Historical State of the Sierra Nevada 2

History and Conservation of the Coniferous Forest: 

Throughout the history of human utilization of resources in the coniferous forest of the Sierra Nevada, there have been efforts to protect the forest from logging and other detrimental uses of the forest. When environmentalists saw the tourist and commercial potential for the Sierra and namely, the Yosemite Valley and its surrounding beauty, many efforts were made to protect this area from logging and other acts that would destroy this area.  

"Yosemite Valley was first protected by the federal government in 1864. The Valley and Mariposa Grove were ceded to California in 1866 and turned into a state park. John Muir successfully lobbied for the protection of the rest of Yosemite National Park and Congress created an Act to protect the park in 1890. The Valley and Mariposa Grove were added to the Park in 1906. In the same year, Sequoia National Park was formed to protect the Giant Sequoia and all logging of the Sequoia ceased at that time (per Federal Law protecting National Parks)."(Wikipedia) 

"By 1964, the Wilderness Act protected portions of the Sierra as primitive areas where humans are simply temporary visitors. Gradually, 20 wilderness areas were established to protect scenic backcountry of the Sierra. These wilderness areas include the John Muir Wilderness (protecting the eastern slope of the Sierra and the area between Yosemite and Kings Canyon Parks), and wilderness within each of the National Parks. There are still environmental issues harming the forest all throughout the Sierra, but luckily, there were many people very early on who realized the beauty of this ecosystem, and put in hard work to protect it forever." (Wikipedia)  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Yosemite_area)