History of Conservation in the United States By KelliNiemeier Period: Jan 1, 1639 to Jan 1, 1990 History Aug 1, 1639 Regulations on deer hunting imposed in Newport, Rhode Island Aug 22, 1650 Several colonies had passed laws against burning forests Aug 22, 1698 Conneticut and Massachusetts imposed limits on deer hunting Aug 22, 1840 U.S. forests produced about a billion board feet of lumber Aug 22, 1844 New York Sporting Club was formed Aug 22, 1865 First state administered game and fish commission was created in Massachusetts Aug 22, 1875 American Forestry Association organized Aug 22, 1879 Mississippi river Commission Aug 22, 1890 only 500, 000 deer in North America Aug 22, 1891 Congress authorized the creation of forest reserves from public-owned land Aug 22, 1898 Gifford Pinchot became head of USDA's Forestry Division Aug 22, 1911 Weeks Law gave the President authority to purchase forest lands for river watershed protection Aug 22, 1916 U.S. and Great Britain signed a migratory bird treaty Aug 22, 1918 Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act passed Aug 22, 1926 Plymouth Colony passed America's first ordinance controlling sale of timber Aug 22, 1933 Soil Erosion Service established department of the Interior Aug 22, 1934 Duck Stamp Act passed Aug 22, 1936 Federal Government instituted a program of grants to farmers Aug 22, 1940 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of Interior established Aug 22, 1990 33 million acres of forest reserves set aside in western states
