One of the most important aspects of American culture is the long history of conservation that very few countries have, thanks to the National Park Service, which is a Federal institution. The United States possesses some of the bestpreserved landmarks in the world. However, in recent years, the government has proposed budget cuts to the NPS, which will severely limit its ability to properly maintain the parks. Because of the economic and historical importance of the parks, the NPS should be a priority to our nation.
The economic worth of the NPS landmarks far outweighs the amount of funding they receive from the federal government. Cutting funds, as it has been done in recent years, reduce the high economic value of the parks, despite the population supporting more funding for the parks. Linda Bilmes and John Loomis state that “Americans put a total value of US$92 billion per year on our national parks”(1 ). This amount is based on a questionnaire asking people how much they would pay in taxes to preserve the parks. People are willing to pay more money than what the government funds the NPS with, which according to the same source, it only amounts to $3 billion yearly. It is unjust to fund the NPS with this kind of money because of the value on the whole of it, but lawmakers are not willing to
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Many will argue that funding our military and infrastructure is much more important than funding the NPS. However, the United States was able to fund great programs that benefited the American people in the 20th century and still prioritize the NPS. If the country was able to fun the NPS in the tumultuous 20th century, then it must be able to fund it in the 21st century. Taxpayers are willing to contribute, so money is not an issue. Moreover, it would make much more sense to fund the NPS with all the deficit money spent by the
The Biodiversity Treaty sanctioned that countries whose biological resources are exploited by bioprospecting companies have a right to share the financial benefits resulting from the sale of these resources (Adair, 1997). National parklands are owned by the federal government. Therefore, our national parks have the legal right to share in the financial benefits that
It is extremely fascinating that “general science and space (NASA) accounts for thirty-one billion dollars as opposed to national park service which only gets three billion dollars” (Document E). Thusly, funds from general science and space should be designated to national park service because national parks provide for the domestic tranquility with their relaxing and tranquil sites and serene environment. To continue, there are “fifty-eight national parks, 123 historic sites, and seventy-four national monuments” that have to be maintained and renovated so how can three million dollars be enough for all of these pieces and memorials of history (Document E)? General science and space would survive a cut in funds considering that America is no longer in the space race with Russia and it is not all that often that NASA sends new satellites into orbit or rovers to different planets. General science and space is not as useful as it used to be due to a growing number of private companies that are starting to take over the science and space industry. For these reasons, national park service needs to make up more than “just greater than .1 percent” of the budget (Document E). In conclusion, there are changes that need to be made to all three major clusters of the federal
In the United States, there are millions of acres of land dedicated to our national parks. Over half of the states in our country have land dedicated to national parks, and according to Linda J. Bilmes and John Loomis, the National Parks Service protects 412 of these places. The amount of land dedicated to these parks is quite a considerable amount and it has drawn the attention of the federal government. The government believes there should be cut backs on the amount of land dedicated to places such as Yellowstone and Ellis Island. However, if these parks, monuments, etc. were to be reduced in size, the United States would lose protection of a magnitude of important things such as areas of land and water, animal habitats, historical sites, monuments, and areas sacred to
The National Park Service (NPS) is a notable government agency whose responsibility is to manage and protect national parks, monuments, and other recreational facilities. The main objective of the NPS is not only to preserve historical information, but to conduct a setting in which the nation’s citizens are provided with the opportunity to become concerned or intrigued by the historical significance of these national parks, monuments, and more. Given the task to manage these national memorials also comes with the responsibility of preserving the sites. The NPS is responsible for maintaining the parks’ utilities and infrastructure, in which can become exceptionally costly. Even with visitor fees, the NPS is not receiving enough money to upkeep these parks and monuments, which can result in America losing significant visual reminders of history and the parks’ educational programs as well.
All around the world we have National Parks that are protected areas by the government. John Muir was enraptured by it and Ansell Adame immortalized it, while Teddy Roosevelt created the National Park Service to protect these National Parks. These nationals parks are very important to keep for the environment, we all need to work together to keep these parks as nature as possible.
The park has been threatened by logging as well as non-native species. The NPS has gone to large lengths to keep this park protected, pushing for further legislation for protection to goto a federal authority. Making this a priority has had many payoffs and has been a big factor on the result that the park is in today. This park has suffered from budget cuts and actively tries to raise awareness and increase public interest. The NPS is partnering with other organizations to provide better service such as transit and educational opportunities to visitors. Making these promises has make their approval rating go up. The NPS also has one of the highest approval ratings of all government agencies.
Ahhh, parks. Not only are they a breath of fresh air to outdoor enthusiasts, but they also breathe life into the U.S. economy, with the national variety worth a combined $92 billion, according to figures reported by the National Park Foundation.
Caught between obsession for spiritual transcendence with nature and encouragement for the leisurely enjoyment of nature, many questioned if the development of land and preservation could co-exist. On one side, those that encouraged recreation in the great outdoors, others however, advocated preservation of natural wonders. For example, even though Yosemite is a national park, however many were concerned for Yosemite’s commercial exploitation as a tourist destination. Adams, Gleason, Brower, and members of the Sierra Club joined efforts with Howard Zahniser, director of the Wilderness Society to lobby government for preservation of the parks and wilderness. Zahnsier even spoke at the U.S. Senate’s Subcommittee on Public Roads regarding building an interstate highway system and impacts to natural areas. Tensions continued to mount between those that believed in harnessing the land for industry and a source for raw materials with those that viewed the land as nature’s garden. I will return to this
It is hard to imagine a world without forests and open land, but if national park protections are removed, that day may come sooner than we think. National parks take up a large amount of land area in the United States and its territories, covering over 84 million acres (www.nps.gov). This acreage is made up of land entirely, and does not even include the multitude of lakes and rivers that are located in national parks. Many people enjoy visiting national parks and learning about them, and are proud that they are a part of our history. However, legislation is threatening to remove national park protections, which puts the national parks in danger. The National Park System should be protected because national parks are a part of our history, can be used to educate people about the environment, and are enjoyable to visit. There are many people who are interested in national parks and care about them, including myself. I do not believe that national park protections should be removed as park protection removal will be more detrimental than
Our National Parks and Monuments cover millions of acres throughout this country, sequestered by our Federal Government and held in trust for the entire world to enjoy, which begs the question, How much access should people have to our National Parks and Monument system? People travel from around the world, as far as China to visit these National Parks which are right in our backyard. How do you appropriately regulate access of these natural splendors when people have traveled so far to visit them? Who are we to deny anyone access when we so freely enjoy it. There are some logical answers to these questions. Education is first and foremost important when approaching these situations, increasing knowledge and awareness of the visitors to these areas and evoking a sense of ownership or pride by visiting these areas, is
The National Park Service, known as NPS, has preserved America’s national parks, monuments, and historic sites for over 100 years. However, the federal government has proposed budget cuts to the National Park Service which would cause some some of the protected areas to be out of the programs financial means to maintain. This lack of funding would lead to the downfall of our nation’s preserved sites. National Park Service funding should be a top priority for Americans beauce these sites protect species, stimulate the economy, and impact the future generations. Locations the National Park Service conserve, such as national parks and monuments, serve as a safe haven for species to live in.
Most people have come across animals used for entertainment purposes, whether it be in zoos or theme parks like Seaworld. Zoos and establishments like Seaworld attract millions of people year round, because what is more interesting than seeing an elephant, or an orca whale up close? In our society, is has become common for the public to travel to these types of places. They are seen as the perfect place to vacation for a day, or to just spend time with family. Children especially love to see exotic animals in person, rather than just reading about them, or watching shows about them. People do not often think that the animals they see in captivity are abused, or have low standards of living. However, the truth is that the lives animals have
Beginning in the late 1800’s, efforts to protect scenic and untouched land all across America were set in motion. From the 1800’s to mid 1900’s, many national parks were created under premises of preserving history and nature. During that period of time, Franklin Delano Roosevelt branched the National Parks Service (NPS) to manage all national parks. Now, in the current day, biological problems and resource scarcity persistently cause harm to the parks, and make it difficult for both the NPS and park management to regulate the parks. As such, current measures to ensure the longevity and well-being of the parks are not enough to keep up with the persisting financial and biological problems that the parks face. These problems entail disturbances in the ecosystem and pollution to environment, as well as a lack of resources to parks. However, each of these problems can be remedied, and possibly cured through the use of comprehensive models of action, and the participation of several parties.
Since the discovery of the Americas, the United States Territory has always been a land of great beauty, offering so many diverse landscapes. In 1906 the Antiquities Act was created to protect some of these landscapes because of significant importance to the United States, but in recent years congress sees the Antiquities Act as unconstitutional and unfair. Congress believe that it is not right for the president to be able to create such a mass of land without the consent of congress or the American public. Although supporters of the Antiquities Act disagree believe with congress, that National parks created by the President of the United States have brought some of the most beloved landmarks that hold Economical, Environmental, Historical, and Scientific importance that without America will begin to lose values that only nature brings.
I’m a millennial, in my early 20’s, part of the largest living generation. The first generation to grow up completely immersed in the age of digital technology. A generation that is known for duck-face selfies. A generation that is now responsible for saving our nation’s parks. As for me and so many other Americans, it’s not an overstatement to say that our national parks have played a major role in shaping my life. As a child, I was drawn to them because of their size and beauty–even at a young age I knew that these places were special. Now, as a young adult, I have been lucky enough to deepen my understanding of myself by wandering their trails. Last year, over 350 million people visited national parks or forests. Yet, Congress continues to underfund the National Park Service (NPS) who is responsible for upkeep, training, education, and conservation. As an avid park-goer I can attest to their beauty as well as how crucial they are to our country. Our national parks and forests need more funding so they can continue to preserve critical wildlife, boost local economies, and embody an American tradition.