"You've probably heard people talk about conservation. Well, conservation isn't just the business of a few people. It's a matter that concerns all of us. It's a science whose principles are written in the oldest code in the world, the laws of nature. The natural resources of our vast continent are not inexhaustible. But if we will use our riches wisely, if we will protect our wildlife and preserve our lakes and streams, these things will last us for generations to come."
Walt Disney's commitment to conservation began during early interactions with animals and nature on his childhood home in Marceline, Missouri. As he ventured into the film business, Walt retained a devotion to nature by using wildlife in his animated and live action films. To help animators produce "Bambi," Walt brought in live animals to model for the artists, coordinated natural science lectures, and posted hundreds of nature photos along office walls. He wanted the audience to fall in love with the forest and its inhabitants and understand the consequences that come with human carelessness. Critics and audiences alike considered the film innovative because Walt depicted the challenges real animals deal with in nature.
"I respect nature and the creatures of nature. Man can learn a way of life from it," Walt told a reporter at the time.
Conservation efforts did not end there. Before Smokey Bear, Disney launched a nationwide campaign featuring an adult Bambi and his friends, warning the public of forest fire dangers. During the Fifties, he began a foray into live-action nature films called the "True-Life Adventures" series in which he combined education and entertainment to share the importance of conservation and wildlife protection.
Walt practiced environmental consciousness at home as well. "Here in our grounds we have foxes, quail, possums, rabbits, and a lot of other animals and birds and we try to make them feel right at home. We plant seeds of various plants to tempt them to stick around. As far as gardening is concerned, my hobby is to use native material as much as possible. Few people realize what a great wealth of beautiful shrubs, trees, and plants there are, right on these hillsides. No matter where people live, they can use native plant material. I don't like formal gardens. I like wild Nature."
On October 29, 1966, just six weeks before his death, Walt Disney received an award "for outstanding service in conservation of American resources" from the American Forestry Association. This was one in a long line of awards he received from groups like the National Audubon Society, the National Wildlife Federation, the Sierra Club, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the American Humane Association, and so many other organizations that recognized Walt's lifetime commitment to the environment. Today, CEO Bob Iger, CFO Tom Staggs, and the entire Disney operation hope to live by the legacy once established by Walt himself, protecting this land for years to come and inspiring others to do the same.
