Institutionalizing Environmental Protection

1. The Environmental Protection Agency, created in 1969

2. The WI Dept of Natual Resources, created in 1967

G. Reagan & Bush Years1. Chernoybl – 1986

2. Exxon Valdez disaster- 1989

3. Kyoto Protocol- almost all countries in world are pledged to reduce emission of gasses that contribute to global warming (2005)

The Future

Is up to you . . .

Federal Government

Department of InteriorUS Fish and Wildlife Service- endangered

species, migratory waterfowl, etc.Park Service- manage National ParksBureau of Land Management- manage

public grazing lands, mostly in western states.

Federal Government

Department of AgricultureNatural Resources Conservation Service-

grants, $ for conservation programs.Forest Service- manage National ForestsFarm Service Agency- Conservation

Reserve Program

Federal Government

Department of Energy- regulates energy production and sales, ensure safety

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - enforcement agency, enforces compliance with environmental policies

Wisconsin Government

Department of Natural Resources (DNR) led by secretary of the department (who is

appointed by the governor), and Natural Resources Board, who oversees operations of the department (7 elected positions for 6 year terms).