Click to Return to Beginning		THE NATIONAL PARKS AND EMERGENCY CONSERVATION HOW THE MEN OF THE C.C.C. AID CONSERVATION With the establishment of literally hundreds of emergency conservation camps, approved under the emergency conservation program of the President, a number of our young citizens have an opportunity to help in what is probably the biggest conservation movement in history. The members of the Civilian Conservation Corps, under trained leadership, are directing their efforts toward protecting and in some cases improving conditions in the national parks and monuments, the national military parks, the national forests; in State parks and forests; and in various county parks and metropolitan sections of municipal parks. The installation of camps in all these areas has proceeded only upon approval of the President, after consideration of proposed plans by the Director of Emergency Conservation Work and the Special Advisory Council. A Ranger Near Mount Hoffman, Yosemite National Park Much of the work on the different classes of reservations is the same and is directed primarily toward conservation of forests. The approved types of forest protection now being undertaken include protection against fire and insect infestation, blister rust and tree disease, and roadside fixation and erosion control. The work is divided into two broad classes, however–conservation for complete preservation in the national parks, monuments, military areas, State parks and allied reservations; and conservation for use in the National and State forests. In addition to the emergency conservation activities in the 65 camps in the national parks and monuments (as approved June 15, 1933; others to be designated later), the National Park Service has been charged with the administration of the conservation work in 111 camps in the military parks and the State, county, and metropolitan sections, because the same principles of conservation for complete preservation govern all these classes of reservations. Similarly, the Civilian Conservation Corps assigned to work on the State forests are under the direction of the United States Forest Service, where upon wise conservation of tree stands rests the hope of a continuance of our national wood supply, one of our most important natural resources. Mount Oberlin, Glacier National Park The conservation activities directed by the National Park Service take the form of landscape protection rather than solely forest protection. All work is planned and conducted with detailed attention to the landscape values. Forested areas in these reservations must be kept in their natural condition so far as possible. The removal of underbrush, dead trees, windfalls, and other natural debris from old forests is undertaken only to such an extent as is necessary to remove serious fire hazards. Ground cover is essential in the complete protection of bird life and small mammals, and also is part of the natural forest scene. Timber-cutting is undertaken only when it is designed to improve the quality of young growth on cut-over or burned-over lands. To many of the young volunteers of the Civilian Conservation Corps the type of work undertaken is an entirely new experience. The first few weeks at outdoor labor with the ax and shovel are not easy, as the many college men who work in lumber camps during the summer vacations know. Sore muscles rebel at the unaccustomed exercise, but dogged perseverance wins. After a couple of weeks muscles ripple smoothly as the ax is wielded, and there is a feeling of power, of physical fitness, that makes up for the toughening process. The boys are woodsmen now, and like it. Scene in Grand Teton National Park It is the hope of the National Park Service that many men now in the emergency conservation work may find the activities so to their liking that when the emergency is over they will continue to devote themselves to conservation, perhaps finding that their life work lies in a national or State park. Certainly future visitors to the parks and monuments will get an added degree of enjoyment of the natural beauties they behold as a result of the loyal efforts of the Civilian Conservation Corps. It may be that some of the magnificent tree stands will owe their continued existence to the present conservation activities against fire and various tree blights; that control of erosion along roadsides may mean the salvation of other objects of beauty. The youthful conservation workers, when mature men, doubtless will feel an increased interest in these great outdoor wonderlands for which they personally are doing so much.
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