Theodore Roosevelt’s Policy in the Field of Ecology: Conservation Natural Resources

Abstract

The article examines the principles and directions of the state policy of the USA on the nature protection in the early XX century, which is named conservation. It was determined that its precondition is the growing attention to wildlife of American philosophers, artists, writers, scientists who contributed to the formation of ecological consciousness in society. The article analyses the role of the USA President T. Roosevelt in development of conservation policy and its main areas: creation of public land reserve, including national forests and parks, forest conservation, water resources, reclamation of arid areas, initiating of various commissions that have to audit natural resources of the USA. The role of Governors’ Meeting (1908) and the National Congress on Conservation (1909) in the activization of the movement for conservation of natural resources in the United States is considered. It is proved that President Т. Roosevelt formulated the ideals of the American society on nature conservation, based on the values of civilization, patriotism and social morality, which became the basis of environmental policy in late XX – early XXI century.