Leopold's Theories
By the 1930's, Leopold's game management theories began to take root around the nation's scientific community through his newly published book Game Management. His writing was critical of human nature:
"Twenty centuries of 'progress' have brought the average citizen a vote, a national anthem, a Ford, a bank account, and a high opinion of himself, but not the capacity to live in high density without befouling and denuding his environment, nor a conviction that such capacity, rather than such density, is the true test of whether he is civilized." Aldo Leopold - Game Management |
Leopold: The Teacher
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In 1933, Leopold was hired by the University of Wisconsin at Madison to create his own graduate program in Game Management and Wildlife Ecology. His classes became exceptionally popular because of his unique teaching styles. He didn't use a textbook. He believed the only way students could learn about the wild was to experience it. Leopold's goal was, "to teach the student to see the land, to understand what he sees, and enjoy what he understands." Students were expected to bring binoculars, winter boots, and rain gear to be ready at a moment's notice to "dive in" Wisconsin's wilderness. He encouraged "amateur exploration" and saw the earth as a "puzzle or code. The real game," Leopold said, "is decoding the messages written on the face of the land!" Ultimately Leopold took it upon himself to raise the next generations of American ecologists. To raise what he began to call "an ecological conscience." Without that conscience Leopold became convinced that with the extinction of too many plants and animals would cause human civilization to collapse.
In addition to teaching in Madison Leopold established a 265 acre arboretum where many have been able to study, apply his ecological principles, and work to avoid the great man's fears. Today the arboretum is a showcase for a myriad of native species, and it is also recognized by many environment organizations such as as the birthplace of ecological restoration.
In addition to teaching in Madison Leopold established a 265 acre arboretum where many have been able to study, apply his ecological principles, and work to avoid the great man's fears. Today the arboretum is a showcase for a myriad of native species, and it is also recognized by many environment organizations such as as the birthplace of ecological restoration.
Helping the President
The disastrous consequences of over-plowing in the 1920's and sustained drought in the 30's led to the ecological nightmare known as the Dust Bowl. Dust storms plagued a vast territory including Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, and Texas and became known as "no man's land." John Steinbeck immortalized the plight of migrant "Okies" in his classic novel about the Joad family called The Grapes of Wrath. The suffering of citizens was unprecedented by Leopold was concerned about the dust bowl's impact on decline in waterfowl population.
As duck hunters called on President Roosevelt to restore the numbers of their game, FDR formed the Committee on Wildlife Restoration and asked Aldo Leopold to be one of the three in position of leadership. When another committee member proposed a plan to incubate and raise duck eggs until they were healthy enough to be introduced into the environment Leopold objected. He knew this strategy would upset the ecological balance of an already compromised region. Instead he suggested that the Government purchase exhausted farmland (at minimal cost) and convert the land into new nature preserves. The President approved Leopold's plan and the short and long term result was the establishment of rejuvinated National Wildlife Refuge System, a network of nationwide preserves responsible throughout the last 80 years for keeping hundreds bird species from extinction. According to Jaime Rappaport Clark of Defenders of Wildlife, "Each year, tens of millions of people visit and enjoy national wildlife refuges in every U.S. state and territory, infusing nearly $1.74 billion into local economies and creating more than 32,500 U.S. jobs. Defenders of Wildlife is working to protect and strengthen the National Wildlife Refuge System, the only system of federal lands in the United States dedicated to wildlife conservation."
Sage-Grouse (still endangered)
As duck hunters called on President Roosevelt to restore the numbers of their game, FDR formed the Committee on Wildlife Restoration and asked Aldo Leopold to be one of the three in position of leadership. When another committee member proposed a plan to incubate and raise duck eggs until they were healthy enough to be introduced into the environment Leopold objected. He knew this strategy would upset the ecological balance of an already compromised region. Instead he suggested that the Government purchase exhausted farmland (at minimal cost) and convert the land into new nature preserves. The President approved Leopold's plan and the short and long term result was the establishment of rejuvinated National Wildlife Refuge System, a network of nationwide preserves responsible throughout the last 80 years for keeping hundreds bird species from extinction. According to Jaime Rappaport Clark of Defenders of Wildlife, "Each year, tens of millions of people visit and enjoy national wildlife refuges in every U.S. state and territory, infusing nearly $1.74 billion into local economies and creating more than 32,500 U.S. jobs. Defenders of Wildlife is working to protect and strengthen the National Wildlife Refuge System, the only system of federal lands in the United States dedicated to wildlife conservation."
Sage-Grouse (still endangered)