United States ConservationIAFNR MODULE 4NATURAL RESOURCES

Conservation

• Definition– The use of a natural resource in such a way as to minimize waste

and maintain the resource in as good a condition as practical

• Need for conservation at its greatest– Exploitation left us with scarce resources

• the use of natural resources without replacement

– Future increase in world population

• History of conservation in US– Wildlife Management– Forest Management– Soil and Water Conservation

Image retrieved from: http://www.clevelandcountyconservationdistrict.com/education.htm

Wildlife Management• Early accounts of America’s wildlife

speak of “incredible numbers of deer, rabbits, and birds

• 1600’s– First deer hunting regulations imposed in

colonies– By late 1600’s deer herds were almost

completely gone

• 1844: New York Sporting Club formed– Made up of men who hunted for sport– Promoted restrictions against market

hunters

• 1865: Massachusetts Fish and Game Commission

– First state-administered agency

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Wildlife Management

• 1900: Lacey Act– First federal act dealing with wildlife– Any interstate transportation of game harvested illegally

was a federal crime

• 1918: Migratory Bird Treaty Act– Protection of birds that migrated between different countries

• 1934: Duck Stamps– Law required duck hunters to purchase a $1 stamp

• 1940: United States Fish and Wildlife Service– Today, every state operates a fish and wildlife agency

Forest Management

• 1700-1800– US effort for live oak preservation

• Building military ships (not forest conservation)

• 1875: American Forestry Association– Eventually became United States Forest Service in 1905

• Promoted timber culture and forestry

• Week’s Law of 1911– Presidential authority to purchase forest lands for river protection

• WWI & WWII– Expansion of forestry, uses for war and housing

Image retrieved from: http://pixshark.com/forest-tree-png.htm

Soil Conservation

• Early Soil Abuse– Erosion, Agricultural Production, Overgrazing

• Early 1900’s-First Soil Surveys by USDA– Showed erosion issues

• 1933: Soil Erosion Service– Later the Natural Resources Conservation Service

• 1937: President FDR established conservation districts– Grants for farmers as incentive for soil-building and conservation

practices– Other agencies began to enter field of conservation

Water Management

• 1879: Mississippi River Commission– Help states improve the river for transportation

• Rivers and Harbor Acts of 1917-1927– Federal support for all navigable rivers like Mississippi

• 1936: Flood Canal Act & 1954: Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act– Dedicated responsibility to local organizations for planning and

prevention

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attachment_id=5

Flood Preparation: Hurricane Katrina

• The most destructive storm in US history in terms of cost

• Estimated almost 1,833 deaths from the storm

• The best modern example for why flood preparation and prevention are a priority

Image retrieved from: http://www.nola.com/katrina/index.ssf/2012/09/katrina_damage_judgement_again.html

Modern Water Management Concerns

Water Quality

• With increase in population, industry, and irrigation farming quantity of water use has grown drastically

• Concern with quality of life– Americans demand cleaner water

– Federal Legislation put into place about health concerns of wastewater and pollution

Distribution of Water Supply

• Lowered water tables in western states result from deep-well irrigation– Increasing problem for western

US that must be addressed

References

Camp. W., & Heath-Camp, B. (2009) Managing our Natural Resources. New York: Delmar.

Natural Resource [Def. 1]. (n.d.). In Merriam Webster Online, Retrieved February 24, 2015, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/natural%20resource.