Formation of environmental way of thinking, and institutionalization of nature and land protection, in the USA, in 19th and 20th century
Abstrakt
The article discusses historical progress of the thinking processes took concerning the nature and the land protection, leading to contemporary way of environmental thinking in the USA. It deals with the main currents of thinking and philosophical movements in the nature and the land protection policy such as conservationism and preservationism.
The most prominent people representing these streams of thought are described in article as well. This article is also concerned with realization and institutionalization of these ways of thinking, reflecting in formation of many legislative frames and government agencies administrating and protecting selected areas in USA at the federal level.
This development is linked with American west history with its newly established relationship between people and unsettled land. Ecological and social impact of this development in last 150 years is mentioned as well.
The article embraces American environmental history as a result of environmental and geographical determinism, as confrontation of the fast evolving American society and its system of values, in the face of the furious changing landscape, caused by fast growing capitalistic production system and increased industrialization. Emphasis is put on historical trends coherent with increased quality of life, with growing ethical concerns and reflections upon esthetical value of the land, nature and wilderness, which flow into the national parks establishment.
The nature preservation in USA is reasoned either of the main philosophical movements, from the idealistic and religionistic point of view on inert value of nature, with the accent to preserving nature in its original state, as well as from social and environmental development point of view leading to regulating and rational using of natural resources in the sustainable way.