Environmental History in State Publications: Conservation and Development

The Alamaba Bird Day Book, 1914

From the 1914 Alabama Bird Day Book issued by the Alabama Department of Game and Fish.

Fifth graders of Sacramento public schools being taught the fundamentals of game conservation at Southside Park, where many water fowl are to be found on the lake.

From the State of California Fish and Game Commission 24th Biennial Report, 1914-1916.

Conservation and development materials cover a wide range of topics, from geology to hunting, to underdeveloped land, to game protection, and some materials specific to conservation of bird species.  Hunting and game protection materials discuss laws surrounding hunting licenses and tags, number of species legally taken in-season, and population increases and decreases of species.  Migratory bird populations were of interest as early as the 1920's.  Law and population conditions of migratory birds are featured. 

Management of undeveloped and unproductive land is discussed in reference to the locations and values of these tracts of land and how to create a demand for the land. Suggestions of the land being purchased by the state and leased to farmers are discussed.

Mineral, oil, and natural gas are covered. Main topics include location and value of deposits, purity, mining methods, and uses.

Bird conservation is the topic of materials in Alabama and Indiana. Information such as conservation advice, habitats, and population records, are interspersed with poetry and short stories about birds.

 Education is mentioned throughout the collection as a method of promoting conservation and development.  Specific groups targeted include elementary-age school children and Boy Scouts, as they are mentioned as the easiest group to instill the messages of conservation for the future and self-restraint in hunting.  Exhibitions at agricultural fairs were another education method.  These featured live specimens from the area, information on hatcheries, game reservations, forests, streams, and lakes, charts of species population, etc.

Examples of Resources Available:

New Jersey Department of Conservation and Development Report

The Natural Resources Survey of the Conservation and Natural Resources Commission of New Mexico

Missouri Land Department (See Missouri Historical Documents Browser)