Environmental Threats to National Parks

The ecological threats problems to U.S. national parks can be traced back to the early 20th century. did. Different people had different ideas and positions on how natural resources, especially national parks, should be managed. Three positions stood out. There was a laissez-faire system in which individual landowners could do as they pleased with their property (Berrend, 2016). For example, under laissez-faire positions, mining companies were allowed to continue operating regardless of the impact of their actions actions to the Natural resources.

However, some like President Theodore Roosevelt found many flaws in the Laissez-faire approach. To them, the federal government owned the bulk of the property. As such, they advocated for a sustainable model that would ensure the long-term economic benefits of these natural resources would be realized. The other position was the one that was proposed by one Environmentalist John Muir who was the idea that human beings were not allowed to interfere with the natural resources (Guha, 2014). A thorough environmentalist was him that he even proposed that human should only be allowed to observe these natural resources and not do anything else. For instance, he was against the Het Hetchy dam in Yosemite National park. In as much as this barrier provided water to the citizen as well as providing water for the generation of electricity, in his eye, this was the human encroachment of public land.

From the above mentioned it is noticeable that the terms national parks and natural resources have been used interchangeably. Perhaps that could be explained by the fact that both they are all used in the same context. However, parks in the USA can be traced back to 1634, the year in which the oldest park in the USA Boston Park was established. It was created as an open public space that would provide the citizens with a free open space for relaxing, outdoor activities and interacting as well. To date, there are approximately 53 national parks in the USA and excess of 6600 state parks (Berend, 2016).

However with the recent developments being currently witnessed, in particular, climate change the land occupied by these parks will be on the decrease. Bearing in mind that most of these parks were established to preserve our hereditary to the future generations and the developments one can see that that dream of protecting our hereditary to the future generations is both far-fetched and improbable. Some of the plant and animal species have already become instinct. For instance, the California condor became instinct with the first European settlement in the USA. Keeping in mind that the USA is the second largest emitter of carbon dioxide after China, and then it is logical to conclude that global warming will persist.

However, despite the highlighted challenges studies have been done to know how the US government can be able to manage its natural resources (Parks) despite the threats the parks are facing. There has been advocacy on regulation and mass awareness to the citizens so that they can be aware of their parks and how to take care of them. It is worth noting that human’s beings are also some of the environmental threats to our national parks. As such if we can be able to educate people on the role these parks play in enhancing biodiversity we will have gone in securing their future for our future generations to see. So what are some of the threats to our parks?

To begin with, the first environmental threat to our parks is invasive species. Note that these invasive species include both plants and animals. Data obtained from National Park Service’s show that the total park surface in the United States is covered with over 6500 non-indigenous species (Guha, 2014). Most of the plants are brought to the US through the various agents of seed dispersal. These plants species have adverse effects on the indigenous species. For instance, the Himalayan Blackberry forms an impenetrable blanket like the feature that prevents the growth of the native vegetation.

Maybe because some of these plants are from regions, which experience harsher climatic conditions, their system (roots. stems, branches, leaves, etc.), are more developed than those of the native species. Thus, when they are introduced, they tend to like bully the native species. The Himalayan Blackberry is prevalent in the Yosemite National park. The same park also reported the presence of the New Zealand mud snail. The threat posed with this animal is that it can cover an entire riverbed or stream thereby interfering with the ecological system of the particular riverbed (Schreiner et al., 2017)

Secondly, another threat posed to parks in the USA is human activities. Humans are part of the environment of these parks. Most parks in the USA have an overflow of visitors throughout the year. However, the NPS has been unable to regulate these visitors (Berend, 2016). Some of these visitors go up and camp in these forests for a considerable period. Now animals like human beings are used to a particular environment that influences their feeding habits, mating habits et al. When these are interfered with, they tend to run away. Also, the camping sites and hiking activities often damage plant cover in these parks leaving them exposed to agents of soil erosion. Flora and fauna in the parks dread these human interactions. For instance, in 2015 five people were killed in Yellow stone National parks because they got close to fast-moving wildebeests (Guha, 2014). Besides human are also engaged in developmental activities next to these parks.

These developmental activities in as much as they are not inside the parks tend to interfere with the ecosystem of the parks. Take the example of the copper and gold mine that is to be set adjacent to the Lake Clark National park (Guha, 2014). The mining will no doubt lead to air pollution and sound pollution. Most plant and animal species will die in the parks. Additionally, the highly publicized activities of sugar producers polluting the water in the rivers with phosphorous and interfering with the river channels such that no water reaches the Everglades.

The third environmental threat to our parks is that posed by climate change. Scientists predict that if the climate change persists none will be left of our parks a hundred years from now. Remember we earlier mentioned the USA is the second largest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world (Pimentel, Lach, Zuniga, & Morrison, 2014). These emissions are the ones responsible for the global warming menace. The emissions tend to form a blanket like a feature just below our skies that prevents terrestrial radiation.

Consequently, higher temperatures are experienced on the earth’s surface. These high temperatures have to lead to melting of ice in our mountains. For example, glaciers have been reported to be melting in the Glacier National Park in Montana. Another example is the Biscayne national park where due to the dry conditions fresh water has become an issue despite the park being covered with 95% of seawater (Guha, 2014). These climate changes will tend to push the animal species away from their original parks to regions where the animals feel they can obtain conditions favorable to their survival.

Finally, Air pollution threats the existence of our parks. Air pollution leads to respiratory problems and in some cases interferes with visibility. Magnificent Smoky National Park Mountains is one park that is immensely affected by air pollution (Pimentel, Lach, Zuniga, & Morrison, 2014). The sources of air pollution are outside these parks. Industrial emissions are blown to the south where they are trapped by the mountains. Consequently, these emissions choke the plants to death and lead to smog like views. Besides air, pollution is also one of the leading causes of global warming. Therefore, it is logical to conclude that only a disaster can be expected when these agents of air pollution work in tandem with the effects of global warming.

The environmental threats are so significant such that they affect not only our parks but also human beings alike. The United States occupies only 5% of the entire world surface yet the average annual consumption is 30% (Guha, 2014). These explain the rapid increase of human invasion to parks and developments adjacent to these parks. It is reported going at the current rate of consumption by 2025; we will experience mass extinction of all species in the USA (Walden-Schreiner, Leung, Kuhn, Newburger, & Tsai, 2017). Perhaps more shocking is that per minute Americans dispose 16 million tonnes of sewage into their water bodies. Having mentioned how much of a problem is obtaining fresh water in Biscayne National park, one can rightfully conclude the animal and plant life in that park which is dependent on freshwater is headed for extinction. Again, statistics show that in the last 30-35 years we have added 1.2 trillions of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere (“Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change” 2014). We earlier mentioned how carbon dioxide is one of the gases that cause global warming. If the above are not put into control, the mass extinction remains the other possibility.

Having mainly discussed the threats posed to our parks, how then can we control them? Having talked about the threat posed by invasive species then it would be logical to ensure everyone is keen so as not to disperse non-native species, which are a threat to some of our national parks. For example, if you go camping and you need to burn wood for fire it is advisable you source it where you are camping to prevent dispersion. The government through the national park service also ought to regulate the number of visitors visiting the park (Guha, 2014). These are to ensure the ecosystem in which some of these animals thrive in does not interfere. Industries alike should also work on methods through which they can be able to reduce their industrial emissions. Say treatment of these emissions first. Subaru, in particular, was involved in land building and reclamation activities in Yosemite and Denali National parks.

In conclusion, we have all seen the environmental threats to our parks. We have also noted if we will be unable to manage some of the dangers we are headed towards mass extinction. In as much as we have little control over the biological threats to our parks, we all should be involved in our small parts in preserving and conserving our parks for future generations.

References

Berend, I. T. (2016). An economic history of twentieth-century Europe: economic regimes from laissez-faire to globalization. Cambridge University Press.

Guha, R. (2014). Environmentalism: a global history. Penguin UK.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2014). Climate Change 2014–Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability: Regional Aspects. Cambridge University Press.

Pimentel, D., Lach, L., Zuniga, R., & Morrison, D. (2014). Environmental and economic costs associated with non-indigenous species in the United States. BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS, 285.

Walden-Schreiner, C., Leung, Y. F., Kuhn, T., Newburger, T., & Tsai, W. L. (2017). Environmental and managerial factors associated with pack stock distribution in high elevation meadows: Case study from Yosemite National Park. Journal of Environmental Management, 193, 52-63.