Homosapien Homosapien Development Development

During most of their 60,000-year During most of their 60,000-year existence, humans were hunter-existence, humans were hunter-gatherers. Their environmental gatherers. Their environmental impact was limited and local impact was limited and local MobileMobile Small tribes familiesSmall tribes families Covered large areas.Covered large areas. SustaniableSustaniable

The agricultural revolution began The agricultural revolution began 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. Early 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. Early growers relied on slash-and-burn growers relied on slash-and-burn cultivation and shifting cultivation, cultivation and shifting cultivation, which had a low environmental which had a low environmental impact. More advanced agriculture impact. More advanced agriculture has increased food supplies has increased food supplies

slash-and-burn cultivationslash-and-burn cultivation

Cutting down trees and other vegetation in Cutting down trees and other vegetation in a patch of forest, leaving the cut vegetation a patch of forest, leaving the cut vegetation on the ground to dry, and then burning it. on the ground to dry, and then burning it. The ashes that are left add nutrients to the The ashes that are left add nutrients to the nutrient-poor soils found in most tropical nutrient-poor soils found in most tropical forest areas. Crops are planted between forest areas. Crops are planted between tree stumps. Plots must be abandoned after tree stumps. Plots must be abandoned after a few years (typically 2&endash;5 years) a few years (typically 2&endash;5 years) because of loss of soil fertility or invasion of because of loss of soil fertility or invasion of vegetation from the vegetation from the

shifting cultivationshifting cultivation

Clearing a plot of ground in a forest, Clearing a plot of ground in a forest, especially in tropical areas, and planting especially in tropical areas, and planting crops on it for a few years (typically 2-5 crops on it for a few years (typically 2-5 years) until the soil is depleted of nutrients years) until the soil is depleted of nutrients or the plot has been invaded by a dense or the plot has been invaded by a dense growth of vegetation from the surrounding growth of vegetation from the surrounding forest. Then a new plot is cleared and the forest. Then a new plot is cleared and the process is repeated. The abandoned plot process is repeated. The abandoned plot cannot successfully grow crops for 10-30 cannot successfully grow crops for 10-30 yearsyears

The industrial-medical revolution The industrial-medical revolution began in England in the mid-1700s began in England in the mid-1700s and spread to the United States in and spread to the United States in the 1800s. the 1800s.

industrial-medical revolutionindustrial-medical revolution

Use of new sources of energy from Use of new sources of energy from fossil fuels and later from nuclear fossil fuels and later from nuclear fuels, and use of new technologies, fuels, and use of new technologies, to grow food and manufacture to grow food and manufacture productsproducts

We are currently in the midst of a We are currently in the midst of a new cultural shift, the information new cultural shift, the information and globalization revolution. and globalization revolution.

information and globalization information and globalization revolutionrevolution

Use of new technologies such as the Use of new technologies such as the telephone, radio, television, telephone, radio, television, computers, the Internet, automated computers, the Internet, automated databases, and remote sensing databases, and remote sensing satellites to enable people to have satellites to enable people to have increasingly rapid access to much increasingly rapid access to much more information on a global scalemore information on a global scale

The Early Conservation Era (1832-The Early Conservation Era (1832-1960) 1960)

Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt's term of office Theodore Roosevelt's term of office has been called the country's has been called the country's "Golden Age of Conservation." He "Golden Age of Conservation." He established the first National Wildlife established the first National Wildlife Refuge, created the National Forest Refuge, created the National Forest Service, and used the 1906 Service, and used the 1906 Antiquities Act to protect the Grand Antiquities Act to protect the Grand Canyon and other areas that later Canyon and other areas that later became National Parks. became National Parks.

Environmental History of the Environmental History of the United States: The United States: The

Environmental Era (1960-2004)Environmental Era (1960-2004)

Silent SpringSilent Spring

In 1962, Rachel Carson published In 1962, Rachel Carson published Silent Spring,Silent Spring, which contributed to which contributed to the beginning of the modern the beginning of the modern environmental movement. The 1960s environmental movement. The 1960s saw an increased awareness of the saw an increased awareness of the science of ecology.science of ecology.

NixonNixon

The first annual Earth Day was held The first annual Earth Day was held in 1970, the same year that in 1970, the same year that

Richard Nixon established the Richard Nixon established the Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency 1970 . 1970 .

Nixon also supported the passage of Nixon also supported the passage of the Endangered Species Act of 1973.the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

CarterCarter

Jimmy Carter (president 1977-1981) Jimmy Carter (president 1977-1981) created a Department of Energy and created a Department of Energy and a Superfund to clean up hazardous a Superfund to clean up hazardous waste.waste.

Reagan/Bush 1 Reagan/Bush 1

The administrations of Ronald The administrations of Ronald Reagan and George Bush, Sr. allowed Reagan and George Bush, Sr. allowed some environmental laws to be some environmental laws to be undercut and supported exploitation undercut and supported exploitation of resources on public lands.of resources on public lands.

in in

ClintonClinton

During Bill Clinton's administration During Bill Clinton's administration (1993-2001), environmentalists were (1993-2001), environmentalists were appointed to key positionsappointed to key positions