Gifford Pinchot’s Stand for Natural Conservation Natural resources play an integral role in a country’s success. Natural resources are in high demand because everyone needs them. Therefore, it would be beneficial for a country to have natural resources. Sometimes, countries even fight for control of natural resources. By controlling natural resources a country will have an immense amount of power (eSchooltoday). As a result, humans need to conserve the natural resources they have. Humans need to use their natural resources wisely and prevent the exploitation of natural resources. This is what Gifford Pinchot believed (US Forest Service History). Gifford Pinchot took a stand for forest conservation by leading conservation programs, participating
…show more content…
During this time period, most people carelessly wasted natural resources because they thought that natural resources were inexhaustible. Most were unaware of the impact that they had on the environment (Library of Congress). The Industrial Revolution dramatically changed American forests. The introduction of railroads and steam-generated power caused a greatly increased the demand for lumber (Bronaugh). “By 1880, lumber had overtaken agriculture as the most important driver of deforestation” (Bronaugh). The need for lumber became the main reason that deforestation occurred. Therefore, forests were exploited because there was such a great demand for lumber. At the time, forests were not well protected by the government, which allowed people to clear more than two-thirds of American forests (Bronaugh). Forests in America were not being used sustainably in the 19th century, which allowed major deforestation to take place This moved Gifford Pinchot to take action to conserve forests …show more content…
In 1898, he was appointed to be the chief of the Division of Forestry in the Department of Agriculture in the US. In 1905, he succeeded in getting Congress to transfer the country’s Federal forest reserves to his division (Dictionary of American Biography). He did this because he believed that “if a few men succeeded in controlling the sources of power...they will necessarily control the country” (Pinchot 48). He felt like the government had to control natural resources because that is where the power of a country comes from. Pinchot transformed the small Division of Forestry into a powerful division renamed the Forest Service. He was able to do this because he gained the support of Roosevelt and economic groups that wanted to use the forests. Pinchot revolutionized the way that forests were managed under the government. Through the Forest Service, Pinchot set an example for the government’s management of natural
During this time period, most people carelessly wasted natural resources because they thought that natural resources were inexhaustible. Most were unaware of the impact that they had on the environment (Library of Congress). The Industrial Revolution dramatically changed American forests. The introduction of railroads and steam-generated power caused a greatly increased the demand for lumber (Bronaugh). “By 1880, lumber had overtaken agriculture as the most important driver of deforestation” (Bronaugh). The need for lumber became the main reason that deforestation occurred. Therefore, forests were exploited because there was such a great demand for lumber. At the time, forests were not well protected by the government, which allowed people to clear more than two-thirds of American forests (Bronaugh). Forests in America were not being used sustainably in the 19th century, which allowed major deforestation to take place This moved Gifford Pinchot to take action to conserve forests …show more content…
In 1898, he was appointed to be the chief of the Division of Forestry in the Department of Agriculture in the US. In 1905, he succeeded in getting Congress to transfer the country’s Federal forest reserves to his division (Dictionary of American Biography). He did this because he believed that “if a few men succeeded in controlling the sources of power...they will necessarily control the country” (Pinchot 48). He felt like the government had to control natural resources because that is where the power of a country comes from. Pinchot transformed the small Division of Forestry into a powerful division renamed the Forest Service. He was able to do this because he gained the support of Roosevelt and economic groups that wanted to use the forests. Pinchot revolutionized the way that forests were managed under the government. Through the Forest Service, Pinchot set an example for the government’s management of natural