Easter Jeep Safari Project Observation Report

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

Preserving what natural land we have left now is very important and we should not let it be destroyed or even altered even the slightest in anyway. We have national forests like Bridger-Teton to remind us of what the world use to be like to ensure that we maintain a healthy environment for the nation. Simply conserving them is not enough; we need to preserve them for generations to come so that wildlife may flourish and so that we are always reminded of how important our natural environment is.

My 1st contention is national parks can actually negatively affect the environment, they draw thousands or even hundreds of thousands of visitors who all impact the environment, whether through pollution from cars or the impact of camping. The roads that are built for cars in the parks have a severe impact on the environment and the animals that are l m, iving there. according to ournationalparks.us “High levels of park attendance affiliated with vehicular traffic have caused the Yosemite National Park administration to wonder how it can still allow visitors to enjoy the exuberance of the park, but, at the same time, preserve the habitat of the more popular

In 2016, the National Park Service (NPS) celebrated 100 years of preservation and conservation of our nation’s parks, monuments, and historical sites. Currently, the federal government has proposed significant proposed budget cuts to the National Park Service. If the government makes these cuts, then Americans could lose the national parks along with the beauty, culture, and history that comes with them. This would happen because the NPS would lose most of its funding that is needed in order to keep the national parks well­preserved. Investing in the NPS should be a priority in our nation because it provides educational programs, unites all ages and races, and preserves and conserves the national parks.

Starting in the 1800s, many Americans wanted to preserve the beauty of scenic natural wonders. They went to the government and asked them to create something called “national parks.” Responding to these calls, Congress and President Abraham Lincoln put California in charge of taking care of Yosemite during the civil war. The world’s first official national park was Yellowstone when it was created in 1872. Many more parks soon followed. National parks were created “For the benefit and enjoyment of the people” (Theodore Roosevelt). This is true because they have been protected and untouched by humans for anybody to see. There are rules about the use, creation, and conservation of national parks because they should be continued for future

The President, during a ceremony at the White House Oval Office said that the country's national parks and national monuments reminds us of the richness of the country’s history. It is something that is passed on from generation to generation. It also helps us preserve the beauty of this great nation.

The preservation of wilderness that national parks offer is comforting to us; we know that our true home is out there somewhere remaining pure; therefore we may continue living our daily lives with the comfort.  However, as Cronon points out, our careful sectioning off of designated wilderness areas may lead to more environmental harm than good by possibly allowing a sense of irresponsibility to develop between people and the natural environment.  Cronon explains that if we see the environment as only small sections of our world meant to be visited as if they served the same purpose as museums, then we cut ourselves off from the natural world and no longer feel a true responsibility toward it, or possess a real knowledge of it.  Furthermore, in urban areas, people exist no longer as member of the natural world but as spectator of the nature. We live our daily life admiring the natural world and yet our ability to protect the nature and adopt a smart use of the natural resources becomes more and more weak as the time unfold.  That is by far what Cronon calls the manifestation of our lack of knowledge about nature and how to use it. He tries to emphasis this by saying that “Idealizing a distant wilderness often means not idealizing the environment in which we live […] we need an environmental ethic that will tell us as much about using nature as not using it.”

should preserve. He looks at whether the parks should be about scenery or if it is even worthy of

Although there are many management plans put in, most of the public doesn’t know or understand why and how these plans are put in to actions. Somethings are small, like littering but it could become a big impact to the park if more than one person in the society does it. I think that there should be events and programs informing the people in the society about the protection of the park, so everyone will be contributing regardless of age and

Parks are “crumbling, with pothole­pocked roads and outdated visitors centers” (Egan and Egan). In addition, due to a lack of funds, there is not enough money to “purchase private properties within parks...to prevent development by private buyers” (Bilmes and Loomis). Steadily, Americans will lose these treasured lands and their artifacts. What is now preserved for a glimpse into the past, will soon be “ravaged by wholesale oil and gas development” if no more funds are provided (Thompson). If Americans wish for their posterity to witness these natural doorways to the past, if Americans wish for the future to not forget the wonders of the past, then a boost in funding is imperative.

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

Proponents of protection of public lands have argued that the restrictions on the use of public lands would lead to economic growth by enhancing the amenity value of the locality. For example, protection of public lands provides a variety of natural amenities that can allow local residents and visitors to easily access to recreational opportunities (Cline et al, 2011). Consequently, these characteristics of public lands increase seasonal home ownership and visitors’ expenditures, and thus enhance economic growth in the gateway communities. In contrast, opponents of protection of public lands have argued that

Recently there has been much controversy in Garfield county due to talk of downsizing the grand national staircase. One of, if not the, most visited sites in Escalante, Utah Is the Grand Staircase National Monument. Stretching, right now, at about 1.9 million acres, the monument consists of beautiful slot canyons, national parks, and multiple lakes and/or rivers. With Utah being known for its national parks and beautiful scenery there is a lot of commotion being brought up with this new resolution to downsize. Named as resolution, HCR 12, county commissioners argue that the lack of space is destroying the industry and economic livelihood of Garfield county. Utah citizens disagree, and many argue that the cost of reducing the land size will

The greatest environmental issue that could be the crux of the loss of our public lands is that we have yet been unable to find that balance between direct and indirect values. Some of our finite resources provided by our public lands such as lumber, oil, gas, and minerals must be extracted in order to keep up with population growth. These resources are direct and can be tracked. Unfortunately, the benefits of our public lands are wildlife habitation, removal of carbon dioxide from our air, filtration for our waterways, and beautiful landscapes to fill our hearts and minds.

Our nations incredible 401 National Parks are some of the most iconic places on the face of the earth. From the Grand Canyon to the Great Smoky Mountains our nation's national parks are something we should be proud to have. Lately our National Parks have been under threat from both Environmental and Political issues both putting our National Parks at risk. We need preserve the National Parks for generations to come. The National Parks show the most amazing parts of this great nation, they are the source of billions of dollars in revenue, and they are the home to countless forms of wildlife.