Conservation vs. Preservation
By Amy Chang
Basic Background
Conservation seeks the proper use of nature while preservation seeks protection of nature from use. These two opposing ideas emerged in the early 20th century during the environmental movement. They were at the center of the Hetch Hetchy debate in the early 1900s.
Gifford Pinchot
He was the leading proponent of the conservationist view.
Hetch Hetchy Valley
Conservationists and Preservationists debated the idea of constructing a dam to provide water for San Francisco. The dam was completed in 1923.
John Muir
He was the leading proponent of the preservationist view.