Environmental Science and Conservation

Environmental problems stem from our expanding population and our technological advancements. The Industrial Revolution in England in the 18th century, and in the United Stated in the early to mid-1800s, had a major effect on the environment. The growth of factories and machinery polluted the environment and depleted natural resources. For instance, the lumber industry was at an all-time high due to the increased demand for forest trees for use in production. Deforestation was rampant. At this time, scientists started to theorize about the connection between the environment and living things. Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection stated that the animals and species that survive are the ones that are best adapted to their environments, whereas those that cannot adapt die out.

Concern over protecting nature grew toward the end of the 1800s, giving rise to the creation of groups like the Sierra Club and the Audubon Society. The 1960s and 1970s brought global awareness of environmental issues, with the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and the enactment of many environmental laws, such as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Wilderness Preservation Act. Since the 1980s, other environmental damages have been discovered and new issues brought to the forefront, such as cleaning up hazardous sites, preserving the ozone layer by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and restoring ecosystems like the Florida Everglades.

Environmental science and conservation has expanded to encompass many areas. The field now includes environmental planning, which may concentrate on a geographical area or an environmental issue, as well as solid waste management, hazardous waste management, air quality management, water quality management, land and water conservation, fishery and wildlife management, parks and outdoor recreation, forestry, and environmental regulation. The issues of highest priority for environmental and conservation work, according to the National Resources Defense Council, are curbing global warming, creating a clean energy future, reviving the world's oceans, defending endangered wildlife and wild places, protecting our health by preventing pollution, ensuring safe and sufficient water, and fostering sustainable communities.