Evolution of the Conservation Movement, 1850–1920

The conservation movement is when people work together to protect the environment, plants, and animals. The roots of this movement started in the 1850s and continued to grow throughout the next 70 years. During this time, people began to realize how important it was to protect the land and its resources. Some did this by creating national parks, wildlife refuges, and planting trees. Others studied the effects of climate change, pollution, and over-fishing. They campaigned to ban hunting of endangered species and pushed for laws to help with the preservation of land and water. By the early 1920’s, people had come a long way from where they were in 1850 and the movement had grown significantly.