GREEN LIVING

National Park Week

By Bria Zegarelli

April 2026

Last winter during one of my classes, I researched and made a presentation about U.S. national parks, including the history, challenges, and ways to help. I thought the topic was really interesting and fun to learn about; therefore, in honor of National Park Week (typically mid to late April), I figured I would share a shortened version that can help people know more about national parks and their impact! 

• Preserving natural habitats and slowing extinction
• Helping surrounding areas through natural growth cycles and replenishing wildlife 
• Generating income for local communities 
• Mitigating climate change through securing carbon-rich habitats
• Preserving biodiversity 
• Collecting genetic materials for national archives 
• Emblems of natural and cultural heritage
• Natural classrooms and labs
• Reserves of native species

Environmental

• Loss of areas suitable for protected areas 
• Local extinctions 
• Resource extraction

Managerial and Administrative

• Lack of effectiveness with public engagement 
• Lack of training for managers 
• Conflicts between aesthetic vs. recreational goals for parks 

Research and Technology

• Technology, testing, experiments, and science in environmental services programs not keeping up with related disciplines 
• Delays in research 
• Disappearing evidence

Proprietary

• Intersection of protected areas with people’s homes, specifically those of rural, lower-income, and indigenous populations

Social and Educational 

• Uninformed general public  
• Disciplinary gulf between conservation planners and social science-trained critics 
• Generational changes 

Economic 

• Tourism controversies
  • Emphasis on visitor entertainment rather than environmental health
  • Overcrowding 
  • Illegal extraction of economic benefits from protected areas 
• Lack of funding 

Political  

• Polarized trust of science and climate change
• Misinformation
• Lack of environment prioritization within government
• Conflicts between local demands and national policies/attitudes

Educational Approach: educating the public and future generations

• Research and educational centers within the national parks
• Open discussions about ethics of protected areas
• Providing opportunities for young people and marginalized groups to participate in science, both in and out of the classroom
• Environment-related art 
• Biodiversity Festivals: 50-100 interactive booths/exhibits that allow representatives of the local community to provide environmental knowledge and activities that can lead to impact 

Managerial/Administrative Approach: properly leading and maintaining protected areas

• Protecting parks from overuse, inappropriate or conflicting uses, and excessive visitation
• Requiring mandatory user education that must be done before entering national parks
• Expecting and preparing for changes such as climate changes, ocean acidification, human access, etc. 
• Active intervention and restoration of natural processes
• Reaching out to local stakeholders to ask what their needs and values are

Technological, Scientific, and Experimental Approach: incorporating new and effective research, increasing objective scientific knowledge

• Reaching out to universities and other scientists 
• Taking into account uncertainties during research 
• Citizen science: scientific research that includes participation from both scientists and the general public 
• BioBlitzes: inventories all species in a defined area within a 24-hour period
  • Meant to unite scientists with families, students, and the general public to explore natural systems 
  • Can include online lesson plans and activities, face-to-face professional development, observing, taking field notes, identifying species, and mapping observations
• Expanding access to biocuration

Political Approach: bridging gap between political sides and understanding national parks as a political entity

• Exempting national parks from harsh swings in political support
• Bridging the gap between political sides on environmental issues
• Focusing on political ecology: argues that social and environmental conditions are inherently linked
• Increasing restrictions, policies, and protections

Social/Diversity Approach: making national parks and conservation more equitable and inclusive

• Considering different perspectives, histories, narratives, and opinions
• Seeking knowledge from communities that are heard from less often 
• Asking questions like “How can we meet halfway?” instead of telling people how they should value wilderness, national parks, historic sites, etc.
• Making sure the National Park Service adapts for the new generation 
• Diversifying the National Park Service staff

National/Global Approach: joining together on a broad scale

• Making national parks connected 
• Not ignoring a protected area proposal just because the site is smaller, less diverse, less pristine, etc. 
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions 
• Trusting science and scientists
• Embracing change and natural processes while also maintaining historical components of a region/park
• Ensuring that conservation mixes natural science with other disciplines 
• Considering parks in the context of their respective local and regional landscapes

Individual Approach: making an individual impact

• For scientists
  • Not being dismissive about the general public’s concerns
  • Including park service personnel in the design and implementation of the service
  • Breaking down traditional conceptual distinctions between humans and nature to think about humans working within nature 
• For the general public
  • Visiting parks (especially ones with fewer resources), volunteering, and raising awareness of science and national park conservation
  • Being aware that national parks are a part of socio-ecological systems 
  • Educating oneself and others about environmental issues and conservation

• National parks = incredibly important!
• Equally important: the effort that we put toward preserving them 
• Even the smallest steps may have a positive impact
• Responsible human intervention through national parks can be really positive for the environment 
• National parks and conservation are inherently connected to social and political issues 
• Many ethical and political debates that need to be worked out in this process
• The relationships between humans and nature + humans and protected areas are constantly changing 
• Changes in how humans have preserved national parks over time show that while a lot of conservation methods are not as helpful, there are so many helpful ones as well (or at least many possibilities for help)!
• Many conservation goals = intertwined