Chapter 2 Environmental History: Learning from the Past.
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Transcript of Chapter 2 Environmental History: Learning from the Past.
Chapter 2Chapter 2
Environmental Environmental History: Learning History: Learning
from the Pastfrom the Past
Cultural Changes and the Cultural Changes and the EnvironmentEnvironment
Human HistoryHuman History Homo sapiens Homo sapiens have have
been on Earth 160,000 been on Earth 160,000 yearsyears
Until 12,000 years ago Until 12,000 years ago we were we were hunter-hunter-gatherersgatherers, moving as , moving as we needed for foodwe needed for food
Cultural Changes and the Cultural Changes and the EnvironmentEnvironment
Three Cultural ChangesThree Cultural Changes
Agricultural revolutionAgricultural revolution Began 10-12,000 yrs agoBegan 10-12,000 yrs ago
Industrial revolutionIndustrial revolution 150 years ago150 years ago
Information and globalization Information and globalization revolutionrevolution 50 years ago50 years ago
Cultural Changes and the Cultural Changes and the EnvironmentEnvironment
Three Cultural ChangesThree Cultural Changes Have increasedHave increased our impact on our impact on
environment in several waysenvironment in several ways More energy and technologyMore energy and technology Increased food productionIncreased food production Expansion of human populationExpansion of human population Increase in resource useIncrease in resource use
Cultural Changes and the Cultural Changes and the EnvironmentEnvironment
Hunters-GatherersHunters-Gatherers Most of our existenceMost of our existence
Collect edible plants, fish, huntCollect edible plants, fish, hunt Lived in small nomadic bandsLived in small nomadic bands Worked together to surviveWorked together to survive
Population grew slowlyPopulation grew slowly Small environmental impactSmall environmental impact South Africa: San, Khwe, Sho, South Africa: San, Khwe, Sho,
Bushmen, and Basarwa Bushmen, and Basarwa Australia: Australia: Spinifex people
Cultural Changes and the Cultural Changes and the EnvironmentEnvironment
Hunters-GatherersHunters-Gatherers
Small environmental Small environmental impact due to:impact due to: Understanding of natural Understanding of natural
surroundingsurrounding Low populationLow population Low resource useLow resource use Migration to allow reparationMigration to allow reparation Lack of technologyLack of technology
Cultural Changes and the Cultural Changes and the EnvironmentEnvironment
Agricultural RevolutionAgricultural Revolution Agricultural Revolution-Agricultural Revolution-
Began 10-12,000 years agoBegan 10-12,000 years ago H-G H-G settled, agricultural settled, agricultural
communitiescommunities Plant cultivation developedPlant cultivation developed
Slash and burn/shifting Slash and burn/shifting cultivationcultivation
SustainableSustainable Grew food for subsistenceGrew food for subsistence Little impact on the environment-Little impact on the environment-
no machineryno machinery
3
Harvesting for2 to 5 years
1Clearing
and burningvegetation
2
Planting
4Allowing
to revegetate10 to 30 years
Agricultural Revolution
Good News Bad News
More food Destruction of wildlife habitats from clearing forests and grasslands
Longer life expectancy
Fertile land turned into desert by livestock overgrazing
Supported a larger population
Formation of villages, towns, and cities
Towns and cities served as centers for trade, government,and religion
Killing of wild animals feeding on grass or crops
Soil eroded streams and lakes
Increase in armed conflict and slavery over ownership of land and water resources
Towns and cities concentrated wastes and pollution and increased spread of diseases
Higher standard of living for many people
Cultural Changes and the Cultural Changes and the EnvironmentEnvironment
Industrial/Medical RevolutionIndustrial/Medical Revolution Industrial/Medical Industrial/Medical
Revolution-Revolution- Began in England in Began in England in
1700’s1700’s U.S. in 1800’sU.S. in 1800’s Huge shift in cultureHuge shift in culture
Cultural Changes and the Cultural Changes and the EnvironmentEnvironment
Industrial/Medical RevolutionIndustrial/Medical Revolution Cultural shiftsCultural shifts
Renewable (wood, water) Renewable (wood, water) nonrenewable nonrenewable Localized goods Localized goods large scale, machine large scale, machine
mademade Rural Rural urban urban Increased crop yields/acre w/ farm Increased crop yields/acre w/ farm
machinery machinery Population Population ↑↑ sharply sharply Environmental impact Environmental impact ↑↑
Industrial-Medical Revolution
Trade-Offs
Good News Bad News
Mass production of useful and affordable products
Increased air pollution
Longer life expectancy
Soil depletion and degradation
Greatly increased agricultural production
Increased urbanization
Lower rate of population growth
Increased water pollution
Groundwater depletion
Habitat destruction and degradation
Higher standard of living for many
Lower infant mortality
Increased waste pollution
Biodiversity depletion
Cultural Changes and the Cultural Changes and the EnvironmentEnvironment
Information and Global Information and Global RevolutionRevolution
Information and Global Revolution-Information and Global Revolution- 1950’s1950’s New technology to gain rapid access to global New technology to gain rapid access to global
infoinfo TVTV Telephone/CellphoneTelephone/Cellphone SatellitesSatellites ComputersComputers
Did You Know?
Information-Globalization Revolution
Trade-Offs
Good News Bad News
Remote-sensing satellite surveys of the world’s environmental systems
Ability to respond to environmental problems more effectively and rapidly
Globalized economy can increase environmental degradation by homogenizing the earth’s surface
Globalized economy can decrease cultural diversity
Computer-generated models and maps of the earth’s environmental systems
Information overload can cause confusion and sense of hopelessness
Environmental History of theEnvironmental History of theUnited StatesUnited States
4 Eras4 Eras
The environmental history of the US can The environmental history of the US can be divided into 4 eras:be divided into 4 eras: TribalTribal FrontierFrontier Early ConservationEarly Conservation EnvironmentalEnvironmental
Environmental History of the Environmental History of the USUS
Tribal EraTribal Era Tribal Era-Tribal Era-
Native AmericansNative Americans 10,000 years before 10,000 years before
European settlement European settlement Hunter GatherersHunter Gatherers Slash and burn/shifting Slash and burn/shifting
cultivationcultivation Small populationsSmall populations Low environmental Low environmental
impactimpact
Environmental History of the Environmental History of the USUS
Frontier EraFrontier Era Frontier Era-Frontier Era-
Early 1600’s—European settlementEarly 1600’s—European settlement Frontier environmental worldview—Frontier environmental worldview—
vast and inexhaustible resourcesvast and inexhaustible resources Tribes and land “conquered”Tribes and land “conquered” PublicPublicprivate landprivate land Government declared frontier Government declared frontier
officially closed in 1890officially closed in 1890
Environmental History of the Environmental History of the USUS
Early Conservation EraEarly Conservation Era 1832-1870 1832-1870
Early Conservation Era-Early Conservation Era- Alarm at resource depletionAlarm at resource depletion Urged part of unspoiled wilderness be protected as Urged part of unspoiled wilderness be protected as
legacy to future generationslegacy to future generations ThoreauThoreau ( (Life in the Woods)Life in the Woods) and other writers and other writers
addressed these issues but not taken seriouslyaddressed these issues but not taken seriously Active role of government increasesActive role of government increases Environmental change within democracies involves
voicing opinions through elected officials, legislation, budgeting, and lobbying by special interest groups.
Environmental History of the USEnvironmental History of the USEarly Conservation EraEarly Conservation Era
1870-19301870-1930 Actions Actions ↑ role of government ↑ role of government
and private citizens in resource and private citizens in resource conservationconservation
1891-Forest Reserve Act1891-Forest Reserve Act established federal established federal government as responsible for protecting government as responsible for protecting public landspublic lands
1892-John Muir1892-John Muir founded Sierra Club and led founded Sierra Club and led preservationist movementpreservationist movement
1890-Yosemite National Park1890-Yosemite National Park
Environmental History of the USEnvironmental History of the USEarly Conservation EraEarly Conservation Era
1870-1930 cont….1870-1930 cont…. Theodore Roosevelt 1901-1908Theodore Roosevelt 1901-1908
Established wildlife reserves and tripled Established wildlife reserves and tripled size of national reservesize of national reserve
President given power to designate President given power to designate public land as federal wildlife reservespublic land as federal wildlife reserves
1905-US Forest Service1905-US Forest Service 1906-Antiquities Act1906-Antiquities Act President can President can
protect areas on federal lands as protect areas on federal lands as national monuments (Grand Canyon)national monuments (Grand Canyon)
““Golden Age of Conservation”Golden Age of Conservation”
Environmental History of the USEnvironmental History of the USEarly Conservation EraEarly Conservation Era
1870-1930 cont….1870-1930 cont…. 1916-National Park 1916-National Park
Service ActService Act creates creates National Park SystemNational Park System
President Hoover President Hoover wanted to return or wanted to return or sell federal lands but sell federal lands but the Great Depression the Great Depression left people unable to left people unable to do businessdo business
GOOD THING!!GOOD THING!!
Environmental History of the USEnvironmental History of the USEarly Conservation EraEarly Conservation Era
1930-19601930-1960
Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR)(FDR)
1933-Civil Conservation 1933-Civil Conservation Corp (CCC)Corp (CCC)
2 million people employed2 million people employed Restore degraded Restore degraded
environment, built dams, environment, built dams, parks, etc.parks, etc.
1940’s and 50’s had little 1940’s and 50’s had little changechange
Aldo Leopold
1887-19481887-1948 Forester, writer, Forester, writer,
conservationistconservationist WroteWrote A Sand A Sand
County AlmanacCounty Almanac Describes the Describes the Land Land
EthicEthic
Case Study: Aldo Leopold and His
Land Ethic Individuals are interdependentIndividuals are interdependent
Humans are a part of natureHumans are a part of nature Ethics: humans have an ethical Ethics: humans have an ethical
responsibility to preserve nature.responsibility to preserve nature. Shift from Shift from conquerorconqueror to to membermember Problem arises when land viewed as a Problem arises when land viewed as a
commodity.commodity. Preservation of integrity, stability, and Preservation of integrity, stability, and
beauty of land is right.beauty of land is right.
Some of the key types of environmental Some of the key types of environmental protection laws in the United States (see protection laws in the United States (see Appendix in book):Appendix in book):•Setting pollution standards (e.g, Setting pollution standards (e.g, Clean Air ActClean Air Act))
•Cleanup and restoration ("Cleanup and restoration ("Superfund ActSuperfund Act" = " = Comprehensive Environmental Response, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act)Compensation, and Liability Act)
•Screening substances for safety Screening substances for safety (e.g., (e.g., Toxic Substances Control ActToxic Substances Control Act))
•Requiring environmental impact assessment Requiring environmental impact assessment (e.g., (e.g., National Environmental Policy ActNational Environmental Policy Act))
•Protecting ecosystems, resources, and species Protecting ecosystems, resources, and species (e.g., (e.g., Endangered Species ActEndangered Species Act))
•Encouraging resource conservation Encouraging resource conservation (e.g., (e.g., National Energy ActNational Energy Act))
Types of Environmental Laws
Primary forces involved in making environmental policy at the federal level in the United States.
Policy in the United States
Various mainstream environmental groups Various mainstream environmental groups actively influence environmental policy in the actively influence environmental policy in the United StatesUnited States
•Nature ConservancyNature Conservancy works to evaluate, works to evaluate, purchase, and protect critical habitat;purchase, and protect critical habitat;
•Sierra ClubSierra Club works to focus public attention works to focus public attention on key environmental issues, especially with on key environmental issues, especially with respect to land management and protection;respect to land management and protection;
•National Wildlife Federation, National National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, and World Wildlife Audubon Society, and World Wildlife FundFund focus attention on wildlife focus attention on wildlife conservation;conservation;
Environmental Groups
•Worldwatch InstituteWorldwatch Institute serves as a think serves as a think tank and research center to compile and tank and research center to compile and communicate environmental information;communicate environmental information;
•GreenpeaceGreenpeace focuses public attention by focuses public attention by activism.activism.
Environmental Groups
•Recently experienced declined Recently experienced declined membership and reduced membership and reduced budgets budgets
•““Group of 10" largest U.S. Group of 10" largest U.S. environmental organizations environmental organizations depend heavily on corporate depend heavily on corporate donationsdonations
•6,000+ grassroots organizations 6,000+ grassroots organizations address issues of concern to address issues of concern to citizens, focused locally, citizens, focused locally, regionally, or on a specific issue.regionally, or on a specific issue.
•Anti-environmental groups focus Anti-environmental groups focus on weakening or repealing on weakening or repealing existing environmental laws.existing environmental laws.
Environmental Groups
Environmental History of the USEnvironmental History of the USEnvironmental EraEnvironmental Era
1960’s1960’s Environmental Era-Environmental Era-
Citizens began modern Citizens began modern environmental movementenvironmental movement
1962-Rachel Carson1962-Rachel Carson published published Silent SpringSilent Spring about pesticide effects about pesticide effects
1963-Clean Air Act1963-Clean Air Act 1964 Wilderness Act1964 Wilderness Act protecting protecting
tracts of land in the Wilderness Systemtracts of land in the Wilderness System 1968-Garrett Hardin1968-Garrett Hardin 1969-Spaceship Earth worldview1969-Spaceship Earth worldview
Environmental History of the USEnvironmental History of the USEnvironmental EraEnvironmental Era
1970’s1970’s Environmental decadeEnvironmental decade 1970-11970-1stst Earth Day Earth Day NixonNixon
1970-EPA established1970-EPA established 1973-Endagered Species Act1973-Endagered Species Act 1978-Bureau of Land Management1978-Bureau of Land Management
started to manage public lands started to manage public lands through Federal Land Policy and through Federal Land Policy and Management ActManagement Act
““Sagebrush rebellion”Sagebrush rebellion”
Environmental History of the USEnvironmental History of the USEnvironmental EraEnvironmental Era
1970’s cont…..1970’s cont….. Jimmy CarterJimmy Carter
1977-Department of Energy (DOE)1977-Department of Energy (DOE)
to reduce dependence on foreign to reduce dependence on foreign oiloil
1977-Clean Water Act1977-Clean Water Act 1980-Superfund 1980-Superfund created in created in
response to Love Canal to clean response to Love Canal to clean up abandoned hazardous wasteup abandoned hazardous waste
Tripled land in National Tripled land in National Wilderness system and doubled Wilderness system and doubled land in the National Park Systemland in the National Park System
Environmental History of the USEnvironmental History of the USEnvironmental EraEnvironmental Era
1980’s1980’s
AntiAnti-environmental movement formed to -environmental movement formed to weaken laws of 60’s and 70’sweaken laws of 60’s and 70’s
Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan Increased private energy, mineral Increased private energy, mineral
development and timber cuttingdevelopment and timber cutting Funding for environmental resources cutFunding for environmental resources cut The “wise use” movement formed to The “wise use” movement formed to
weaken government over environmental weaken government over environmental issuesissues
Environmental History of the USEnvironmental History of the USEnvironmental EraEnvironmental Era
1990-20121990-2012 George Bush Sr.George Bush Sr.
Weakened protections on Weakened protections on almost as much public lands as almost as much public lands as Teddy Roosevelt protectedTeddy Roosevelt protected
Increase fossil fuel useIncrease fossil fuel use Relaxation on air and water Relaxation on air and water
quality standardsquality standards 19921992 attended the United attended the United
Nations Conference, Nations Conference, Earth Earth Summit,Summit, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to discuss environmental issuesto discuss environmental issues
Environmental History of the USEnvironmental History of the USEnvironmental EraEnvironmental Era1990-2012 cont….1990-2012 cont….
Clinton protected more public Clinton protected more public lands as national monuments lands as national monuments than any other President.than any other President.
1997-Kyoto Japan1997-Kyoto Japan 161 nations 161 nations
met to negotiate a treaty to met to negotiate a treaty to decrease emissions and slow decrease emissions and slow climate changeclimate change
Environmentalists countering Environmentalists countering claims climate change and claims climate change and ozone depletion are hoaxesozone depletion are hoaxes
Environmental History of the USEnvironmental History of the USEnvironmental EraEnvironmental Era1990-2012 cont….1990-2012 cont….
George Bush JrGeorge Bush Jr Followed in father’s Followed in father’s
footstepsfootsteps Withdrew US totally Withdrew US totally
from Kyoto treatyfrom Kyoto treaty Frontline’s Frontline’s Hot Politics
Environmental History of the USEnvironmental History of the USEnvironmental EraEnvironmental Era
1990-20121990-2012 Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Campaigned on strong Campaigned on strong environmental plateformenvironmental plateform
As President has pledged to As President has pledged to “take actions to build the “take actions to build the foundation for a clean foundation for a clean energy economy, tackle the energy economy, tackle the issue of climate change, and issue of climate change, and protect the environment.”protect the environment.”
Obama’s environmental Obama’s environmental policy is struggling under policy is struggling under political and economic political and economic pressurespressures
What’s next?!What’s next?!