Since 1871, The United States of America has signed 63 national parks into law. These preserved and protected areas of pristine wilderness are vital to our country’s environmental health, as well as providing access to the beauty of these natural spaces. However, the last decade has seen a threat to these oases that has brought concern to many.
Many use the national parks to experience the unique natural landscape of our country. From the Joshua Trees of the Mojave Desert to the volcanoes of Hawaii, the parks offer stunning views and experiences for all ages.
But their purpose goes deeper than just eye candy. “It’s very important for everyone to learn … the natural beauty that’s within this planet,” Lila Rosenthal ‘25, a student at Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech), said. The parks “teach us how to preserve our earth and make sure it’s safer and more beautiful for everyone.”
If we don’t teach the American people to appreciate and respect the abundant wilderness of our country, how can we expect them to take action against the climate crisis we face today?
This sentiment of education and respect for nature is the goal at the national parks, but can sometimes be overlooked by visitors.
Overcrowding is a serious issue at many of the parks, especially the more popular ones such as Zion, Yellowstone or Yosemite. During weekends, holidays or days that are particularly busy, the parks can turn into something that looks a little bit too much like Disneyland. Learning and appreciation can often warp into tourism and impatience. Lines of cars gather at entrances and mobs of people swarm to trailheads and viewpoints hoping to beat the traffic. Finding a space in the madness to truly savor the nature around you and not have to worry about the crowds can become difficult.
Not only does this affect a visitor’s experience, but the park’s preservation and wildlife is also put at risk. Crowding can affect trail maintenance and erosion, trash build up, littering and air pollution from the thousands of people and their vehicles crossing the park daily.
Another concern brought by crowds is noise pollution. Lots of people means excessive noise, this can spook animals. In order to escape the sounds of park visitors, herds will divert from their feeding and migration routes, disrupting the natural order.
According to a 2017 article from Yale Environment 360, Yellowstone’s visitors doubled “from two million visitors in 1980 to more than four million” in 2016. Since then, the visitor rate has risen almost to five million and does not show any signs of stopping.
This surge of tourists has been accompanied in recent years by another danger. New executive orders proposed by newly inaugurated president, Donald Trump, may inflict even more harm to the already weakened parks.
Most notably in Alaska, Trump has proposed to reverse previous bills that protect public lands from drilling and logging. Supporters of the executive orders say that the country must release its potential of natural resources and wealth. However, dissenters believe fossil fuel production has already gone too far. We need to focus on the ecological health of our environment instead of the industrial potential.
Even though the orders don’t directly impose upon the parks themselves, the public lands affected are connected to the park’s well being. Air pollution from oil and gas facilities can carry over and water can be tainted through runoff.
More orders also propose to limit hiring, an area the national parks are already struggling in. When parks are understaffed, the cleanliness and order of the park can go unchecked and ruin visitors’ experiences. Rangers and other park staff play a vital role in the upkeep and general experience of national parks. At a time when “park staffing has eroded by 20% [while] experiencing a 16% increase in visitation” (NPCA), hiring freezes and insecure role changes could cause serious damage to each and every park.
Rosenthal disagrees with the new executive orders. “It almost seems like greed for our natural resources,” she said, explaining how she believes America needs to focus on “protecting our environment.”
The national parks are a large part of our country’s identity. Displaying the beauty and power of our landscape and preserving large areas of wilderness, we must prioritize and protect these areas if we hope to improve our world and climate. Our national parks are more than just landmarks, they make up acres of our country’s vitality.
