Parks Without Politics | PERC (2024)

FAQs

What is the biggest problem for national parks? ›

Drilling, mining and logging near park borders, air and water pollution that drifts or flows into our parks, and even the waste that some visitors leave behind are all threats our national parks face.

Without national parks, and by extension all varieties of protected areas, our planet would be even hotter than it is and we would have lost thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, of species still found on our Earth today.

But Hampton writes that the arguments against national parks weren't simply about economic resources, or even jobs. They were often built on the idea that the entire system of national parks was elitist.

With increased awareness of and sensitivity toward nature came the desire to preserve some of the most spectacular landscapes and significant historical and cultural sites for the enjoyment of future generations.

Hikers wander off marked trails, trampling vegetation. Vehicles clog park roads and sully the air with tailpipe emissions. Tourists leave behind water bottles and other scraps of litter. Above many national parks, sightseeing planes and helicopters buzz.

Generally speaking, national parks serve as anchors for larger ecosystems (including wildlife corridors), protect ecological biodiversity, preserve landscapes, and provide economic support for natural and cultural resources through things like tourism.

By comparison, the mainland park with the largest number of endangered species is Everglades National Park in Florida with 44 species.

However, in the event of a lapse in annual government appropriations, National Park Service (NPS) sites will be closed. This means that the majority of national parks will be closed completely to public access.

Do national parks actually protect the environment? ›

Many National Parks have great natural features that can assist in the production of clean, renewable energy, combatting and reducing carbon emissions. This is especially true for water features that are well-protected and preserved by National Parks staff.

Once a President has proclaimed a national monument on federal land, later Presidents or Congresses may want to abolish, diminish, or otherwise change the monument. Congress has clear authority to do so, largely under the Property Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which provides that “Congress shall have Power to ...

1. Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve: This vast park in Alaska has no roads or trails. With just over 11,000 recreational visits last year, it was the least-visited of the 63 national parks.

The United States' national parks continued their gradual climb toward pre-Covid visitation levels in 2022 even as some of the most popular destinations in the system saw entries tumble, according to new data the National Park Service released this week.

Entrance fees, ranging from $10 per person to $35 per vehicle, are typically charged at 109 of the nation's 400-plus national parks to help fund the government's maintenance of the spaces for millions of annual visitors.

Environmental challenges are burgeoning – recent research has found national parks bear the disproportionate brunt of global warming – and years of wear and tear have seen park maintenance fall woefully behind. The current backlog of necessary upgrades to roads, trails and buildings stands at more than $11bn.

US national parks have become so popular in the last 50 years that the number of yearly visitors has practically tripled. Visitors to national parks participate in recreational activities that disturb wildlife and damage vegetation. Therefore, the high level of foot traffic is negatively impacting national parks.

Yet today, the NPS faces challenges that could not have been imagined by the early pioneers of the National Park System. Urban development, habitat destruction, non-native species invasions, and air and water pollution have damaged ecosystems and ruined scenic vistas.

Increased park visitation, invasive species introductions, and habitat loss are among the challenges faced by the National Park System.