1 week Ago
With the planet on the brink of environmental collapse, national parks are environmental and economic assets that we cannot afford to lose. In the face of proposed budget cuts, these natural wonders are at risk. The parks have historic and cultural significance and also offer physical and mental health benefits and educational opportunities.
Cutting funding for national parks threatens the programs that ensure these parks remain safe, accessible, and preserved for future generations. According to a 2023 report, national parks generated $55.6 billion for the country’s economy .
With over 325 million visitors in 2023, another $26.4 billion was spent in local communities near national parks. For the fiscal year of 2023, the national park budget was $3.
1 billion for operations. The National Park Service recently completed a study showing how every $1 invested into national parks, generates $10 into the American economy. A reduction in funding would result in fewer resources for park maintenance, staff and services.
This would directly affect the quality of visitors’ experience and decrease the revenue the neighboring communities rely on. Cutting funding might weaken the federal government’s ability to manage and protect these lands. The reductions could potentially open them up and make them more accessible for commercial development, oil drilling, mining and logging.
The threat to our national parks is something I have experienced first hand. I have always admired national parks. In the summer of 2023, I took my van on the road to travel across the country, determined to visit as many national parks as I could, each offering their own unique ecosystems, wildlife and experiences.
My journey started in the mixed-grass prairies and vast hills of Badlands National Park. I marveled at the incredibly humbling rock formations and the home of the endangered black-footed ferret. As I traveled further west, I saw Glacier National Park’s dense forests paired with icy blue lakes and streams, a picturesque landscape I used to dream about.
Each park had a different story, but the common thread among them was the impact of already shrinking resources and the effects of climate change. The impact of funding cuts was evident through deteriorating infrastructure, understaffed visitor centers and gift shops, and fewer resources for educational programs. In Sequoia National Park, many forested areas that were once thick with trees and vegetation had been burnt to the ground from wildfires.
Other parks are experiencing the melting of glaciers, rising sea levels and an increasing frequency of wildfires. National parks are a way to connect with untouched nature that is not easily accessible in our ever-evolving and increasingly connected world. Cutting funding to these parks deprives future generations and people everywhere from experiencing the majestic beauty that has inspired millions, including myself, to fall back in love with nature.
National parks play a crucial role in addressing climate change. Scientists conduct research and case studies on the direct responses of ecosystems to rising temperatures, precipitation changes, wildfire effects and other extreme weather events due to climate shifts. Not only does this research help us understand the future preservation efforts of our parks, but conservation strategies for all types of environments in and out of the parks.
Also, by having millions of visitors every year, national parks provide hands-on educational opportunities for awareness related to their research, conservation efforts and climate change effects. The rangers’ engagement with visitors empowers people to make conscious decisions to encourage climate action and support sustainable efforts. National parks act as carbon sinks, helping to absorb greenhouse gases and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
The National Park Service conducted a study that showed 14.8 million metric tons of carbon is absorbed from the atmosphere every year, by national park lands in the United States. National parks foster biodiversity and often offer and restore healthy ecosystems for endangered species.
Reducing funding results in less capacity to protect these habitats. Preserving the funding of these precious natural environments is an investment in economic stability, environmental sustainability and the future of our country. Our national parks are great treasures and essential to preserving the natural landscapes that define America’s biodiversity.
This is a contributed opinion column. Kiera Shellhammer is a member of the Citizen’s Climate Lobby. She lives in Upper Macungie Township.
The views expressed in this piece are those of its individual author, and should not be interpreted as reflecting the views of this publication. Do you have a perspective to share? Learn more about how we handle guest opinion submissions at themorningcall.com/opinions.
.
