December 1, 2016
1 min read
Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAmPresident Obama’s Conservation Legacy
He has protected more U.S land and water than any of his predecessors
By Ryan F. Mandelbaum
President Barack Obama has called conservation “a cornerstone of my presidency”—and the numbers back him up. He has protected more American land and water than any of his predecessors, in part thanks to the Antiquities Act passed by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. The act gives the executive branch the relatively unrestrained power to protect land by proclamation, without having to go through Congress. The Obama administration has also overseen the removal of more recovering animals and plants from the endangered species list than all previous administrations combined. “We believe the president is going to leave a significant conservation legacy through his leadership,” says Dan Chu, director of the Sierra Club's Our Wild America campaign.
By the numbers
360,000 square miles
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
Land federally protected by Theodore Roosevelt
6,250 square miles
Land federally protected by Barack Obama
856,000 square miles
Marine ecosystems federally protected by Barack Obama
22
New properties added to the National Park System under Obama
19
Endangered species delisted during Obama's time in office
SOURCES FOR STATISTICS: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (Roosevelt-protected land and new parks); U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Obama-protected land and water); U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE (endangered species delisted)
It’s Time to Stand Up for Science
If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.
If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.
In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.
There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.
