Erica Levi Zelinger 2020-01-07 04:57:47
The modern-day environmental movement began 50 years ago with the first Earth Day celebrations, but history shows us that Pennsylvanians have long played a role in educating others about the effects of human interaction with the natural world — and well before 1970. As we grapple with issues of climate change, pollution, and waste, there are lessons to be learned from Pennsylvania’s original conservation icons about environmental protection. Follow us on a journey to experience their legacy firsthand as these Pennsylvania partners worked — from the early days of statehood onward — to educate and mobilize others to care for and protect the planet. In 1681, minister, missionary, theologian, and lawyer William Penn received a charter from King Charles II to colonize land west of New Jersey, attracting those seeking religious tolerance. In honor of his father, Admiral Sir William Penn, the province was named “Pennsylvania,” a combination of the family surname with the Latin word sylvania meaning “forest land.” Having lived through London’s bubonic plague and great fire, Penn recognized the value of the region’s forests and wrote into his Charter of Rights that for every 5 acres of land cleared by colonists, 1 acre of trees must be preserved. Although European colonists accepted Penn’s authority over the colony, they did not necessarily abide by the state’s first conservation law, as they quickly saw lumber as a lucrative business. BOTANY As a native-born American, John Bartram, considered the father of American botany, was a self-educated naturalist who established a botanical garden in Philadelphia, where he propagated plants that he and his son William Bartram collected during travels. He embarked on an enterprising North American plant trade with English botanist Peter Collinson and others, effectively transforming the horticultural makeup of European gardens. He was eventually appointed Royal Botanist by King George III. Bartram’s son, William, followed in his father’s footsteps as a botanical traveler, artist, and author. Together, the father-son duo is credited with identifying more than 200 native plants and were the first to bring the Franklinia alatamaha, a flowering shrub, back to Philadelphia and propagate it. The Franklinia — extinct in the wild by 1803 — still grows at Bartram’s Garden in Philadelphia, where you can visit the 50-plus-acre outdoor classroom. John Bartram’s stone house still stands, built in stages and incorporating elements of European architecture, as well as his two-level banked barn, historical garden, and medicinal plant display. FORESTRY Also trained in botany, Joseph T. Rothrock went on to become known as the father of Pennsylvania forestry. While studying in Germany in 1880, Rothrock was introduced to a concept of scientific forest management and returned to the Commonwealth to begin a campaign to protect the state’s endangered woodlands. In 1895, Rothrock was appointed Pennsylvania’s first Commissioner of Forestry, where he spent the next decade lobbying for a fire warden system to prevent forest fires and overseeing a drive to acquire cut-over land from timber companies. During his tenure as commissioner, the state acquired more than 443,000 acres of forest. Named in his honor, the Rothrock State Forest, along the rugged ridges of Huntingdon, Centre, and Mifflin counties, was once stripped of trees to make charcoal for local iron furnaces. Today the forest is a premier mountain biking destination and contains nearly 300 miles of hiking trails, miles of cold-water trout streams perfect for fishing, and motorized camping at eight designated locations throughout the forest. Inspired by the work of Rothrock, Mira Lloyd Dock, a progressive woman in a male-dominated society, worked to clean up nearby Harrisburg of its filth and pollution. The botanist, forester, and conservationist served with Rothrock on the Pennsylvania Forest Commission, during which 1 million acres of forest became reserves. Dock became the first woman to hold a job in Pennsylvania government and the first woman in the world to be appointed to a forest commission. The civic leader’s “City Beautiful” movement led to the creation of Harrisburg’s first park system and can be appreciated today at Riverfront Park, where bikers, runners, and festival-goers enjoy the views and can pay tribute to Dock’s accomplishments. Ralph E. Brock was a forestry pioneer in numerous ways: he was part of the first class of foresters to graduate from the Pennsylvania State Forest Academy — a school founded by Rothrock and today known as Penn State Mont Alto — and he also is believed to be the first African American to be trained in forestry in the United States. Upon graduating in 1906, Brock became the Mont Alto State Forest Nursery Superintendent until 1911, during which time he established and oversaw the campus nursery and perfected the idea of maintaining healthy soil through the use of compost. Visit the Penn State Mont Alto campus to see a historic marker about his life. Bothered by the destructive logging practices near Grey Towers, their summer home in Milford and now a National Historic Site, James Pinchot encouraged his son Gifford to pursue a career in forestry. While those who came before him were self-taught or educated in related fields, Gifford Pinchot was born to a Pennsylvania family of means and received an education in forestry in France. The fledgling forester returned home and traveled the country doing consulting work. In 1898, he was appointed Chief of the Division of Forestry in the U.S. Department of Agriculture and later the first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, working with President Roosevelt to shape American conservation policy. In 1922, Pinchot left forestry for politics, becoming the governor of Pennsylvania. His conservation ethic lives on in York County at Gifford Pinchot State Park, with its farm fields, wooded hillsides, and the 340-acre Pinchot Lake, perfect for boating, swimming, and warmwater fishing. You can also visit Pike County’s Grey Towers, built with local materials but reflecting the French heritage of the family. Guided tours of the mansion and gardens tell the story of American conservation. ENVIRONMENTALISM A Pennsylvanian with world stature, Rachel Carson is considered the inspiration for the global environmental movement, including the establishment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Known world-wide for her lyrical scientific books on marine life, Carson felt compelled to write about the dangers of pesticides. In 1962, her courageous and visionary book Silent Spring told of the unintended consequences of pesticides and called for stewardship of the earth. Visitors are welcome at the humble farmhouse that was her birthplace and early home, the Rachel Carson Homestead National Historic Site in Springdale near Pittsburgh. As a way to promote the interconnectedness of Pennsylvania’s environmental issues, Maurice K. Goddard brought together a grouping of statewide agencies under the Department of Environmental Resources. But his real coup d’état was the mandate that there should be a Pennsylvania state park within 25 miles of every citizen. Today, there are 121 state parks in Pennsylvania, including Maurice K. Goddard State Park in Mercer County, popular with anglers, boaters, and wildlife watchers. Pennsylvania joins the nation in celebrating the Earth Day anniversary and helping to build a new generation of environmental activists. Take part in one of the many special events throughout the state on April 22, 2020, or go into nature anytime to appreciate the beauty of the natural world and the conservation efforts of previous Pennsylvanians. A STATUE OF WILLIAM PENN ADORNS THE TOP OF THE TOWER OF PHILADELPHIA’S CITY HALL.
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