The lessons learned from the Dust Bowl are as important today as they were in the 1930s. As the world’s population continues to grow, so does the demand for food and fiber. For example, we expect that food production will need to double by 2050 to keep up with these demands.
If we are to meet those demands – without creating another natural disaster – it is critical to keep our lands and waters healthy and productive. Conservation cannot be viewed as an afterthought or a luxury. It is an essential tool to ensure the long-term productivity of agriculture and forestry, and to sustain the economic viability of rural families and communities.
We should be proud that our nation has been able to avoid another Dust Bowl thanks to well-designed conservation programs that assist farmers to retire unproductive lands, protect the soils and water sources farmers rely upon for their livelihoods, and preserve natural habitat in rural landscapes.
The results of these conservation activities have multiple benefits for every region of America. Not only have we been able to feed growing populations, but we’ve also protected rural economies. Farming and farm-related employment supports about 24 million jobs across the United States. Hunting, angling and wildlife-dependent recreation contribute $122 billion annually to our national economy. Natural resources-based products represent a significant proportion of the export sector so essential to our economic health.
Seventy years ago, the Dust Bowl taught our nation the importance of conservation. We learned a very important lesson. Our economies, our security and our livelihoods continue to depend on healthy lands and waters.
Mark Tercek is the president and CEO of The Nature Conservancy.
[Image: A dust storm envelopes a house in Stratford, TX. Image source: Natural Resources Conservation Service]