Timeline of the History of Environmental Science in America

Until 1600s

Native American tribes moved to the Americas in pursuit of game, and started to use used natural resources such as wood, water, land for farming, and animals for hunting to live sustainably, while providing for their needs. When resources became scarce within an area, or animals migrated, they would often move elsewhere to let the land replenish its resources, or to follow the animals.

Until 1600s

1620-1670

Plymouth was the first colony established by the English in Massachusetts. In 1626, Plymouth leaders began to control the harvesting and sale of timber within the colony.

1620-1670

1680-1720

Fur trapping and trading gained popularity especially in the north, while others expanded colonization through the west. In 1681, William Penn, founder of modern-day Pennsylvania, passed a decree that stated 1 acre of land must remain forested for every 5 acres that are cut.

1680-1720

1750-1850

The industrial revolution gave birth to inventions such as the steam engine, which often required nonrenewable resources such as metal, fossil fuels, and coal, which in turn increased carbon pollution, marking the start of long period of air pollution.

1750-1850

1840-1900

The US Department Of Interior, who took care of conserving and managing most federal lands was created in 1849. In 1892, John Muir founded the Sierra Club, which spread to all 50 states, and now has over 750,000 members.

1840-1900

1900-1910

The US Forestry service was founded on Feb 1st, 1905 by Gifford Pinchot and President Theodore Roosevelt, both of whom were early advocates of forestry. Boy Scouts of America was founded by William D. Boyce in 1910.

1900-1910

1920-1930

Benton MacKaye, a pioneering regional planner, created the first plans for the Appalachian trail, a 2000-mile long trail along the east coast of the US, in 1921.

1920-1930

1930-1940

The Dust Bowl, a series of dust storms caused due to overuse of the land, damaged the ecology of American and Canadian prairies. The world population reached 2 billion in 1930. Fish and Wildlife act was passed in 1934. Philmont Scout Ranch was founded in 1938 by Waite Phillips.

1930-1940

1940-1950

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, currently known as The World Conservation Union was founded in 1948. A nonprofit organization known as the Defenders of Wildlife was also founded in this time period.

1940-1950

1950-1960

In 1952, BSA released 2 environmental sciences related merit badges, nature and soil, as well as water conservation. Nuclear power was first used to generate electricity for civilians in 1954, in the USSR, currently known as Russia. In 1955, the US passed the Air Pollution Control Act.

1950-1960

1960-1970

The Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act was established in 1960, which directed the guidelines of national forest care. In 1962, the book "Silent Spring" was published by Rachel Carson. It focused on the potential harm of pesticides to the environment.

1960-1970

1970-1980

Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970 for the very first time. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was also established in 1970. BSA introduced the sustainability merit badge in 1972, and the World Conservation Award in 1976.

1970-1980

1980-1990

In 1980, an environmental clean-up program specializing in the removal of contamination and hazardous substances by the name of Superfund was created. Chernobyl, the meltdown of one of the USSR’s(currently Russia) largest nuclear reactors, occurred in 1986. The world population reached 5 billion in 1987.

1980-1990

1990-2000

The National Environmental Education Act was passed in 1990. The first Earth Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The First GMO crops hit the market in 1994.

1990-2000

2000-2010

In 2001, President Bush refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty to reduce each of the participating country’s carbon emissions. In 2002, Scouting released their Leave No Trace Front-country Guidelines and Leave No Trace Award. In 2010, atmospheric carbon pollution was around 400PPM, which shows how much we needed to clean up the environment.

2000-2010

2010-Present Day

BSA introduced the Sustainability merit badge in 2013. In 2015, the Paris sustainability agreement was signed and agreed upon. In 2017 President Trump announced that America would no longer follow the international environmental agreements from the Paris Accords. I joined BSA in 2019.

2010-Present Day