Environmental History Ch1 Events/People

Yosemite Land Grant

first parkland set aside by federal government 

George Perkins Marsh

(first environmentalist in US History) → publishes man and nature (first book to provide detailed desc of broad human impacts on environment) 

Yellowstone national park

first national park 

Forest reserve act

president of US can set aside land for national forests 

Lacey act

wildlife conservation and protection, prohibits trade in wildlife that was illegally harvested, need permit to transport animals across state lines

Transfer act

The Transfer Act of 1905 allowed the U.S. Forest Service to manage national forests. It transferred control of forest reserves from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Agriculture, enhancing conservation efforts and sustainable resource management.

Fires of 1910

The Fires of 1910, also known as the Big Burn, were a series of wildfires that occurred in August 1910 across northeastern Washington, northern Idaho, and western Montana. The fires burned approximately 3 million acres and resulted in the deaths of 87 people, including 78 firefighters. The event significantly impacted forest management policies and led to the establishment of more organized firefighting efforts in the United States.

Organic act

established national park service (not national parks, the SERVICE)

Taylor grazing act

was enacted to regulate livestock grazing on public lands in the U.S. to prevent overgrazing and land degradation. It established a system of permits and fees, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, to promote sustainable use and conservation of rangelands.

Soil conservation act

passed in response to the Dust Bowl to address soil erosion and promote sustainable farming practices in the U.S. It established the Soil Conservation Service (now the Natural Resources Conservation Service), which provides technical assistance, funding, and education to farmers to improve soil health and prevent future erosion.

FIFRA

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) of 1947 regulates the registration, distribution, sale, and use of pesticides in the U.S. to protect human health and the environment. Administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it requires that all pesticides be tested, labeled, and approved for specific uses before they can be sold or used.

IUCN

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a global organization founded in 1948 that focuses on nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. It is best known for its IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, which assesses the conservation status of plant and animal species worldwide to guide conservation actions and policies.

aldo leopold 

American ecologist, forester, and environmentalist best known for his book A Sand County Almanac, which promoted a "land ethic" emphasizing the responsible relationship between people and the natural world. Considered a father of wildlife ecology and conservation, Leopold's work laid the foundation for modern environmental ethics and the conservation movement.

rachel carson

American marine biologist and conservationist whose groundbreaking book Silent Spring (1962) exposed the dangers of pesticides, particularly DDT, to the environment and public health. Her work is credited with launching the modern environmental movement and leading to the establishment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

US wilderness act

established the National Wilderness Preservation System to protect designated wilderness areas from development, ensuring their natural conditions remain intact. It defines wilderness as areas "untrammeled by man," where human activities are limited to preserve their natural state and ecological integrity.

Tragedy of the commons essay

garett harding

cuyahoga river burns

series of incidents in the 1960s when the heavily polluted river in Cleveland, Ohio, caught fire due to the accumulation of oil, chemicals, and debris. The most notable fire occurred in 1969 and was a significant catalyst for the environmental movement, leading to increased environmental regulation and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

santa barbara oil spill

a blowout at an offshore oil platform off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, resulted in a massive oil spill. The disaster, which released approximately 100,000 barrels of crude oil into the ocean, had significant environmental impacts and led to increased awareness and regulatory changes in oil drilling and environmental protection.

NEPA

(National Environmental Policy Act, 1969): Requires federal agencies to assess the environmental impact of their proposed projects and decisions through Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) to ensure informed decision-making.

EPA

(Environmental Protection Agency, 1970): A federal agency established to protect human health and the environment by enforcing regulations and promoting sustainable practices.

MMPA

(Marine Mammal Protection Act, 1972): Prohibits the taking of marine mammals in U.S. waters and by U.S. citizens, and aims to protect their populations and habitats.

OPEC

(Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries): An intergovernmental organization founded in 1960 to coordinate and unify petroleum policies among member countries to secure fair and stable oil prices

ESA

(Endangered Species Act, 1973): Provides protection for species at risk of extinction and their habitats by establishing recovery plans and prohibiting activities that harm listed species.

Sherwood Rowland and Mario Molina

linked CFC’s to stratospheric ozone depletion

Clean water act

seeks to restore integrity of nation’s waters by treating water and maintaining integrity of wetlands 

RCRA

(Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 1976): Regulates the treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste to prevent environmental contamination and promote waste minimization and recycling.

3 mile island

A nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania where a partial meltdown occurred, leading to significant safety concerns and reforms in nuclear regulatory practices.

Comprehensive environmental response, compensation, and liability act 

Also known as Superfund, it provides funding for cleaning up hazardous waste sites and holds responsible parties liable for cleanup costs.

Chernobyl (1986) 

A catastrophic nuclear disaster in Ukraine that released large amounts of radioactive particles into the atmosphere, leading to severe environmental and health impacts and changes in nuclear safety regulations.

Montreal protocol (1987) 

An international treaty aimed at phasing out the production and use of ozone-depleting substances to protect the ozone layer.

Exxon valdez (1989) 

An oil tanker spill in Alaska that released approximately 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound, causing extensive environmental damage and leading to changes in oil spill response and prevention regulations.

Clean air act (1990 + amend) 

Legislation that regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources to improve air quality and protect public health and the environment.

Kyoto conference of the parties 

The third Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), where the Kyoto Protocol was adopted to set binding targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.