History of environmental sciences

History Of Environmental

Sciences

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‘What we are doing to the forests(environment) of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and one another’ -Mahatma Gandhi

Environmental history is the study of human interaction with the natural world over time.

Pioneers in Environmental Science

-Theodore Roosevelt-Aldo Leopold-John Muir-Rachel Carson-Thomas Robert Malthus

Theodore Roosevelt (1885-1919)

(first Environmental President)-known as ‘Conservationist President’-Established the National Forest & Parks system-went to the badlands in South Dakota to hunt. There he became concerned by the destruction of big game species & over-gazing of the grasslands.

Theodore Roosevelt-Established 51 Federal Bird Reserves-Four National game preserves-150 National Forests-Five National parks-Protected 230,000 acres of land

’’The conservation of natural resources is the fundamental problem. Unless we solve that problem it will avail us little to solve all other…’’ Theodore Roosevelt (1907)

Aldo Leopold (1887-1948)

-Born in Burlington-Iowa-Father of wild life conservation in U.S

Aldo Leopold……

-Known for his ‘‘concept of the land’’ ethic… ‘’We abuse land because we regard it as commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect’’

Aldo Leopold…

-said we need to repair the damage we’ve caused as well as take care of the land…

-Books: -A Sand County Almanac -Round River etc

John Muir (1838-1914)-Founder of SIERRA CLUB (May28-1892) San Francisco-convinces Roosevelt to make Yosemite into a national park

-’’In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seek’’ (John Muir)

Rachel Carson (1907-1964)(Mother of Environmental Science Movement)

-she was aware of the dangers of pesticides such as DDT-DDT was important to agriculture-she wrote about it in her book ‘’Silent Spring’’(1962)

Rachel Carson…

-She was attacked by pesticides companies who wanted to discredit her work.

Rachel Carson…-DDT was banned as a result of her study.

-Time magazine elected her ’’one of the most influential people of the century.

Thomas Robert Malthus (1766-1834)-Predicted the exponential population growth would out space linear food production which leads to starvation

-wrote the book ‘’An Essay on Principle Of Population’’

NEPA(1969)National Environmental Policy Act(USA) is the first comprehensive environmental law. ‘’No construction if it negatively affects the environment’’

-Enacted on 01-Jan-1970

Earth Day-April 22nd

-The first Earth Day was arranged by students of schools, colleges, universities & by hundred of communities.-First celebrated in 1970 & now celebrated in more than 192 countries each year...

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