17 December 1965, Volume 150, Number 3703 ANIERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE Science serves its readers as a forum for the pr-esentation and discuLssion of impor- tant issues related to the advancement of science, including the presentation of mi- nority or conflicting points of view, r,ather than by publishing only material on which a consensus has been reached. Accordingly, aill aIrticles published in Scienc e-including eclitorials, news and comment. and book reviews-are signed and reflect the indi- vidual views of the authors and not officiail points of view adopted by the AAAS or the institutions with which the auLtholrs are affiliated. Editorial Bloard RZowI; Rr L. BoS'\MAN \\ F11lID I- 1I ii kIi LVIN CALVIN GORDON J. F. NiMACDONAIiL JOSEPH W. CHAMBERLAIN EL iR7i' 1. NIENDrI.SOIN ARRINGION DANIELS Ni EiF. NIi ii riz JOHN, T. EDSALL JOHIN It. PIiRCE l)AVID R. GODDARD Coti.i S. P11iiIINi)RiII E[NIL HAURY KENNEIH S. Pir1ZER At.ixSrNDER HIOLLAENDER ALI\ANDIRt RicI WOIlrIRT JASIsROW D[\Vi-ri SIEIriN. JR, Fosv IN NI. LERNER, II EDWS ARD L. TAIs - CLARENCE NI. ZFNsR Editorial Statf Edit or PHILIP H. All.L.SON Puibli.\sler Btioitie!s Antnager DAuEL WOLFLE HANS NuSSHSUM Managing- Editor: ROBERT V. ORMES Assistant Editors: ELLEN E. NIURPHY, JOHN E. RI INLE Assistatnt to the Editor: NANCY TEIMOURIAN News and Commizetit: DANIEL S. GREELNIIRG. JOHtN WALSHi, ELINOR LANGER, LUIIER J. CARTER, MIARION ZEI(1L.R, JANE AYRES Eiurope: VICTOR K. McEt.lifNY, Flat 3, 18 Keni- sington Coturt Place, Lonclon, W.8, Eniglancd Wvestern 5360) Book Reviews: SARAH S. Dr:Es Editorial Assistants: 15SABI LA Bot LDIN, EII A- NORE BuIz, BEN CARLIN, SYLVIA ERB-RHARI, (;RAssCuE FINGER, NANCY HAMILTTON, OLINI-R HFAT- WOLE, ANNE HOLDSw\(ORTH, ELLIN KOLANSKY, KA1THFRINE LIVINGSTON, BARIASRA SHEFFER Advertisinig Staff Director P,odtoction Manag-er EARL J. SCHERAGO RAYMONDI-S SALAMA Sales: New York, N.Y.. ii W. 42 St. (212-PE- 6-1858): RICHARD L. CHARLES, ROBERT S. BUGBEE Scotch Plains, N.J., 12 Unarni Lane (201-889- 4873): C. RICHARD CALLIS Chicago, Ill. 6061 1, 919 N. Nlichigani Ave., Room -426 (312-DE-7-4973): HERRB-IR I L. BURKLUND Los Angeles 45, Calif., 8255 Beverly Blvd. (213- 653-9817): WINN NANCE EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE: 1515 Massa- chusetts Ave., NW, Washingtonl, D.C. 20005. Phone: 202-387-7171. Cable: Advancesci. Washington. Copies of "Instructions for Contribtutors" can be .btained from the editorial office. ADVERTISING CORRESPONDENCE: Rm. 1740, 11 W. 42 St., New York, N.Y. 10036. Phone: 212-PE 6-1858. SCIE:NCE Conservation and Natural Beauty Once a powerful factor in American politics, the conservation movement is relatively weak, and divided as to objectives. During the heyday of Theodore Roosevelt's addministration, tremendous prog- ress was made in setting aside large areas as national parks. After the initial success, the movement chose to pursue other social ob- jectives and gradually lost its force. DuLring Franklin Roosevelt's ad- ministration there was another peak in conservation interest and accomplishment. In contrast to these two exemplary periods there have been other times of less activity. Vigor and initiative in conser- vation were lacking at a time of great expansion in population and industry. We permitted the pollution of most of ouLr great rivers, the proliferation of urban sprawl, and destruction of much natural beauty. Even the national parks have suffered. In the use of these priceless resources, a major criterion of progress has been increase in the number of "visitor dcays." As a result, part of Yosemite Park on a weekend is like a city slumii. The need for action in conservation has been recognized. More than 30 mnajor organizations are now active. One of the most dynamic of these is the Sierra Club. Membership is relatively small (about 32.000), buLt it is growing fast, and it has become national in scope. The group is adept at mobilizing support in specific controversies. The Sierra Clib plaved a large role in forcing the Pacific Gas and Electric Conmpany to abandon its plans for a reactor at Bodega Bay. Lately, the Sierra Club has macle itself heard with respect to the power lines associated with the Stanford linear accelerator. Un- fortunately, these a-re local skirmishes, and while such skirmishes miay be won and their winning may be exemplary. many others are lost by defa'ult. Thus, while a few battles go well, the war as a whole is lost. If we are to arrest the trend toward mass ugliness we must do more than stop or modify a few construction projects. An outline of broader goals was enunciated bv President Johnson in his message on natuLral beaulty. He said, "Our conservation must not be just classic protection and development but a creative conservation of restoration and innovation." This staitemlenit should be viewed as a chaillenge to conservationists to come tIp with ideas and plans. At least one leader has done so. In a recent speech RuLssell E. Train, president of the Conservation FoLundation, has suggested a number of types of initiative that might be fostered. For inst'ance, he would increase the opportLunities for recreation associated with limited- access highways. Through expansion of rights-of-way, it would be possible to provide footpaths, bicycle paths, trails to natural features, picnic grounds. and even camp sites. One can imagine, further, a series of snmall but beautiful plots devoted to local flora. In a recent issue of this journal (Science, 3 December), E. C. Stone discusses the problem of preserving vegetation in parks and wilderness. He makes it clear that we have already unwittingly con- ducted large-scale ecological experiments in our parks. By controlling predators we have permitted overexpansion of ungulates, with re- sultant large-scale destruction of flora. By controlling fires we have changed the natural succession of vegetation. Perhaps in our approach to conservation and natural beauty we would progress best by making somle experinments. We should give over much of the areas of our parks to wilderness, letting nature take its course, while observing closely what is happening. At the same time, we might well devote limited areas to controlled experimentation. These are only suggestions for initiative. But they illustrate the kind of approach the conservation movement must make if it is to change from an effort devoted to rear-guard action into a dynamic force for constructive achievement.-PHII P H. ABELSON o n A p ril 5 , 2 0 2 1 h ttp ://scie n ce .scie n ce m a g .o rg / D o w n lo a d e d fro m http://science.sciencemag.org/ Conservation and Natural Beauty Philip H. Abelson DOI: 10.1126/science.150.3703.1539 (3703), 1539.150Science ARTICLE TOOLS http://science.sciencemag.org/content/150/3703/1539.citation PERMISSIONS http://www.sciencemag.org/help/reprints-and-permissions Terms of ServiceUse of this article is subject to the trademark of AAAS. is a registeredScienceAdvancement of Science, 1200 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005. The title (print ISSN 0036-8075; online ISSN 1095-9203) is published by the American Association for theScience 1965 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science o n A p ril 5 , 2 0 2 1 h ttp ://scie n ce .scie n ce m a g .o rg / D o w n lo a d e d fro m http://science.sciencemag.org/content/150/3703/1539.citation http://www.sciencemag.org/help/reprints-and-permissions http://www.sciencemag.org/about/terms-service http://science.sciencemag.org/