Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
The federal government liquidated a large part of its property in the 19th century
through the free distribution of land to settlers in the Great Plains (Homestead Act
1862), while most of the arid or mountainous areas situated west of the Rocky
Mountains remained within its jurisdiction. After 1890 and the “closing” of the
American frontier, a process of re-evaluation of the value of marginal land in the
West began. With the creation of the Yellowstone National Park in 1872 in
Wyoming, the United States became a pioneer in the creation of policies to protect
its natural heritage. The administration of President Theodore Roosevelt (1902-09)
was very supportive of the development of the National Forest Service (founded in
1891) as well as that of national parks. Today there are 52 national parks, mostly
located in the mountains of the West, and among which the Yellowstone Park is
undoubtedly the most famous. Unfortunately, excessive tourism is damaging its
ecosystem.
Outside the system of national parks, the primary mission of the US Forest
Service is to protect what remains of the primary forest from damage caused by
private owners. The following debate arose: should we work to
conserve
nature, i.e.,
to regulate human interaction with nature in natural heritage sites, or should we
work to
preserve
nature, i.e., to exclude human interaction all together?
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the first idea prevailed. Federal
authorities proceeded to delimit 186,000 km² of national park land, 757,000 km² of
forest land, mostly destined to be used for commercial purposes, and 121,000 km² of
natural reserves in this huge area which would otherwise mostly have been conceded
to farmers, foresters or prospectors. Another evaluation of the environment occurred
after the Second World War. Since the Wilderness Act of 1964, areas which are still
“natural” or “unaltered by man” are classified as protected areas. Other laws
followed in an effort to improve the management of these federal lands. The 1974
Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act required the creation of a
management plan for each national forest, to be updated every five years with public
consultation. The 1976 Federal Land Policy and Management Act imposed a similar
program for all federal lands. These management efforts came in response to
mounting criticism in the West (Sagebrush Rebellion) from voices who were
challenging the legitimacy of federal property in the states of the West.
Federal action for environment protection is not limited to the management of
federal property. Since the first law on air quality (Clean Air Act of 1963), a series
of environmental protection laws have been adopted, some of which are concerned
primarily with public health (laws on air, water, pesticides), while others define
protected areas and preserve natural heritage sites and reserves. The 1964 Act
established the National Wilderness Preservation System. A law on the protection of
