Declaration of the Conservation ConferenceIn 1908, a declaration supporting conservation was issued at the conclusion of a three-day Conference of Governors held at the White House, called by Roosevelt to consider the problems of conservation. It recognized that the U.S. "natural resources include the land on which we live and which yields our food; the living waters which fertilize the soil, supply power, and form great avenues of commerce; the forests which yield the materials for our homes, prevent erosion of the soil, and conserve the navigation and other uses of our streams; and the minerals which form the basis of our industrial life, an supply us with heat, light, and power." It recommended that each State appoint a Commission on the Conservation of Natural Resources. |
