Timeline: Important Events in the History of Environmental Science

Period: Jan 1, 1500 to Jan 2, 2017

History of Environmental Science

Jan 1, 1539

Esteban Dorantes discovers Pueblos of the Zuni Indians initiating exporatioin of the American Southwest

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/history

Jan 1, 1634

Boston Commons is established. This is the nation's oldest city park.

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/history

Apr 30, 1641

Great Ponds Act

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/history

Apr 30, 1662

Michael Wigglesworth published God's Controversy with New England calling land outside of settlements "a waste and howling wilderness".

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/history

Apr 30, 1681

William Penn requires "in clearing ground, care to be taken to leave an acre of trees for every five acres cleared" in the new colony of Pennsylvania.

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1500-1700

Apr 30, 1744

Benjamin Franklin publishes the first promotion of an economical use of wood to conserve natural resources

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1700-1800

Apr 30, 1764

Pierre Laclede and Auguste Chouteau found St. Louis, fur trading capital of the West

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1500-1700

Apr 30, 1775

Daniel Boone establishes the Wilderness Trail and Boonesborough.

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1500-1700

Apr 30, 1803

Thomas Jefferson engineers The Louisiana Purchase

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1800-1850

Apr 30, 1804

Lewis and Clark Expidition begins.

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1800-1850

Apr 30, 1805

Sacajawea joins Lewis and Clark. Her interpretation and identification skills help the expidition tremendously.

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1800-1850

Apr 30, 1817

William Cullen Bryant - Initiates the park movement.

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1800-1850

Apr 30, 1822

Pawnee Chief Petalesharo notes that buffalo and other game are decreasing due to encroaching settlement and exploration.

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1800-1850

Apr 30, 1823

James Fenimore Cooper presents first concepts of conservation of natural resources.

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1800-1850

Apr 30, 1830

George Catlin publishes idea of National Park

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1800-1850

Apr 30, 1832

Hot Springs Reservation, the nation's oldest national park, designated in Arkansas.

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1800-1850

Apr 30, 1836

Ralph Waldo Emerson publishes "Nature"

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1800-1850

Apr 30, 1842

Trapper Jim Bridger establishes Oregon Trail

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1800-1850

Apr 30, 1856

Thomas A Ayers' lithographs introduce Yosemite to the East. Called the most striking natural wonder on the Pacific.

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1850-1900

Apr 30, 1864

Abe Lincoln signs Yosemite Bill "to protect an area and conserve it for recreational enjoyment"

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1850-1900

Apr 30, 1864

Frederick Law Olmstead pushes for protection of Yosemite Valley

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1850-1900

Apr 30, 1864

A major truning point in the conservation movement occurs when George P Marsh publishes Man and Nature, warning citizens to stop the devastation of natural resources.

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1850-1900

Apr 30, 1867

The Alaskan Purchase

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1850-1900

Apr 30, 1871

Yellowstone is documented

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1850-1900

Apr 30, 1872

Yellowstone is designated a Public Park

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1850-1900

Apr 30, 1890

Yosemite Reserves Act passed by congress.

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1850-1900

Apr 30, 1898

Gifford Pinchot takes office as Chief of the Division of Forestry

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1850-1900

Apr 30, 1903

Theodore Roosevelt sets aside vast acres of federal forest land and creates the first national wildlife refuge at Florida's Pelican Island.

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1900-1950

Apr 30, 1908

Grand Canyon National Monument is established by President Theordore Roosevelt.

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1900-1950

Apr 30, 1916

Woodrow Wilson passes National Parks Bill

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1900-1950

Apr 30, 1924

Ecologist Aldo Leopold achieves designation of the first official wilderness area-the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1900-1950

Apr 30, 1935

Robert Marshall founds the Wilderness Society

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1900-1950

Apr 30, 1949

Aldo Leopold publishes A Sand County Almanac

http://www.wildglobe.com/resources/timeline.html

Apr 30, 1962

Rachel Carson Publishes Silent Spring

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1950-2000

Apr 30, 1963

Congress passes first CLean Air Act

http://www.wildglobe.com/resources/timeline.html

Apr 30, 1964

Land and Water Conservation Fund Act

http://www.wildglobe.com/resources/timeline.html

Apr 30, 1964

Wilderness Act creates the National Wilderness Preservation System

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1950-2000

Apr 30, 1966

Congress passes Rare and Endangered Species Act

http://www.wildglobe.com/resources/timeline.html

Apr 30, 1968

Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Wilderness becomes the first FWS wilderness to be added to the NWPS.

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1950-2000

Apr 30, 1969

National Environmental Policy Act is passed

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1950-2000

Apr 30, 1970

Gaylord Nelson founds Earth Day

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1950-2000

Apr 30, 1975

Eastern Wilderness Act is passed

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1950-2000

Apr 30, 1976

Federal Lan Policy and Management Act

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1950-2000

Apr 30, 1980

Jimmy Carter signs Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/1950-2000

Apr 30, 1988

Ocean Dumping Ban Act

http://www.wildglobe.com/resources/timeline.html

Apr 30, 1989

Helsinki Declaration signed

http://www.wildglobe.com/resources/timeline.html

Apr 30, 1992

UNCED in Rio de Janeiro

http://www.wildglobe.com/resources/timeline.html

Apr 30, 1995

Mojave National Park established.

http://www.wildglobe.com/resources/timeline.html

Apr 30, 1996

The US National OCeanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that a global campaign to lower production of chemicals that damage the ozone layer has succeeded.

http://www.wildglobe.com/resources/timeline.html

Apr 30, 1997

US Congress passes National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act

http://www.wildglobe.com/resources/timeline.html

Apr 30, 1997

Reps form more that 150 countries meet in Kyoto, Japan and agree to reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses 5.2 percent by 2010.

http://www.wildglobe.com/resources/timeline.html

Apr 30, 1998

Environmental activist David Chain is killed by a tree felled by Pacific Lumber/Maxxam Corp during a protest of destruction of old-growth redwood trees

http://www.wildglobe.com/resources/timeline.html

Apr 30, 2000

US Environmental Protection Agency proposes compreshensive plan to clean up Hudson River PCBs.

http://www.wildglobe.com/resources/timeline.html

Apr 30, 2000

Global Climate Change report released.

http://www.wildglobe.com/resources/timeline.html

Apr 30, 2001

Clinton Roadless Area Conservation Rule protects 58.5 million acres in 39 states

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/2000-2050

Apr 30, 2001

US joins 90 other nations in signing the international Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

http://www.wildglobe.com/resources/timeline.html

Apr 30, 2001

Christine Whitman appointed Administrator of US EPA

http://www.wildglobe.com/resources/timeline.html

Apr 30, 2006

George Bush establishes 140,000 square mile Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine N.M., the nation's largest national monument and the world's largest marine sanctuary.

http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/2000-2050