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National Parks Forever: Protecting Parks From Politics

National parks probably have never been entirely immune from political influences, whether they came out of Washington, D.C., or close to a park’s boundaries. But there’s an argument that can be made, one backed up by evidence, that the past 50 years have seen the most egregious attempts to subvert the mission of the National Park Service to preserve and protect natural resources unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.

Under Water And Under Pressure

The National Park Service is facing a water conundrum: some parks have too little, some parks have too much. While an historic drought continues to parch much of the Western United States, a new report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association predicts that sea levels across the United States will rise, on average, 10-12 inches by 2050. In other words, from Maine to Florida to Texas and all the way up to Alaska, there are more than 100 national park units threatened by the slow siege of rising coastlines.

Yellowstone Science 2021

In Yellowstone National Park, plenty goes on that we might not notice but which contributes to our understanding of past and present environments and landscapes. Each year, the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory produces an annual report summarizing research performed, and conclusions derived, from that research. For 2021, the YVO accomplished quite a bit.

Essay | Appreciating The National Park System

As sprawling, mesmerizing, and intriguing as the U.S. National Park System is, it’s no surprise that it harbors a rich trove of stories and experiences. Stories about the scenery, the environment, the wildlife, the culture, and the history of the United States. Experiences such as hiking the Appalachian National Scenic Trail from end to end, paddling into the backcountry of Yellowstone Lake, standing in awe in the darkness of night while watching the flaming eruption of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater on the top of the Kīlauea at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.

As Falling Houses Pollute Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Park Service Seeks Solution

So far this year three houses have been claimed by the Atlantic Ocean at Cape Hatteras National Seashore on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, polluting the seashore with construction materials, furnishings, sewage from septic tanks, and more. While more houses could be pulled down by the ocean, the National Park Service is searching for a solution but has yet to order homeowners to relocate their houses before they collapse.