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Environmental Conservation: Water, Energy, Soil & Education
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Published: April 4, 2007
For centuries environmental conservation has been the shadow to technological advancement. While industrial entrepreneurs were beginning to see the economic benefit of mechanical production, nature enthusiasts were witnessing the destruction of their beloved habitat at an unimaginable pace. The antagonism between these two forces is what would eventually have scientists and outdoor lovers asking for some sort of environmental conservation.
Today, environmental conservation is more than just a reaction to a rampant industrial complex; it now occupies legitimate political offices and receives the backing of both big business and the general population.
The idea for environmental conservation stretches back to the 19th century when citizens began to visit uncivilized plots of land as method of escaping from the expansive, crowded industrial centers. Authors such as Henry David Thoreau began to emphasize the importance of immersing oneself in nature as a reaction to the industrial age. Environmental conservation became a reactionary ideology that attempted to repudiate the belief that empty plots of nature were useless and needed to be utilized for the economic benefit of society.
Out of these early provocateurs of the environmental conservation movement came the first tangible successes. Areas of particular and astounding beauty became rallying points for the movement. The early environmental pioneers championed their protection for the benefit of future generations. Because of the environmental conservation movement, in 1872, Yellowstone National Park—the first and one of the most famous national parks—was established. Soon after the establishment of Yellowstone, the environmental conservation movement was able to protect many other areas of pristine wilderness.
But environmental conservation would have to alter its perspective with the coming of the 20th century. Rather than simply seeking to protect particular areas of interest from the rising tide of industrialism, environmental conservation would begin to change the way in which the culture at large interacted with nature. Ideas such as water conservation began to gain momentum as a reaction to the rise of chemical manufactures and urban sprawl.
Water conservation was part of the evolution of environmental conservation ideology from one that sought simply to protect, to one that sought to harmonize. By doing so, the environmental conservation movement began to coordinate their interests with those of various forms of government and big business. These environmentalists sought to bridge the gap between industrial power and environmental well being.
Environmental conservation also incorporated many other ideas and programs such as soil conservation and energy conservation. Soil conservation began as a way to help control the degradation of America's farmland and avoid another catastrophic dustbowl situation like that of the 1920's. Soil Conservation became one of the many environmental conservation programs developed around the time of WWII.
Energy conservation became a formidable movement during the energy crisis of the 1970's. The American public understood that cheap, efficient forms of energy were vastly important to highly industrialized societies such as America. The public and its leaders quickly realized that without energy conservation, the existing standards of foreign energy dependence and dirty power would be unable to meet the demands of a highly developed society. Energy conservationists began calling for new forms of clean power—ranging from solar to nuclear power—as a way to avoid a catastrophic energy shortage.
All these various forms of environmental conservation came under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that was established in 1969. The goal of the EPA was to provide the public with the necessary means to establish a reliable and non-partisan database and advocate for conservation education. By doing so, the United States government hoped that the overall level of conservation education would increase. In the end, this common pool of knowledge would allow businesses to better coordinate their economic interests with environmental concerns.
Environmental conservation is now both an established field of study and a profitable method of doing business. Many corporations now pride themselves on offering the public with products made utilizing environmental conservation ethics. We may be entering the later stages of the industrial revolution where nature is no longer ours to tame, it's now something we must live with.
Sources:
Wiess, Don. “Environmental Movement Timeline.” Ecotopia USA. 2005. 3 April 2007.
http://www.ecotopia.org/ehof/timeline.html.
History. EPA. 26 Feb. 2007. 3 April 2007. http://www.epa.gov/history/.
Rome, Adam. “Conservation, Preservation and Environmental Activism.” National Park Service. 16 Jan. 2003. 3 April 2007. http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/hisnps/NPSThinking/n ps-oah.htm
The idea for environmental conservation stretches back to the 19th century when citizens began to visit uncivilized plots of land as method of escaping from the expansive, crowded industrial centers. Authors such as Henry David Thoreau began to emphasize the importance of immersing oneself in nature as a reaction to the industrial age. Environmental conservation became a reactionary ideology that attempted to repudiate the belief that empty plots of nature were useless and needed to be utilized for the economic benefit of society.
Out of these early provocateurs of the environmental conservation movement came the first tangible successes. Areas of particular and astounding beauty became rallying points for the movement. The early environmental pioneers championed their protection for the benefit of future generations. Because of the environmental conservation movement, in 1872, Yellowstone National Park—the first and one of the most famous national parks—was established. Soon after the establishment of Yellowstone, the environmental conservation movement was able to protect many other areas of pristine wilderness.
But environmental conservation would have to alter its perspective with the coming of the 20th century. Rather than simply seeking to protect particular areas of interest from the rising tide of industrialism, environmental conservation would begin to change the way in which the culture at large interacted with nature. Ideas such as water conservation began to gain momentum as a reaction to the rise of chemical manufactures and urban sprawl.
Water conservation was part of the evolution of environmental conservation ideology from one that sought simply to protect, to one that sought to harmonize. By doing so, the environmental conservation movement began to coordinate their interests with those of various forms of government and big business. These environmentalists sought to bridge the gap between industrial power and environmental well being.
Environmental conservation also incorporated many other ideas and programs such as soil conservation and energy conservation. Soil conservation began as a way to help control the degradation of America's farmland and avoid another catastrophic dustbowl situation like that of the 1920's. Soil Conservation became one of the many environmental conservation programs developed around the time of WWII.
Energy conservation became a formidable movement during the energy crisis of the 1970's. The American public understood that cheap, efficient forms of energy were vastly important to highly industrialized societies such as America. The public and its leaders quickly realized that without energy conservation, the existing standards of foreign energy dependence and dirty power would be unable to meet the demands of a highly developed society. Energy conservationists began calling for new forms of clean power—ranging from solar to nuclear power—as a way to avoid a catastrophic energy shortage.
All these various forms of environmental conservation came under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that was established in 1969. The goal of the EPA was to provide the public with the necessary means to establish a reliable and non-partisan database and advocate for conservation education. By doing so, the United States government hoped that the overall level of conservation education would increase. In the end, this common pool of knowledge would allow businesses to better coordinate their economic interests with environmental concerns.
Environmental conservation is now both an established field of study and a profitable method of doing business. Many corporations now pride themselves on offering the public with products made utilizing environmental conservation ethics. We may be entering the later stages of the industrial revolution where nature is no longer ours to tame, it's now something we must live with.
Sources:
Wiess, Don. “Environmental Movement Timeline.” Ecotopia USA. 2005. 3 April 2007.
http://www.ecotopia.org/ehof/timeline.html.
History. EPA. 26 Feb. 2007. 3 April 2007. http://www.epa.gov/history/.
Rome, Adam. “Conservation, Preservation and Environmental Activism.” National Park Service. 16 Jan. 2003. 3 April 2007. http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/hisnps/NPSThinking/n ps-oah.htm
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