President Biden’s Ambitious Conservation Goal: A Pivotal Step in American Environmental History

In a historic move reflecting America's growing environmental consciousness, President Joe Biden has

Tule Lake ~ USFWS

 set an ambitious goal to conserve 30% of the United States' land and waters by 2030. This target, known as the "30x30" plan, is a critical component of Biden's broader environmental agenda aimed at combating climate change, preserving biodiversity, and ensuring the sustainability of natural resources for future generations. This initiative marks a significant shift from the previous administration's policies under Donald Trump, who emphasized development over conservation.

A Brief History of American Conservation

The American conservation movement dates back to the late 19th century. It was rooted in recognizing the need to protect the nation's natural resources from overexploitation and degradation. Key figures like John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club, and President Theodore Roosevelt, a staunch advocate for national parks, were instrumental in establishing the framework for modern conservation efforts. Roosevelt's establishment of national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges laid the groundwork for future environmental policies.

The mid-20th century saw the rise of the modern environmental movement, spurred by Rachel Carson's seminal work "Silent Spring," which highlighted the dangers of pesticide use and environmental pollution. This era led to the creation of vital legislation, including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act, as well as the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under President Richard Nixon.

Benefits of Conserving Lands and Waters

Conserving 30% of America's land and waters by 2030 offers numerous benefits:

Climate Change Mitigation: Protected lands serve as carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 and helping mitigate climate change's impacts. Forests, wetlands, and grasslands play critical roles in carbon sequestration.

Biodiversity Preservation: By safeguarding habitats, conservation efforts help preserve the diversity of species, many of which are currently threatened by habitat loss and climate change.

Water Quality and Availability: Protecting watersheds ensures clean drinking water and reduces the impacts of droughts and floods, which are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change.

Economic Benefits: Conservation supports sustainable tourism and recreation industries, which generate significant revenue and jobs. Additionally, healthy ecosystems provide services such as pollination, which is essential for agriculture.

Cultural and Recreational Value: Natural areas offer invaluable recreational opportunities and spiritual benefits, fostering connections between people and the natural world.

Contrasting Visions: Biden vs. Trump

President Biden's conservation plan starkly contrasts with former President Donald Trump's policies, which focused on deregulation and opening public lands to development. During his tenure, Trump rolled back numerous environmental protections, including reducing the size of national monuments like Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante and promoting fossil fuel extraction on public lands.

Trump's stance on development reflects a broader agenda to boost economic growth through resource extraction, often at the expense of environmental sustainability. If re-elected, Trump plans to continue this approach, emphasizing the development of public lands for oil, gas, and mineral extraction, which he argues is essential for energy independence and economic prosperity.

In contrast, Biden's 30x30 plan aligns with global conservation efforts and reflects a commitment to tackling climate change through sustainable practices. By prioritizing conservation, Biden aims to protect the natural heritage for future generations, recognizing healthy ecosystems' intrinsic and economic value.

Conclusion

President Biden's goal to conserve 30% of America's land and waters by 2030 represents a significant and progressive step in the nation's environmental policy. Rooted in the rich history of the American conservation movement, this initiative underscores the importance of protecting natural resources in the face of mounting environmental challenges. As the nation grapples with the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, Biden's plan offers a vision of a sustainable future that balances economic development with environmental stewardship. In contrast, Donald Trump's development-focused agenda presents a divergent path, highlighting the critical choices facing American voters in shaping the future of the country's natural landscapes.

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Meet Sean Smith, the master of conservation, adventure, and storytelling! This award-winning conservationist and former National Park Ranger has trekked through the wilderness of Yellowstone, Glacier, and the North Cascades, keeping nature safe with his trusty ranger hat and boots. But Sean's talents don't stop there. He's a TEDx speaker and even a private pilot, soaring through the skies like a bald eagle on a mission.

But amidst all these adventures, Sean's heart beats for storytelling. He's been spinning tales since childhood, and now he writes thrilling national park novels that'll have you hooked from the first page. Imagine the drama and mystery of the mountains combined with the adrenaline of a rollercoaster ride. That's what you'll find in Sean's books, set against the majestic backdrop of Yellowstone, Gettysburg, and Mount Rainier. His most recent thriller is set in Glacier and will drop later this year.

So, if you're craving an escape into the wild, look no further. Grab a copy of Sean's novels and prepare for an unforgettable adventure. These stories will transport you to the heart of the national parks, where danger lurks and heroes rise. Don't miss out! Find all his captivating novels right here and at the included QR code. 

National Parks need you! Time to Take Action!

In the first few weeks of the new Trump
administration, the National Parks have been on the front page more times than one can count.  On the day of the inauguration, the National Park Service (NPS) twitter account was suspend for re-tweeting an image comparing the Obama 2009 inauguration crowd with the 2017 one.  Nearly, the next day the new President personally called the Acting Director of the Park Service to get additional pictures of the swearing in an apparent attempt to disprove the low turnout.

Just as the president was being sworn in, park fans and others noticed mentions of climate change began disappearing from the NPS and other federal websites. It was an apparent attempt to silence the Park Service on the matter.

Later Badlands National Park, despite the President's apparent denial of climate change, tweeted out about the phenomenon, landing the park in hot water. But rather than rolling over Alt national park twitter accounts began to pop up all over the Internet including Alt Acadia, Alt Badlands, Alt NPS and many others. This was an obvious effort by park rangers to spread the truth about our parks and the natural world. In a short period of time, park service rangers, people known for their flats hats and knowledge obscure facts had become leaders of the resistance.

Yet despite this popular groundswell of opposition to the new president's agenda, efforts to undermine our parks and other public lands continue.  In the two weeks since Trump took over the White House, legislation has been introduced to sell off millions of acres of public land, strip land management agencies of their ability to enforce the law, permit oil and gas drilling in our national parks, and freeze the hiring of permanent rangers.

Thanks in large part to a public outcry some of these bad measures have been withdrawn. Yet many more bad bills remain and we can likely expect more.

Some might feel hopeless at this development, but there is much we can and must do. 

We must continue to write and call our elected officials.  Calls to the President and Republican offices are especially important.

However, more emphasis should be placed on contacting Democrats and environmental non-profits. This is where the true line of defense must be drawn. Democratic lawmakers, especially those in the Senate, and environmental organizations like the Wilderness Society, the National Parks Conservation Association, and the Sierra Club are going to be under extreme pressure to compromise on bills that will undermine our parks. Democratic Senators for example will be tempted with deals such as increased funds for highway maintenance, if they drop their opposition to park bills. Meanwhile, non-profits will be seduced by promises of access to power if they too compromise our parks. Mark my words, these political dealings are and will happen. We the public must not allow our champions' spines to weaken for too much is at stake.

In 2016 Americans and people around the world right celebrated a system that went from a single park in NW Wyoming to more than 400 parks today. It's a system that some have labeled America's best idea.  Twenty Seventeen marks the first year of our National Parks' second century. If that idea is going to see its bicentennial, all park defenders must take action now.

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Sean Smith is an award winning conservationist and author. He is a former National Park Ranger at Yellowstone, a TEDx speaker, and private pilot. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1989 with a degree in Political Science. He got his master's in Natural Resources Management from Central Washington University in 1996. He currently runs Washington State's efforts to reduce and eliminate toxic chemicals from consumer products and serves as the Mayor Pro Tem of Covington.

He has been writing stories and books since he was a child and currently writes national park thrillers from the shadow of Mount Rainier.

All his novels can be found here: Mr. Sean D Smith