Conservation Success Stories throughout American history

Learn about 6 conservation success stories and then uncover what it means for the environmental movement going forward.

You may read this article or print the below document double-sided and fold it into a zine, using this tutorial.

Migratory Birds

By the late 1800s, many birds in the United States faced extinction. (The Carolina parakeet and passenger pigeons soon did become extinct.)

• Early 1900s – 2 women found the Audubon Society as Americans start to care about saving birds from extinction.
• Weeks-McLean Migratory Bird Act is passed in 1913 but soon ruled by the court to be unconstitutional.
• Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) of 1918 is passed and saves up to billions of bird lives!

Bald Eagles

The MBTA didn’t protect eagles, which were being hunted to near extinction.

• In 1940, the Bald Eagle Protection Act is passed.
• Bald eagle numbers continue to decline and only 1% remain by the early 1960s, when scientists finally figure out that DDT pesticides have been responsible for their decline.
• In 1972, DDT is banned, and bald eagle numbers start to recover.

Native insects and plants

In the early 1900s, the coontie plant in Florida was overharvested. Since this is the only larval host plant of the atala butterfly, the atala started to disappear and was thought to be extinct by the mid 1900s.

• In 1979, a small population of atala are discovered on an island.
• Everyday Floridians replant coontie throughout the state, and the atala population grows.
• This kicks off a movement of gardening that focuses on native plants, which helps local insect populations.

Earth Day movement

Rachel Carson’s 1961 book Silver Spring had raised awareness for humanity’s impact on the environment. Americans were starting to get fed up with polluted rivers catching on fire and the decline of species such as whales.

• 20 million Americans (10%) participate in the first Earth Day in 1970.
• A few months later, the EPA is formed.
• Greenpeace starts in 1971
• The Clean Water Act is passed in 1972.
• The Endangered Species Act is passed in 1973.

Blue Spring manatees

Human recreation in Blue Spring drives out manatees that usually use the warm waters to survive the winter. By 1970, there were only 12 manatees left in this area.

• In 1970, Jacques Cousteau comes to Blue Spring and makes a documentary about the 12 manatees: The Forgotten Mermaids.
• In 1972, the state park system buys this property.
• Local and statewide efforts implement changes to the waterways.
• In 1981, Jimmy Buffett and FL Gov Bob Graham start Save the Manatee Club.
• In 2024, there are 923 manatees in Blue Spring at the coldest part of the year.

The ozone layer

In 1982, it was discovered that a huge hole in the protective ozone layer had been caused by compounds called CFCs (used in refrigerators at the time and aerosols). This had the potential to harm or end most life on earth.

• In 1985, the Montreal Protocol was ratified by 196 nations and the European Union.
• The ozone hole is noticeably healing and expected to heal fully by the 2060s.
• Every year, 2 million people are saved from skin cancer.

We shall lose some of the battles—but we must not give up.

And we have a powerful ally, for nature, ever resilient and resourceful, will, given time, clothe a devastated landscape with green growing things so that it becomes a place where animals once again can thrive.

Of course it can take a very long time indeed for such an area to become a well-functioning ecosystem with diverse flora and fauna.

But when the right people—those who truly understand the dynamics of a healthy ecosystem, who have learned by watching, and who are prepared to accept that nature may know best—work in harmony with natural systems, the healing process can be speeded up.

-Jane Goodall

Using historic conservation success stories to create future conservation success stories

Learn about the natural world around you, and try your best to get involved. Read on for more information and suggestions.

Individual action?

There is a lot of debate about whether individual action is worth the effort because of the need for large systemic change in the face of the current environmental crisis.

My personal take is that there is no such thing as individual action.

None of us exist in a vacuum, and our individual actions almost immediately become community action when we inspire others to follow suit in caring about the state of the natural world.

Studies of the “peer effect” show that people are more likely to choose energy-efficient alternatives like solar panels when they see their peers making those changes.

Climate shadow

Focusing on lengthening your climate shadow can be a more holistic approach than just trying to reduce your carbon footprint.

Your climate shadow takes into consideration all the (sometimes immeasurable) things you are doing about the climate emergency.

It includes not only those actions you take to reduce your participation in consumer culture, but also things like your voting and financial decisions, how much you talk about climate change, and how much of your attention is focused on the environmental crisis.

Take action

• Spend more time outside and get involved in a community related to nature or ecology (local chapter of Florida Native Plant Society, Florida Wildflower Foundation, Audubon Society, etc)

• Learn more about your local ecosystem (use apps such as Seek, iNaturalist, and Merlin Bird ID) and plant native plants

• Stay informed about national, state, and local land and water issues, and use your voice during and between elections

• Don’t buy things you don’t need

• Volunteer in a nature center, national or state park or forest, science museum, etc.

Mother Earth is saying, “My child, I’m here for you; I’m offering all this for you.” It’s true: the rays of sunshine, the singing birds, clear streams, the cherry blossom in spring, and the beauty of the four seasons–it’s all there for you. And, if you can’t see or hear it, it’s because your mind is too full.

-Thich Nhat Hanh

Reading recommendations

• “Forget your carbon footprint. Let’s talk about your climate shadow.” article by Emma Pattee on mic.com

• The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Jane Goodall

• Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet nonfiction book by Thich Nhat Hanh

• We Are the Weather nonfiction book by Jonathan Safran Foer

• Braiding Sweetgrass nonfiction book by Robin Wall Kimmerer

• Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squids nonfiction book by Thor Hanson

• The Music of Bees fiction book by Eileen Garvin

Video/audio recommendations

• “ologies” podcast by Alie Ward has many episodes related to ecology

• “Jane” (2017) and “Jane Goodall: The Hope” (2020) documentaries shine light on her lifetime of conservation research and advocacy work.
• “Path of the Panther” (2023) documentary details another Florida conservation success story.

• “Strange World” (2022) animated Disney movie does a brilliant job relating the story to conservation issues our own world faces.

• “The Residence” (2025) is a Netflix original series in which a birder is brought in to solve a murder in the White House.