For Jimmy Carter, protecting environment has been an "exhilarating" challenge

One of the most enduring aspects of Jimmy Carter's presidency is his green legacy — he embraced environmental stewardship and renewable energy with an enthusiasm that would not be matched by political leaders in the U.S. for decades.

Environmentalists and conservationists agree on the import of Carter's accomplishments in this arena: He protected more than a million acres of land and waterways, worked to create national energy standards, and in response to the energy crisis in the 1970s, created the Department of Energy to develop alternative sources — like solar and wind power — that would help move the U.S. toward energy independence. 

But Carter's commitment to environmentalism began long before he entered the White House. On his father's farm in southwest Georgia, he spent much of his childhood outdoors and barefoot, hunting and fishing with friends.