Discover the relationship between Theodore Roosevelt and conservationism. Theodore Roosevelt had a deep interest in the outdoors and its creatures from a young age. This passion eventually led him to become the first U.S. president to prioritize conservation. Roosevelt ultimately protected about 230 million acres of land and established the National Wildlife Refuge System. While Roosevelt famously hunted large game for hobby and faces criticism for this today, his policy around land preservations changed the way Americans interact with land.