National Parks Traveler Episode 100: Parks, Endangered Species And The ESA

By Kurt Repanshek - January 10th, 2021

In this week’s show, our 100th podcast, we take a look at endangered and threatened species that call the National Park System home and the legal battles that swing to and fro over gaining them Endangered Species Act protections. Joining me for this discussion is Noah Greenwald, the endangered species director for the Center for Biological Diversity.

:02 National Parks Traveler introduction
:12 Episode introduction with Kurt Repanshek
1:11 Almost Home - Randy Petersen - The Sounds of the Great Smoky Mountains
1:33 Western National Parks Association promotion
1:58 Grand Teton National Park Foundation promotion
2:29 Wild Tribute promotion
2:54 A discussion about endangered and threatened species in the parks and the ESA with Noah Greenwald, endangered species director for the Center for Biological Diversity
16:22 Amaranth - Bill Mize - The Sounds of the Great Smoky Mountains
16:44 National Parks Traveler promotion
16:57 Washington’s National Park Fund promotion
17:31 North Cascades Institute promotion
17:49 Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation promotion
18:13 Friends of Acadia promotion
18:41 Continuing the discussion of endangered and threatened species and the National Park System.
36:23 - Escalante - Tim Heintz - The Sounds of Peaks, Plateaus and Canyons
35:41 Episode Closing
36:02 Orange Tree Productions promotion
36:38 Splitbeard Productions
36:50 National Parks Traveler footer

National Parks Traveler Podcast

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 328 | How Wild

Today our guest is Marissa Ortega-Welch, a San Francisco-based freelance journalist who focuses on environmental issues. Last year she generated a series of podcasts surrounding the topic of official wilderness – the history of official wilderness and the idea of wilderness. It’s an interesting series that you can find by searching for How Wild wherever you download your podcasts.

June 8th, 2025 Read More

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 327 | Plight of the Parks

So much is happening so quickly to the National Park Service. There have been staff reductions, hiring freezes, spending freezes, orders from the Interior Secretary to make sure that visitors find national parks welcoming, no matter what it takes.

June 1st, 2025 Read More

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 326 | Environmental Partisanship

Is green a red and blue construct? Put another way, is there a political partisan divide over the environment?

That’s a particularly interesting question, no doubt more so in recent years as the country seems to have drifted farther and farther apart because of our political beliefs. To that point, a reader reached out the other day to say our stories shouldn’t be negative on the Trump Administration because the national parks are going to need the help of all of us - Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and everything in-between - to survive.

May 25th, 2025 Read More

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 325 | Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility

News around public lands these days seems to revolve entirely around the Trump administration. In the case of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, many of the steps the administration is taking with the operational efficiencies of the National Park Service and other land management agencies certainly are keeping PEER busy.

May 18th, 2025 Read More

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 324 | North American Bird Declines

True birders are some of the most determined and persistent hobbyists out there. If you want to call bird watching a hobby. For many, it’s more like a passion. Many look forward to “Big Day” competitions, where individuals and teams strive to see how many different bird species they can spot in a 24-hour period.

May 11th, 2025 Read More

INN Member

The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.

Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.

You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks