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John,
In the waning days of summer, with Labor Day right around the corner, this is a good time to reflect on the inestimable value of our National Parks system. With 63 National Parks over 30 states and two U.S. territories, more than 84 million acres of prime nature and wilderness are available to admire and explore by hikers, campers, vacationers and sightseers.
And these parks belong to all of us, thanks to the foresight of those who came before, part of our living legacy as Americans. Recent years have seen an expansion of involvement of Native tribes in co-managing many parks, combining modern environmental and atmospheric science with ancient ways of knowledge and wisdom.
To set aside such jewels of nature as Yosemite, the Great Smoky Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns, and the Grand Canyon for the inspiration and enjoyment of future generations reminds us of the power of nature’s creation. In the words of John Muir, “And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.”
Yet today the National Parks system is under stress, caught between the twin pressures of global climate change and accommodating ever-growing numbers of visitors on shrinking and unreliable budgets.
Rising temperatures are altering fragile ecosystems, threatening the habitats of countless species of plants and animals, as storms become more frequent and wildfires more intense and widespread. Meanwhile budget cuts and increasing demand adds up to a backlog of $12 billion of needed upkeep and preservation. If we don’t act now, our parks could be harmed irreparably.
Tell Congress: Save our National Parks! Provide needed funding now, to preserve these wonders for future generations, and to keep them accessible today!
Many of our nation’s most iconic scenes could be lost by the end of this century: the magnificent but melting glaciers of Glacier National Park, the rare plants and animals found in Florida’s Everglades and the emblematic desert trees of Joshua Tree. We have an obligation to preserve as much of our natural treasure as we possibly can.
It is time to demand Congress take action to protect the irreplaceable beauty we have inherited and the grand vistas we intend to pass on to the future. Congress must allocate funding for repair and maintenance, to protect accessibility while preventing overuse; to fund programs and methods for preserving and restoring delicate ecosystems, and to adapt to and manage the irreversible effects of climate change.
Add your name to demand Congress preserve our National Parks for the future now!
Thank you for advocating for the flora and fauna, the plants and animals that have no voice of their own.
- Amanda
Amanda Ford, Director
Democracy for America
Advocacy Fund
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