Importance of our Parks

Denali National Park

Why our Parks are Important:

National Parks are appreciated not only by outdoor enthusiasts, but also by those drawn to parks' photographic beauty and exciting experiences. Since National Parks appeal to people of all ages and interests, they provide an opportunity to educate large audiences about nature and the environment. These parks also serve as safe havens for endangered plant and animal species. Beyond preserving biodiverse ecosystems, national parks offer countless unmatched adventures and lasting memories.

Badlands National Park

Why Our Parks Are In Need of Protection:

National Parks face numerous threats that challenge their ecosystems and continued visitation. The destruction our National Parks face can be attributed up to several main issues: climate change, insufficient funding, industrialization, disrespectful visitors, and over-visitation.

Climate Change:

Climate change is largely caused by global warming and has widespread effects on our National Parks. Global warming is a result of the sharp increase in greenhouse gas emission into the atmosphere, which causes temperatures & water levels to rise. The change in temperature disrupts the tendencies and behaviors of many plants and animals, leading to considerable environmental damage. The impact climate change has on National Parks is massive and needs to be addressed.

Over Visitation:

The issue of over-visitation is closely linked to the negative impacts caused by disrespectful behavior in our national parks. When social media trends drive large crowds to specific sites, it often results in diminished experiences for other visitors. This overcrowding, due to the strive for popular media content, hinders the ability of others to achieve the full experiences offered at these parks. While the national park service is very passionate about sharing their parks' beauties to the world, they don't want it to come at the cost of property destruction, or safety concerns.

Insufficient Funding:

Insufficient funding is a significant challenge faced by National Parks. It limits their ability to expand infrastructure and staffing. As a result, it can limit the overall visitor experience and reduce the parks' capacity to meet their goals in preservation, accessibility and long-term sustainability.

Industrialization:

One of the most difficult issues for national parks to combat is industrialization. Industrialization results in the mass production of harmful chemicals and pollutants. Wildlife habitats are being sacrificed as a result of factory and industry expansion. All forms of pollution caused by industrialization, including poor air quality, poor soil conditions, and water pollution are highly destructive to national parks. As a result, visitor experiences are jeopardized, natural resources are damaged, visibility is obscured, and erosion is intensified within our parks.

Disrespectful visitors:

There are many forms of poor visiting behavior, many of which may seem insignificant. But these negative actions are collectively very harmful to the health of national parks and impair them for future visitors. Littering is a major issue seen in national parks. Littering is strictly prohibited both within parks due to the negative impacts it has on wildlife, sea creatures, and the cleanliness of the environment. Littering violates the common national park phrase "Leave No Trace." Adhering to this phrase ensures that all visitors pack out what they packed into the parks. Visitors are also not allowed to disturb or rearrange any wildlife, natural objects (rocks, sticks, shells, etc.) or trail markings within parks. In other words, these parks should be left in the exact condition that visitors found it. Going off trail is another form of poor visiting behavior and can be extremely dangerous for both the visitor and the nature being harmed in the process. It is also highly disrespectful for visitors to impede on wildlife in any way, including feeding animals, touching animals, and stepping or removing any plants. It is also critical that visitors focus of camping responsibly by ensuring to camp on durable surfaces to avoid land damage, minimize waste, stay in small travelling groups, and reduce campfire impacts. Finally, be sure not to encourage any poor social media influencers or misuse social media to post photos or videos that encourage dangerous wildlife encounters within our parks. To stay safe and preserve our parks it is critical that visitors maintain respectful visiting etiquette.

Don't let it be You!!

Joshua Tree National Park

Capitol Reef National Park

Windcave National Park

Shenendoah National Park

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