National parks have been a creation of countries around the world for hundreds of years. As a way to preserve natural beauty, the establishment of these protected areas demonstrates a respect that some have for the outdoors, rather than solely reaping the benefits of natural resources.

National parks first received federal protection in the United States in 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson created the National Park Service along with almost 35 other parks and monuments. The first park, however, was created in the late 19th century with the creation of Yellowstone National Park.

While many mistakenly believe that Yellowstone was the first ever national park, Mongolia’s Bogd Khan Uul National Park takes the title, as it was created in 1783.

Yellowstone, however, was the first park established in the United States. Its purpose was to provide a refuge in nature for the use and pleasure of the people. Now, there are 63 National Parks across the country that provide dedicated spaces for the preservation of Nature and the enjoyment of the public. 

During the years following the establishment of Yellowstone National Park, many more parks were created as a naturalist movement spread throughout the US. Popular writers of the time, such as Walt Whitman and Henry David Thoreau, wrote about America’s natural beauty and encouraged people to experience nature. Fourteen years before the first National Park was established Thoreau dreamed of “a park, or rather a primitive forest, of 500 or a thousand acres, where a stick should never be cut for fuel, a common possession forever, for instruction and recreation.” 

Additionally, John Muir, a conservationist and naturalist, worked to protect sites such as Yellowstone from commercial development. His work is a large part of why the National Park system was established and his writing about the Redwoods of California even created a national monument in his name. 

Now, national parks across the US are visited by millions of people every year and are a source of national pride. In 2021, national parks received almost 297 million visitors, a 60 million increase from 2021, according to the national parks service.

Much of this increase can be attributed to the coronavirus, which drew more people to recognize and appreciate the outdoors, a place where social distancing can easily be followed. The National Park Service aims to, “protect breathtaking natural landscapes, nationally relevant historic sites, and important cultural areas,” as well as, “strive for the public to experience and engage in the stories of these areas…to better understand our country, its history, and ultimately ourselves.”

The National Park Service covers more than 84 million acres across the United States and its respective territories. But because of wildfires, deforestation, and other environmental problems, these places of preservation might be in danger. 

Alex Hart ‘24 is a National Park-frequenter and has visited 43 parks. His favorite park is Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. “It’s just beautiful land, and when you’re sad it’ll make you happy,” he said. He continued, saying he believes strongly in the conservation effort and thinks that National Parks are a vital part of the United States. 

The happiness that national parks have created for many should continue to be fought for, as national parks are some of the last remnants of natural history without human interference.

For the past few years, wildfires on the west coast have especially become an intense problem. For example, Yosemite National Park faced these especially hot wildfires, which burned almost 350,000 acres of forest in California, threatening lush forest ecosystems and over 2,000-year-old Giant Sequoia trees. Every year the intensity and reach of these fires increase, with National Parks in the west like Glacier, Yosemite, and Yellowstone facing the greatest risk. 

According to Man-Keun Kim and Paul M. Jakus, climate scientists who focus on national parks, “The visibility, safety, and health effects of seasonal wildfires may affect recreational visits to national parks, even if fires occur outside of park boundaries.”

The growth of seasonal wildfires has caused an increase of 200%-600% of forest acreage burned in Western states alone. Additionally, wildlife is not the only thing at stake. The large amount of smoke and ash that travels during and after wildfires can cause grave pollution problems, potentially harming visitors of these parks. 96% of United States’ parks face significant air pollution problems, harmful to visitors, especially those with lung-related health problems or otherwise. 

The increased intensity of wildfires in the last two decades has been fueled by climate change and neglect by humans. Hotter temperatures, drought, and strong winds in the west have all contributed to the aggressive wildfire seasons. 

Often, however, wildfires are started when people do not heed wildfire advisories and light fires that lose control quickly. Infamously, the 2020 El Dorado fire in California was lit when a baby gender-reveal party went awry and an incendiary device exploded unexpectedly. The El Dorado fire burnt over 22,000 acres, destroying forests in the San Bernardino mountains and threatening residences in San Bernardino county. 

To prevent devastating accidents such as this fire, proper fire safety precautions need to be taken. When legally lighting a controlled fire in nature, fire extinguishing materials should always be on hand, it should be clearly contained and the fire should never be left unattended. As the beloved fire marshall Mascot Smokey the Bear would say: “Only YOU can prevent wildfires.” 

Deforestation has also proved problematic in international protected areas, especially in tropical countries in South and Central America and Asia. This phenomenon can be exemplified in many places around the world, but none more obvious–or arguably more important–than the destruction of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil. 

Within Brazil’s Campos Amazônicos National Park, deforestation alerts have jumped by almost 37% in 2021, mostly due to illegal land claims and blatant intrusions from lumber companies and cattle ranchers. Even during the strictest period of environmentalism in Brazil, deforestation continued elusively. Now, under conservative president Jair Bolsanaro, deforestation has continued at an 88% higher rate than in previous administrations, countrywide. 

Bolsanaro was accused of “crimes against humanity” at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Paris for his alleged role in the demolition of almost 400,000 hectares of land in the Amazon rainforest. AllRise, an environmental law organization, filed the complaint at the Hague in October of last year. 

In response, Bolsonaro made promises to end deforestation by 2020 at COP26. However, Human Rights Watch, an independent organization focused on civil liberties says that, “Since taking office in January 2019, the administration of President Jair Bolsonaro has weakened environmental law enforcement, effectively encouraging criminal networks that drive deforestation and who use threats and violence against forest defenders.” These new promises will not change that. 

These practices are similar to what is happening in Colombia, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Sri Lanka, and other countries around the world.

National parks are important not only as remnants of natural history but as prevention of pollution and as a place for all to enjoy. National park conservation must become a priority for our national community and the international community, to preserve for our future generations to enjoy similarly. 

For more information on how to prevent wildfires: Prevention How-Tos.