5 historical conservationists you should know

credit: Petrified Forest National Park

Max Carol Science / Conservation

How well do you know some of history’s most influential environmental activists? The conservation movement is hardly new. For hundreds of years, people have been advocating for the preservation and protection of the natural world. Some early activists educated the public on the consequences of deforestation. Others exposed humanity’s exploitation of natural resources for profit and encouraged the development of national parks. Still others revealed the dangers of chemical pesticides on animals. With activists spanning from 17th century England to 20th century America, here are 5 of the most important figures in the history of conservationism.