Celebrating Great American Naturalists
July 4th is upon us again, and millions of Americans will commemorate their country’s Independence Day today with backyard BBQs, trips to large bodies of water and, in the words of one of my fav
orite Simpsons episodes, “by blowing up a small part of it” with fireworks. And while the pages of ReGeneration.org are devoted to international environmental issues and solutions, we thought it’d be nice to celebrate a few naturalists the United States was fortunate to have grace its shores. To this end, I recruited the help of a few friends by asking them to share their favorite American naturalists with the ReGeneration. I left the definition of “naturalist” deliberately vague: A person associated with nature, either by studying it or being inspired by it. OR. A person who inspires YOU to reflect on the natural world. I’d love to make this a reoccurring feature highlighting influential naturalists from around the world. When is your country’s next patriotic holiday? Would you like to have one of your native naturalist given their due on the pages of ReGeneration.org? Send me a message through my Facebook page and let’s get started (for readers in France, I’m looking in your direction here. Bastille Day is just around the corner)!
Without further ado, here are a few friends with their favorite American naturalists:
Natalie Davis on Rogan Gregory
Every time I see New York based designer, Rogan Gregory’s clothes, I am inspired to not only to be much more conscientious of green, but reminded that you don’t have to compromise style to be environmentally responsible. A true fashion mastermind, with brands like Loomstate, an all-organic line of t-shirts and jeans and his own edgier line Rogan, he has set the bar for ‘sustainably-minded clothes’ and found the balance between being e
co-friendly while remaining hip and trend setting.
Never heard of him? That will probably soon change. A former Gap designer who won the prestigious CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award for 2008, he is quickly gaining momentum and growing in popularity. U2’s Bono and his wife Ali Hewson liked Gregory’s designs so much, that they collaborated with him on an ethical T-shirt label called Edun. Barney’s picked up some of his designs in May, and also launched a limited edition collection available in Target stores all across the country. And if that’s not enough, he recently started ROGAN OBJECTS, a home furnishings collection. All eco-conscience!
So for the 4th, the naturalist who most inspires me is Rogan Gregory. Thank you, Rogan, for delivering fashion in a way where nothing important to me is being sacrificed; the earth or my style.
Andrew Durrett on Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau has always been my favorite naturalist. He was peaceful, simple and deep, yet courageous and eloquent – a rare and effective combination for social change. Reading Walden as a youngster changed my own view of so many things. I cannot imagine how this world would have been without his positive imprint. He said what needed to be said at the right time in history.
Thoreau stands out as one of the great influencers of modern times. He was a prolific author in the 19th century whose works ranged from transcendentalism and nature to opposition to slavery and modern society. He is best remembered for Walden a beautiful piece of non-fiction showing a way of peaceful solitude and simplicity in the midst of nature.
He was an outspoken man of conscience as well who advocated civil disobedience in protest of unjust actions of the state. He spoke out against slavery, taxes, conformity, and the goal oriented complexities of modern living. In addition, many believe his writings on natural history paved the way for modern day environmentalism.
His legacy was felt no doubt in the Civil War just a few years after his death. He influenced great leaders in years to come like Martin Luther King, Jr and Mahatma Gandhi. Most notable though has been his profound influence upon generations past and present to stand up for what they believe in regardless of public opinion. Today we see this reflected in the green movement of the world. Thoreau would likely have been proud but also quick to say there is much more to be done.
Anita Benner on Marty Stouffer
When asked about my favorite American naturalist, I immediately thought of the first public figure who impacted my love for and understanding of the great outdoors. Marty Stouffer, narrator and producer of the hit PBS show Wild America, brought scenes of pristine landscapes and majestic animals into millions of living rooms across America inspiring awe and respect for one of our country’s greatest resources: wildlife. Hailed by many as one of the greatest nature documentaries ever made, Wild America undoubtedly spawned generations of future naturalists and conservationists. Sadly the program was cancelled in part due to various scandals including illegal hunting charges and allegations of staged animal fights between wild animals and either tame or tethered ones.
Despite Marty’s apparent fall from grace, his visionary show has brought greater good than harm as it not only exposed millions to the beauty of our natural surroundings, but also helped pave the way for other works of art like the breathtaking series Planet Earth, which is without a doubt the crowned jewel of wildlife series with only one downfall – it’s only 11-parts long.
Chris Mixon on Theodore Roosevelt
In 1902, Theodore Roosevelt established the first national park at Crater Lake, Oregon and went on to create four more (Wind Cave National Park, SD; Sully’s Hill, ND; Platt National Park, OK; and Mesa Verde National Park, CO). During his tenure as president, from 1901 to 1909 he created 51 wildlife refugees, passed the Antiquities Act (which led to the creation of 18 national monuments), and created the National Park Service.
Roosevelt proclaimed, “A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.” He backed up these words by protecting 150 national forests. In all, Roosevelt protected some 230 million acres of national land.
Roosevelt wrote in 1916, “The movement for the conservation of wild life and the larger movement for the conservation of all our natural resources are essentially democratic in spirit, purpose, and method,”.
Theodore Roosevelt ignited the national mind set toward preserving our greatest natural resource, and the argument could be made that he was one of the Founding Fathers of the American Green movement.
Chris Byrd on John Burroughs
“I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.” - John Burroughs
John Burroughs (1837-1921) was more than an American naturalist; he was a poet, a teacher and an ecological conservationist. An accomplished author, more popular books include Birds and Poets (1877) and Ways of Nature (1905). Having written over 30 books, along with numerous naturalist essays and poems, John is best known for his observations and writings on birds, flowers and rural scenes.
While he loved the beauty of the American wilderness, he was especially fond of the area around his boyhood home in the Catskills of West Park, New York. As a youth, John would often skip his school lessons in order to explore the fields and surrounding areas on his own, soaking in the beauty of the environment.
John Burrough’s voice and writings were also vital to the evolution of the US conservation movement. This political and social movement sought to protect natural resources and habitat for our future generations. His work lives on, as the John Burroughs Medal is awarded each year in April by the John Burroughs Association to the author of a book that the association has judged to be distinguished in the field of natural history.
TD: Now it’s your turn. Which American naturalist had the most influence on you? Regardless of whether you live in the United States, we’d love to hear about your own country’s environmental legacy.
Let us know by posting a comment below. And Happy 4th.
You wouldn’t happen to know which great naturalist said this would you?
“Unless the soul goes out to greet what you see, you do not see it. Nothing do you see, not a beatle, not a blade of grass” Thanks!
by David LaBuda / July 15, 2008
You got me, David. I even tried to cheat and Google the quote. I got nothing. Who are they, and why do you think they are a great naturalist?
by Todd Dwyer / July 15, 2008