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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
Image retrieved from: http://magicvalley.com/gallery/news/local/hidden-history-bisbee-s-hunting-photos/collection_1405b47e-3c06-11e3-ad0e-0019bb2963f4.html#0
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
Image retrieved from: http://www.moffittwater.com/?
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.