National Parks Issues

The National Park Service and our almost 400 national parks and other units across the country are constantly facing issues of concern to all Americans.

Many of the concerns are rooted in money. While the parks are funded mostly by federal dollars, there is growing dependence on private funds to keep the parks in the best condition possible.

In this section of the Web site, we present dozens of news and analysis articles about the most pressing concerns, problems, and on-going issues facing the national park system today.

These articles were prepared by our reporters in spring 2013, spring 2011, fall 2011, spring 2010, fall 2009, spring 2008, and spring 2007.

We discuss funding plans, budget concerns, admissions fees and other revenue streams, accessibilty for the disabled, attendance and visitation patterns, overuse of some parks, promotion and underuse of other units, the relationships of parks and their nearby gateway cities, and global warming impact on cold climate parks.

Further, we focus on park maintenance, care and cleaning of natural park sites, safety and security, crime, quality staffing problems, volunteerism, the most threatened parks and why they are in danger, and water issues within the parks of the west.

We give detailed attention to wildfires, wildlife management, plant and non-native species management, aerial tours and their impact on the parks, regulation of hunting in and around parks, park promotion, and the process of creating new parks.

Keep in mind that these matters change and our stories were as current as possible upon publication. We hope you will take some time to look into these important matters that impact Our National Parks. We feel attention to the issues is essential to the future of these special places.

 

National Parks Issues Spring 2013

Our issues and problems stories for the spring 2013 project:

Effort to clean air at Grand Canyon continue Eradication of Brazilian pepper tree difficult Film puts Lincoln historic sites in spotlight Hurricane Sandy recovery slow for parks Nightskies at their best in national parks NPS moves toward healthy, sustainable food NPS works to improve visitor diversity

Park rangers serve as NPS 'backbone' Park running events contribute to wellness Red tide takes toll on Florida manatees Remoteness creates smuggling opportunities Park visitors have impact on ecosystems Urban sprawl has growing impact on parks White nose syndrome threatens parks

National Parks Issues Fall 2011

Our issues and problems stories for the fall 2011 project:

Air pollution diminishing quality of park visits Child safety is high priority at parks Climate change impacting parks in Alaska Deaths at Grand Canyon point to risks Sustaining healthy forests in parks Bleaching endangers coral reefs in national parks Preserving Native American burial mounds Protecting coral reefs from damage Web cams take growing role for national parks Existing parks seek to expand to protect environs Disabled accessibility in national parks National parks crime is minor, officials say

Wildfires pose threat to many national parks Creating new national parks Ozone reaching dangerous levels in parks Safe viewing near wildlife is park priority Search and rescue teams train to be ready Volcanos are dramatic, but dangerous Invasive lionfish unwelcome parks visitor Parks work to minimize impact of visitors Colorful invasive plants harmful to parks Water pollution in national parks Bats offer much to life in parks

 

National Parks Issues Spring 2011

Our issues and problems stories for the spring 2011 project:

Parks respond to 2010 oil spill Yellowstone transport system helps visitors Parks offer range of extreme sports activities Wildfires in national parks Yellowstone caldera and its risks Impact of development on parks Dogs in the national parks Youth programs educate about history, nature

Increasing gas prices bring concern to officials Preserving scenic vistas of parks Balancing visitation and preservation Bear attacks in parks decline, but risks remain Yosemite reservation scalping causes problems Adapting for climate change in national parks Marijuana growers bring risk to national parks

 

National Parks Issues Spring 2010

Our issues and problems stories for the spring 2010 project:

Minorities and the national parks National parks in Hollywood movies The role of urban national parks today Visitation and attendance in 2009 Commercial branding and the national parks

Keeping national parks clean Foreign language use and foreign visitors Consequences of overuse of national parks Cell phones and their limitations in parks Planning for natural disasters

 

National Parks Issues Fall 2009

Our issues and problems stories of the fall 2009 project:

Becoming a park ranger Busy parks seeking solutions Commercialization of national parks Endangered park marine environments Federal law allows guns in national parks Fishing policies in national parks Natural change in the national parks

Park visitor safety management Parks, crowds, and traffic Protecting Yellowstone's wildlife Search and rescue operations 'Staycations' and recession in parks Underused parks often remote locations

 

National Parks Issues Spring 2008

Our issues and problems stories of the spring 2008 project :

Border security at southwestern parks Cutthroat trout threatened at Yellowstone Declining Everglades wildbird populations Development at Valley Forge Endangered Florida panthers Garbage and trash removal in the parks Gateway cities for national parks Gun use in national parks

Invasive plants and animals in the parks Noise and sound control in national parks Promotion of national parks Quagga mussel infestations in park lakes Seashore and coastal preservation Wind storms and flooding Yellowstone wildfires in 1988--- 20 years later

 

National Parks Issues Spring 2007

Our issues and problems stories of the spring 2007 project :

Access to parks for the disabled Admissions fees and funding Bison and animal management in parks Attendance and attracting visitors to parks Balancing maintenance, visitor services Building and maintaining roads Centennial Initiative 2007 Creating new parks Drawing visitors to remote western parks Visitors and wildlife-feeding problems Funding for maintenance and management Global warming and cold-climate parks Hiring employees for the parks

Hunting and poaching in the parks Impact of aerial tours of the parks Park resources management: A manager's view Park visitor safety and crime Rarely visited national parks Re-introduction of native species in parks Safety in the parks Terrorism and security in the parks Top Ten endangered and threatened parks Volunteerism in the parks system Water and its importance to the national parks Wildfires and other natural disasters in the parks