Background
Teddy Roosevelt wanted to be a naturalist since he was a boy. He lived in the North Dakota Territory and was able to witness how human activity can have an impact on our environment. He was a game hunter his entire life, and saw the annihilation of big game species like bighorn sheep, bison, and deer. He thought the people were taking advantage of our natural resources. Even when he was an adult, he put conservation first and this was one of his main concerns during his time as president.
"WE HAVE BECOME GREAT BECAUSE OF THE LAVISH USE OF OUR RESOURCES. BUT THE TIME HAS COME TO INQUIRE SERIOUSLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN OUR FORESTS ARE GONE, WHEN THE COAL, THE IRON, THE OIL, AND THE GAS ARE EXHAUSTED, WHEN THE SOILS HAVE STILL FURTHER IMPOVERISHED AND WASHED INTO THE STREAMS, POLLUTING THE RIVERS, DENUDING THE FIELDS AND OBSTRUCTING NAVIGATION."
This video demonstrates the conservation efforts of Theodore Roosevelt.
Ideas on Conservation and Accomplishments
- saw resources depleting and saw them as something that needs to be preserved for future generations
- philosophy of natural resource conservation based on sustainable use
- established public lands and designated much of these lands for national forests
- created national parks and national monuments in the United States
- first president to create a Federal Bird Reserve
- helped create the precedent that natural resources and wildlife were important things to protect in the United States
"It is also vandalism wantonly to destroy or to permit the destruction of what is beautiful in nature, whether it be a cliff, a forest, or a species of mammal or bird. Here in the United States we turn our rivers and streams into sewers and dumping-grounds, we pollute the air, we destroy forests, and exterminate fishes, birds and mammals -- not to speak of vulgarizing charming landscapes with hideous advertisements. But at last it looks as if our people were awakening."
Resources
http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/site/c.elKSIdOWIiJ8H/b.8344385/k.114A/The_Conservationist.htm
https://www.nps.gov/thro/learn/historyculture/theodore-roosevelt-and-conservation.htm
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h937.html
Credits:
Created with images by mandalariangirl - "Theodore Roosevelt 1901-1909"