“The Origins of Conservation in U.S. History”

History Professor Peter Cole. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, due to increasingly obvious impacts of industrialization on the environment, a major shift in attitude, toward conserving natural resources and the land, emerged. Only through robust governmental involvement could clearcutting, soil erosion and massive air and water pollution be addressed while also reserving precious finite resources for future generations. The U.S. government also started establishing national parks, forests and wildlife refuges. These efforts–to manage natural resources in a scientific manner and with governmental oversight–as well as the birth of a social movement to advocate for the environment, all are legacies of that era’s conservationists. The presentation will be given by current and former members of the Western Illinois University faculty, and each one will be held from 7-9 p.m. in Morgan Hall, room 109. Each event is open free to the public.