Defenders' Experts
Threats to Wildlife from Overexploitation of Natural Resources
Overexploitation of natural resources, through unsustainable hunting,
fishing, or extraction of raw material, can result in the
extinction of species and the loss of genetic diversity within
others. Sustainable use of natural resources is essential to the
conservation of wildlife and habitat.
Era of Overexploitation (1850-1899)
During the Era of Overexploitation, the North American continent was transformed from a mostly unsettled land mass to one with cities and farms scattered everywhere and linked by a network of railroads, roads, and telegraph wires.
During this period many wildlife species went extinct or became gravely endangered.
- Bison herds on the Great Plains were systematically slaughtered or died of disease until only a few hundred individuals remained.
- Passenger pigeons, once numbering in the billions, were harvested commercially and became extinct in 1914.
- Heron and egret populations were decimated at their breeding colonies when their plumes were collected for ladies hats.
- Ranges of large predators became greatly reduced, with mountain lions and wolves virtually eliminated from eastern North America.
Starting with the passage of the Lacey Act in 1900 and the accession of Theodore Roosevelt to the presidency in 1901, some wildlife were protected in the nation's first national parks and wildlife refuges.
The Lacey Act helped eliminate market hunting for plumes from birds (by prohibiting interstate commerce in feathers) and was passed with strong support of newly formed Audubon societies.
Era of Game Management (1930-1965)
During this era, overexploitation, with some exceptions, ceased being a conservation threat for the nation's wildlife. The Committee on North American Game Policy, chaired by Aldo Leopold, made strong recommendations in 1930 for better research and management of game animals. In 1933, Leopold published his book Game Management, which is often used as the milestone heralding the birth of wildlife biology as a profession.
The Present Era
Today, again with some exceptions, overexploitation is no longer a domestic conservation threat. However, overexploitation can still be significant risk to wildlife species outside the United States. Defenders works with foreign governments, conservation organizations, and other partners to protect these species through its work on CITES, wildlife trade, and other international projects.
Learn more about Defenders' International conservation activities.
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