| Concern for the quality of the environment has become a paramount issue in American society since World War II. Accordingly, historians interested in this topic have produced an increasing number of scholarly works. Most of these studies have treated conservation from the federal perspective, leaving a void of knowledge concerning state activities.;This study assists in filling that gap by examining four components of the conservation-preservation movement in Texas: wildlife, forestry, water, and parks. The primary emphasis is on the origins of each movement, the influences affecting conservation efforts, and the impact of social, economic, and political changes. Comparisons, contrasts, and unifying threads between the four facets also are examined. Finally, conservation attempts in the state are compared with other states and the federal government to determine what outside developments affected the state, and where Texas has stood historically in reference to the mainstream of conservation thought.;The bounties of the state so intoxicated its inhabitants that despite the astonishing abandon with which Texans exploited their resources, few individuals, groups, or state officials deemed it necessary to curb the excesses until early in the twentieth century. Since then, the most significant gains have been achieved by wildlife and forestry supporters, especially dating from the 1920s and 1930s when educational programs, federal assistance, technological developments, and scientific research resulted in a greater understanding of conservation and augmented support from legislators, the public, and industry. After an initial burst of enthusiasm for the preservation of scenic lands in the Twenties, the parks system languished until the 1960s. Water conservation has continued to be the most controversial conservation issue in the state. But the state has made few advances in the field, instead relying on the federal government and local entities to handle the problem.;Since the 1960s the dilemma of attempting to maintain a harmonious relationship between man and his environment has given rise to an "environmental consciousness." This, in turn, has added another important dimension to the conservation decision-making process. |
