ARIZONA NEWS

Earth Day marks half-century raising environment awareness, stewardship

Apr 22, 2020, 4:25 AM | Updated: 12:47 pm

PHOENIX — Wednesday is the 50th anniversary of celebrating Earth Day, a cause dedicated to raising awareness about the environment.

Spearheaded by Sen. Gaylord Nelson, a junior senator from Wisconsin, in 1970, the day was created after witnessing the effects of an oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, in 1969.

Starting off as a broad-based movement, Director of the Arizona Nature Conservancy Pat Graham told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News that Earth Day has since evolved in the past five decades.

“It’s really not about putting farmers out of business or stopping logging, it’s really about responsible forest management and how can we produce our food and keep our rivers flowing,” says Graham, whose father was quoted in the New York Times bestseller Silent Spring in 1962 by Rachel Carson that focused on the harmful effects of insecticide on animals and plants. 

The Nature Conservancy, founded nationally in 1951 and currently the largest nature conservation organization in the world, works to tackle climate change, build healthy cities, provide water and food sustainability and protect land and water.

Graham says the Arizona branch, which launched in 1966, works with farmers and others to accomplish these goals in responsible stewardship.

“We’re working with farmers to see how they can continue to farm, for example along the Verde River, in a way that allows them to provide food and sustenance while keeping the river flowing,” he said.

“The idea that often times I think people have is that you have to choose between a healthy economy and a healthy environment, we’re trying to demonstrate that’s just not the case,” Graham added.

In over five decades, the Arizona Nature Conservancy has had a positive impact on 450 miles of rivers and streams between Arizona and the Colorado Delta in northern Mexico, according to Graham.

People can usually see the fruits of the Arizona Nature Conservancy’s labor at nature preserves, however, the locations have been forced to close due to the coronavirus outbreak.

On this 50th anniversary of the debut of Earth Day, Graham says now is the opportunity for people to appreciate nature, even by webcams or photography.

“Nature is what sustains us, and I think now more than ever, we need to care for our communities, each other and for the planet,” he said. 

“Hopefully this earth day reminds us of all three of those things,” Graham added. 

KTAR News 92.3 F.M.’s Bob McClay contributed to this report.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

Arizona's 6th Congressional District 2024 election updates...

KTAR.com

Republican Juan Ciscomani neck and neck with Democrat Kirsten Engel in race for Arizona’s CD6

The race for Arizona Congressional District 6 between Rep. Juan Ciscomani and Democratic rival Kirsten Engel has been especially nail-biting.

6 minutes ago

Kari Lake has been gaining ground on Ruben Gallego since Election Day in Arizona's Senate race....

KTAR.com

Republican Kari Lake creeps closer to Democrat Ruben Gallego in neck-to-neck Arizona Senate race

Democratic U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego hangs on to his lead despite losing votes in the latest ballot drop over Republican Kari Lake.

24 minutes ago

The City of Mesa has officially renamed Mesa Grande Cultural Park to Sce:dagĭ Mu:val Va’aki. (C...

Bailey Leasure

Mesa officially renames Grande Cultural Park to Sce:dagĭ Mu:val Va’aki

The City of Mesa has officially renamed Grande Cultural Park to Sce:dagĭ Mu:val Va’aki.

1 hour ago

Fry's Food Stores is set to open a new Marketplace location in Gilbert. (Facebook Photo)...

Bailey Leasure

New Fry’s Marketplace store set to open in Gilbert

Fry's Food Stores is set to open a new Marketplace location in Gilbert in December.

4 hours ago

Arizona congressional races...

KTAR.com

Arizona’s 9 congressional seats are up for grabs; who is winning each race?

One Arizona congressional race remained highly competitive as of Thursday night, while the state's eight other U.S. House contests were pretty much settled.

5 hours ago

The five Maricopa County Board of Supervisors seats were up for grabs during the 2024 election....

KTAR.com

2 Maricopa County supervisor races remain tight, other 3 are blowouts

Two Maricopa County Board of Supervisors races remain too close to call, while the three other contests are blowouts.

5 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Collins Comfort Masters

Act Now: Secure Your HVAC Equipment Before Prices Rise in 2025!

Phoenix, AZ – As the year draws to a close, Collins Comfort Masters is urging homeowners and businesses to take advantage of current pricing on HVAC equipment.

...

Midwestern University

Midwestern University Clinics – Providing Comprehensive, Thorough and Unrushed Healthcare to the Valley Community

With so many options for healthcare in the Valley, why should you choose a clinic that has graduate medical students integrated into the patient experience?

...

Dr. Shanyn Lancaster, Family & Sports Medicine physician, Midwestern University Comprehensive Care Clinic – Central Phoenix

Exercise is truly your best medicine

“You never slow down, you never grow old”. – Tom Petty

Earth Day marks half-century raising environment awareness, stewardship