Created in 1849, the Department of the Interior — 

 America's Department of Natural Resources — is concerned 

 with the management, conservation, and development of 

 the Nation's water, fish, wildHfe, mineral, forest, and park 

 and recreational resources. It also has major responsibilities 

 for Indian and Territorial affairs. 



As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the 

 Department works to assure that nonrenewable resources 

 are developed and used wisely, that park and recreational 

 resources are conserved for the future, and that renewable 

 resources make their full contribution to the progress, pros- 

 perity, and security of the United States — now and in 

 the future. 



