THERE ARE OVER 400 NATIONAL PARKS ACROSS AMERICA FOR PEOPLE TO VISIT AND EXPLORE. THESE PARKS ALSO HAVE ABUNDANT NATURAL RESOURCES. IS THERE A WAY TO USE THEM TO IMPROVE PEOPLE’S LIVES?
Tyra could see the sunrise through the thin fabric of her tent. Unzipping the rain fly, she could feel the heat of the day already. Once again, there was no rain in the weather forecast. Even four hours away from her home in San Francisco, they were still feeling the effects of the drought. But today Tyra wasn’t thinking about water or her dying vegetable garden. She was just ready to get the day started. Today she and her father were taking a tour of Yosemite National Park. Their first stop was the beautiful Hetch Hetchy Valley on the Tuolumne River, the site of an important debate over or
John Muir was a naturalist and author who spent his life telling others about America’s wilderness. He wrote letters and books describing his travels through nature. Muir believed in preservation; he felt the land and its resources deserved protection so that everyone could experience the beauty and adventure of the outdoors. Muir’s efforts helped lead to the creation of the U.S. Forest Service in 1905. But John Muir wasn’t the only person who recognized value in these western lands. Gifford Pinchot, a rich, powerful politician, worked closely with people who could make money by using this land rich in natural resources for mining, railroads, hotels and camping, irrigation and to increase the water supply. Pinchot and his supporters claimed that resources from public land would help rural communities solve their social, economic, water and air quality problems. Pinchot and the conservationists believed that people should be able to use natural resources, not just enjoy them.
In Hetch Hetchy Valley, Tyra could see why John Muir wanted to preserve the beauty of the land. But they both nodded along as the park ranger explained why Muir and Pinchot disagreed over building a dam in the Hetch Hetchy Valley. Pinchot and others knew a dam could provide fresh water for citizens in San Francisco. The conservationists received extra support in 1906, after a huge fire tore through San Francisco, and it became clear that San Franciscans needed access to more water. After 4 months of drought, Tyra could understand why some people wanted to use these natural resources.
Muir and Pinchot both had many supporters arguing the case for preservation or conservation. Eventually, Pinchot’s group succeeded, and the Hetch Hetchy Valley went underwater for San Francisco. But while John Muir may not have achieved his goal in Hetch Hetchy Valley, his determination to preserve the land made the American people aware of public lands and helped start the National Park Service that protects them.
Your Challenge
It’s time for you to explore some accounts from both preservationists and conservationists. Investigate the primary sources. Did both sides of the argument appeal to people’s emotions, or did they appeal to people’s practical side? Which side do you think was more convincing, preservation or conservation? Make your case.
Teachers
Have your students take this challenge and make their case! To begin, send your students to this website with this challenge’s code.
Preservation and conservation may sound similar, but they have very different meanings. Preservation means setting aside the land and protecting it as is. Conservation means using the natural resources in a responsible way.
