The earth, through the eyes of a child: it’s a beautiful place, not to be spoiled.

How will we leave it for today’s children? Will they enjoy the inheritance of a clean earth, or will they struggle with the consequences of problems too long ignored?

This Tuesday, April 22, we celebrate Earth Day, the observance established in 1970 by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, long before today’s children were born. Alas, while the nation has made many strides toward preserving the environment and resources, the earth remains light years away from what it could be.

Triumphs of recent decades include recovery of the eagle, bluebird, hawk, owl and osprey populations, their own descendants protected after the banning of DDT. Also of note in our waters is the regenerated oyster industry, still a shadow of its former self but apparently no longer threatened by extinction. Rockfish populations have rebounded, crabs are better. These are good signs.

Each challenge has to be met in...