Drought in middle and western states of USA ­ the ‘Dust Bowl’ ­ alerts researchers to investigate soil erosion.
1935
Ramblers Association formed in Britain, the Wilderness Society in USA.
1945
Soil Association founded, goes on to warn about the impact of intensive farming, erosion and pollution.
Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
1946
International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling.
1947
Town and Country Planning Act comes into force in Britain: development of land to be subject to the permission of local authorities.
1948
International Union for the Conservation of Nature founded.
1949
National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act creates National Parks Commission and Nature Conservancy (now English Nature) ­ the first statutory conservation body anywhere.
1950s
Charles Keeling demonstrates that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increasing.