01 Jan Welcome to the Conservation Crew Blog
For our blog’s inaugural post, let’s delve into the core purpose of the development of Ross Park Zoo Conservation Crew and the origins of our conservation-centric concepts. It is no secret that our ecosystems need help. Almost everywhere you turn there are campaigns and promotions supporting conservation efforts but when did the US start to care about conservation?
Eyes were opened at the surge of the industrial revolution during the 19th century. The pace at which nonrenewable resources were being exploited was not only unsustainable but extremely destructive. Ecosystems were decimated to make way for factories and resources were harvested at an exponential rate without regard for the reparations that would take place when that resource was no longer available.
The corruption of these resources led to conservation advocates rising in politics such as Theodore Roosevelt who carried the citizen title of the “conservationist president” during his term. Going on to establish *50 national forests, 51 federal bird reserves, 4 national game preserves, 5 national parks, and 18 national monuments by enabling the 1906 American Antiquities Act. During his presidency, Theodore Roosevelt protected approximately 230 million acres of public land. As we moved into the 20th century, conservation efforts became a global concern with international organizations beginning to tackle these worldwide issues. In 1964, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List was established and grew to contribute towards the implementation of international agreements, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, highlighting the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources. The IUCN Red List is used as an important tool to monitor the level of biodiversity around the world by tracking the population status of each species.
Fast forward to today where the topic of conservation encompasses a broad spectrum, from preserving biodiversity and protecting endangered species to addressing climate change and sustainable development. Its focus encompasses finding a balance between human needs and environmental stewardship for a sustainable future. This is where organizations such as zoos, aquariums, and natural museums play an imperative role in moving conservation efforts forward. As we move towards our 150 year anniversary, the Ross Park Zoo’s mission is dedicated to promoting awareness and stewardship of our natural world, in our community and globally, through education, conservation, and community engagement. By providing educational programs and experiences to our community we are able to connect them with the wider world around, create empathy, and steward future conservationists. This blog is just one tool to do so.
We hope you join us as we dive deeper into the world of conservation with weekly entries. As always we thank you for your continuous support!
Have a topic of interest? Let us know in the comment section below!
*https://www.nps.gov/thro/learn/historyculture/theodore-roosevelt-and-conservation.htm
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