Environmental Laws & Changes
1800-1902
1870
In 1870, the first official wildlife refuge in North America was established by Dr. Merritt
Dr. Merritt was the mayor of Oakland
The Wildlife Refuge was established at Lake Merritt in California
1872: Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is established
It is the first national park in the world
1872 (continued)
The American Forestry Association is organized by private citizens to protect forests and preserve world tree growth
The American Public Health Association is formed
1880
Killer fog in London kills 700 people
18
90
The government declares the country’s frontier closed Yosemite National Park is established
1891-1897
Timber cutting is banned on large tracts of public land
1891
The Forest Reserve Act authorized the president to set aside forest
reservation lands from public domain lands.
For the federal government to protect public lands from resource exploitation.
1892 The Sierra Club is
established by John Muir to promote increased preservation of public land.
o John Muir became the leader of the preservationist movement which called for protecting large areas of wilderness on public lands from human exploitation.
Killer fog in London kills 1000 people
1893
Few remaining American Bison are given refuge in Yellowstone National Park
1900
The Lacey Act bens interstate shipment of birds killed in violation of state laws
The Lacey Act was originally directed at the preservation of game and wild birds by making it a federal crime to poach the game with the purpose of selling it in another state
1902
The Reclamation Act promotes irrigation and water development projects in the arid West