Theodore Roosevelt had a strong interest in nature and conservation at an early age. So it’s no surprise that when he became an influential figure, many of his accomplishments revolved around conservation efforts. Even though Roosevelt was president more than a century ago, we still enjoy some of his greatest accomplishments today. Here are some of those accomplishments you might not know were attributed to Theodore Roosevelt.

What Public Lands Did Theodore Roosevelt Establish?

Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation efforts were heavily focused on establishing public lands throughout the United States. Out of the 230 million acres of land he established while he was president, roughly 150 million acres were designated to be used for national forests.

The United States Forest Service (USFS) as we know it today was also created by Theodore Roosevelt during his presidency in 1905. The USFS was a part of the Department of Agriculture and was created to conserve forests. Roosevelt believed wholeheartedly in protecting the country’s valuable resources and the creation of the USFS was a step forward in ensuring those resources remained sustainable.Roosevelt also developed 51 Federal Bird Reserves throughout his presidency. Today, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) manages these national wildlife refuges, which are located in every state throughout the country.

National Parks Created By Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt also prioritized creating numerous national parks throughout the United States while he was president. So many new national parks were created that it led to the creation of the National Park Service in 1916. At the time of the organization’s establishment, they were responsible for managing 35 national parks, 23 of which were created under the direction of Roosevelt. Some of the sites Roosevelt created and are now managed by the National Park Service include:

  • Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado
  • Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota
  • Crater Lake National Park in Oregon
  • Platt National Park in Oklahoma
  • Sullys Hill in North Dakota

Roosevelt also added land to Yosemite National Park during his tenure as president. It is an ongoing duty to preserve and conserve these national parks to maintain the Roosevelt conservation efforts.

Notable National Monuments Established By Theodore Roosevelt

National Monuments were much easier to develop than national parks since Roosevelt did not need approval from Congress to establish them. As a result, Roosevelt developed 18 total national monuments. Some of those include:

  • Muir Woods in California
  • Devil’s Tower in Wyoming
  • Petrified Forest in Arizona
  • Grand Canyon in Arizona
  • Natural Bridges in Utah
  • Mount Olympus in Washington
  • Montezuma Castle in Arizona
  • Gila Cliff Dwellings in New Mexico

Some of these national monuments have been transformed into national parks that people still enjoy today.

Books And Articles About Conservation Written By Theodore Roosevelt

A major component of the Roosevelt conservation efforts involved his writings on conservation. During his time as president, many people believed our country’s resources could not be exhausted. However, Roosevelt believed even stronger in our duty to protect our natural resources. His books and articles remain true today and highlight the beauty of nature in its finest forms. A good example of Roosevelt’s beliefs is how he fought to protect the Grand Canyon. He did not want anyone to use the world’s natural resources for personal gain. So when Congress did not allow the Grand Canyon to become a national park, he made it a national monument instead to protect it.The International Order of T. Roosevelt focuses on proactive conservation based on the principles and standards set by Theodore Roosevelt. Protecting our at-risk habitats and wildlife is critical and requires action today for a sustainable future. There is a lot of resistance today from many groups about Roosevelt’s principles. If you would like to join in on our efforts to conserve and preserve our natural resources, contact us today to learn more.