National Conservation Commission facts for kids
The National Conservation Commission was a special group created in 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt. Its main job was to study and protect America's amazing natural resources, like its forests, water, land, and minerals. This commission was a big step in the early days of the conservation movement in the United States.
Contents
Protecting America's Resources
A Big Idea for Nature
The idea for the National Conservation Commission came from a meeting called the Conference of Governors, which happened just a few weeks earlier. This meeting itself was inspired by earlier ideas from the Inland Waterways Commission. President Roosevelt was very keen on protecting nature, and this commission was one of seven similar groups he set up during his time as president (1901-1909).
Who Was Involved?
The commission was formed on June 8, 1908. It included people from the United States Congress and experts from government agencies. A key leader was Gifford Pinchot, who was in charge of its executive committee. Pinchot was a very important figure in the early conservation movement.
What Did the Commission Do?
The National Conservation Commission was split into four main parts:
- Water
- Forests
- Lands
- Minerals
Each part had its own leader. The commission's biggest achievement was creating the first-ever detailed list of all the natural resources in the United States. This huge report was put together in three volumes and given to Congress in early 1909. The report also included Pinchot's ideas on how the government should manage these resources in a complete and thoughtful way.
Why Did It Stop?
Both President Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot wanted the commission to keep working. However, Congress decided not to provide any more money for it, so the commission had to stop its work.
Working Together: North American Conservation
Sharing Ideas Across Borders
President Roosevelt also invited leaders from Canada, Newfoundland, and Mexico to a special meeting called the North American Conservation Conference. The goal was to talk about how these countries could work together on conservation issues that crossed their borders.
What Was Agreed?
Everyone who attended the conference agreed that they should try to coordinate their plans for managing natural resources. They decided that each country would need to set up its own commission to help with this cooperation and to share information.
Canada's Commission of Conservation
Even though the agreement didn't lead to a big international group right away, it did inspire Canada to create its own non-political group called the Commission of Conservation. This Canadian commission was very active. It completed more than 200 studies before 1919.
The Canadian Commission had an executive committee and also worked with universities to get scientific and technical advice. Its work was divided into seven main areas:
- Forestry
- Lands
- Fisheries
- Game and wildlife
- Water and waterpower
- Minerals
- Public health
See also
- National Conservation Exposition
