APES Environmental History and Law Presentation (Guided Viewing)

1. 2. 3. 4. What are the 4 stages of American Environmental History? Hunter-Gatherer Society 25000 12000 ybp Agricultural Revolution C.12000 ybp Industrial/Medical Revolution Late 1700s to 1900s Information/Globalization Revolution 1980s onwards Why were the Hunter-Gatherers considered to have a low environmental impact? Small populations, low resource use per person, nonmadic/Shifting land use Why do you think Jared Diamond coined the agricultural revolution as the Greatest Mistake in Human History? Larger populations supported more waste Larger resource consumption per person more demand Slash and burn frontier lifestyle more habitat destruction Contrast the Good and Bad of the Agricultural Revolution: Good Bad More food Destruction of wildlife habitats from clearing forests and grasslands Supported a larger population Killing of wild animals feeding on grass or crops Longer life expectancy Fertile land turned into desert by livestock overgrazing Higher standard of living for many people Soil eroded into streams and lakes Formation of villages, towns, and cities Towns and cities concentrated wastes and pollution and increased spread of diseases Towns and cities served as centers for trade, Increases in armed conflict and slavery over government and reliation ownership of. What are the Roots of abuse in the American Frontier Era? The 1st Colonists 3 things that would change the continent guns, axes, wheels Manifest Destiny man is controller of the land, not just part of the land Westward Expansion Vast, unlimited resources Look at the graphic of the North American Buffalo territory what happened to the Buffalo over a short period of time? K List how the Industrial Revolution impacted the environment. Shift from renewable wood to non-renewable fuels (gas, coal, etc.) Switch from small-scale, handmade, localized production to large-scale manufacturing production. Factory towns, cities appear Move from rural to urban areas

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Mechanized agriculture increased food production longer lifespan, larger per-person resource use, increased habitat destruction and pollution. 8. List the Goof and Bad news of the Industrial-Medical Revolution Good Bad Mass production of useful and affordable Increased air pollution products Higher standard of living for many Increased water pollution Greatly increased agricultural production Increased waste production Lower infant mortality Soil depletion and degradation Longer life expectancy Groundwater deplet on Increased urbanization Habitat destruction and degradation Lower rate of Biodiversity deplet on 9. List some events of the Early Conservation Era: - Industrialization 1830-1900 massive recovery of mineral and timber resources - Transcontinental Railroads - 1832 1870 growing public alarm at loss of forests, resources and wilderness; beginnings of federal control - 1870 1930 new gov. and non-gov. groups formed to protect natural resources; Golden Age of Conservation - 1930-1960 great depression, dust bowl, world wars; large tracts of land purchased and managed by gov.; growing sense of environmental responsibility and connection 10. Explain how each of the following Early Environmentalists impacted the environmental movement Henry David Thoreau: Massachusetts wildlife areas (Walden Pond, Life in the woods) George Perkins Marsh: Warned about collapsed of civilization in Man and Nature (1864) John Wesley Grant: Powell Report 1st advocate to regulate land use; Yellowstone National Park Created (1872) President Harrison: passed a law stating that the President could set aside lands for national parks and national forests; extremely crucial legislation for the environment. John Muir: (1838 1914) founded Sierra Club 1892 Gifford Pinchot: (1865 -1946) 1st chief US Forester Conservationists vs. Preservationists Theodore Roosevelt: (1901-1909) Created 40+ wildlife refuges, tripled forest reserves; Reclamation Act: put Powells ideas into effect Stephen Mather: National Park Service created in 1916, Stephen Mather; 1st haed of Park Service. 11. What was the 1st federal land restoration project? - Lomakatsi 12. What were the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) responsible for? - Over half the forestation 13. Why was the Taylor Grazing Act important to the environment? Explain - Grazing is to be very beneficial to the ecosystem. Its advantageous towards the soil and grasses, promoting nutrient dense soil and stimulating the growth of plant varieties. The animals urine

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and feces recycle nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other plant nutrients and return them to soil. Also acts as rations for insects and organisms found within the soil. Its necessary for soil to be prosperous and capable for production. Why was WW2 THE END OF Conservation Era? Rachel Carson modern environment Space travel a public sense of Earths vulnerability Environmental back-lash in the 80s rise of the oil companies When did the environment era start? Who was responsible for starting the movement? How? J Who was Aldo Leopold? Environmental Philosophy, sand County Almanac, humans are part of a community that includes natural resources; problems arise when land is viewed as a commodity When was the Earth day? January 1st 1970 When were the key legislation in the 60s. 70s and 80s? 60s racism and Vietnam; Santa Barbara Oil Spill; Cuyahoga River Burns: Cleveland, a view from space What is the EPA? What are they responsible for? EPA represents for Environmental Protection Agency; established in 1970. They are responsible for charged with protecting human health and the environment, nonitors air and water quality, also regulates and enforces Who are the NRCS? What are they responsible for? What about CITIES? NRCS is Natural Resources Conservation Service; established in 1935. They are responsible for monitors private land use, advises landowners on soil/water conservation methods. Also educates and advises. CITES is Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species; a 1975 International agreement between world governments, to penalize those who trade in endangered organisms or their body parts. List the following: Montreal Protocol 1987 International agreement, initiated by UNEP to phase out use of ozone-depleting chemicals by 2000/2005 Very successful with CFCs, but new ozone-depleting chemicals are constantly being discovered. IPCC A 1997 international agreement to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by 5% by 2012 Not signed by the USA Kyoto Protocol Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (1998) Thousands of scientists monitor, share and publish reports on atmospheric change List some of the important US Environmental Laws below:

Clean Air Act 1962; law requires the EPA to protect the public from exposure to criteria and hazardous airborne pollutants Clean Water Act 1972/1977/1988 act to restore all of Americas surface waterways so that they are navigable, swimmable and fishable. NEPA National Enviro. Policy Act; 1962 requirement for all federal agencies to produce E.I statements Wilderness Act 1964 law defining and protecting wilderness (minimally altered by humans) FIRRA Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act; 1972 law to regulate the use of agricultural and domestic pesticides Marine Protection Act 1972 law to regulate the disposal of municipal, solid or hazardous waste at sea or into the sea Endangered Species Act 1973 law to protect endangered species from extinction, and protect the ecosystems. Safe Drinking Water Act 1974 law to ensure safe drinking water for the pubic; establishes National Primary Drinking Water Standards