For generations, Pennsylvanians have been at the forefront of conservation movements that have shaped the United States. Pennsylvanians like Gifford Pinchot, Joseph Rothrock, J Horace McFarland and Rachel Carson have had immeasurable impacts on our natural world. 

They’ve helped protect our forests, create state parks, beautify our cities and warn against the devastating affects of pesticides. Others like Ralph Brock and Mira Lloyd Dock have often been left out of the history books, due to discrimination. But finally, they voices and work are being raised up.

From the indigenous tribes that inhabited the lands we now call Pennsylvania, to the activists that helped pass the environmental rights amendment to our constitution, Pennsylvania has a long and storied history of conservation. 

I find that the more time I spend outside enjoying our incredible public lands, the more I want to learn more about our history of conservation. But where’s a good place to start? Where can I learn a lot without getting bogged down in timelines and jargon.

For me, there’s been no better guidebook, than Allen Dieterich-Ward’s "Cradle of Conservation: An Environmental History of Pennsylvania."

Released in 2024, this book is a comprehensive study of Pennsylvania’s environmental history in less than 150 pages. This concise book unpacks the people, policies and pivotal moments that turned Pennsylvania into a leader in conservation. Whether you're a history buff, a nature lover, or just someone who enjoys a good story about the great outdoors, this book is for you.

On this episode, I speak with Allen Dieterich-Ward. Allen is a professor of history and director of The Graduate School at Shippensburg University and the author of Cradle of Conservation. 

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Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis