The conservation movement in the United States is rooted in the country’s evolving relationship with its natural landscapes. Beginning in the late 19th century, the conservation movement emerged as a response to industrialization and westward expansion that threatened America’s wilderness areas. Pioneering figures like John Muir, the founder of the Sierra Club in 1892, advocated for the preservation of natural landscapes for their intrinsic value, spiritual benefits, and ecological significance. This early phase of the movement focused on the establishment of national parks and the protection of wilderness areas from exploitation.

The Progressive Era, from the 1890s to the 1920s, was a time of intense social activism, during which significant conservation initiatives were undertaken. President Theodore Roosevelt, influenced by prominent conservationists of the time, helped the movement by naming multiple national parks, protecting forests, and establishing wildlife sanctuaries. The creation of the National Park Service in 1916 institutionalized the preservation of America’s natural heritage. However, during this period, the utilitarian side of conservation also became stronger, promoted by figures like Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief of the United States Forest Service, who believed in the sustainable use of natural resources for the greatest good.

After World War II, conservationists responded with renewed urgency to economic and technological development.