National Parks in Peril

It’s been a tough few weeks for the National Park Service. First there was a USA Today articleUSA Today article noting an uptick in the theft of artifacts from parks throughout the country. Rangers have reported missing Civil War relics and fossils, and say that with the online market for artifacts steadily growing, it’s becoming nearly impossible for them to prevent the looting from spreading. Some parks have been duped by phony 911 calls; others have become the victim of meth addicts looking to pawn something for a fix. And while the National Park Service budget is $2.6 billion for fiscal year 2007, law enforcement expenditures amount to only $178 million, about $40 million of which is set aside for homeland security. So some parks have begun posting signs every 20 to 30 feet along trails reminding people not to steal, while others are using volunteer “site stewards” to monitor archaeological sites.

And while theft can be attributed to a few morally-challenged visitors, a new report just released at least gives them points for visiting the parks at all. The study, published online in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and funded by The Nature Conservancy, found that children who are afflicted with a boob-tube viewing addiction, aka, videophilia, lead more sedentary lifestyles and are less inclined to venture outdoors. Aside from the obvious health detriments, researchers believe that such computer and video viewing is linked to a drop-off in national park visits, and worry that as people lose interest in the parks, interest in conservation efforts will quickly follow. So far the numbers aren’t inspiring: Looking through data stretching back into the 1980s, the researchers found a 18- to 25-percent drop in visits and the number of hunting and fishing licenses issued at the parks. But we can’t help but think it’s a bit odd then, that Yellowstone just began offering an Old Faithful webcam for viewers at home. As one commenter at USA Today put it succinctly:

Neat and sad at the same time. Is THIS the vacation of the future? Webcams of locations? GO VISIT YELLOWSTONE — Get in your car and drive. You would be amazed at the beauty of the whole area!

To top things off, the Interior Department just released a document showing that the U.S. Park Police force is chronically understaffed, ill equipped, and insufficiently trained. The Washington Post, who had a copy of the document before its release, reported

on Monday that staffing levels last summer were lower than on September 11, leaving national monuments more vulnerable to terrorist attack (or in the case of the Lincoln Memorial, are highjacked by protesting superheros

while parks officials stood by and watched). Even worse, a photo of a guard sleeping and a description of another doing a crossword puzzle were included in the report, and now the Fraternal Order of Police are calling

the Park Police a “mess.” Officers are apparently told to cover two posts at once and take on 12-hour shifts, neither of which is making us feel secure about their security.

Of course, there isn’t all bad news: the parks are also working to address congestion issues

and finding “green” transportation solutions to handle visitor traffic.

And their technological advances aren’t all aiding the spread of videophilia: a recent “electronic field trip” that commemorated the desegregation of Little Rock, Arkansas’ Central High School drew children from 47 states, Australia, Canada, and Switzerland.

So what can you do to help support the parks? The simplest thing is planning a visit. Check out our Destinations Scorecard: National Parks for some of the best options to get out there. The NPS has opportunities for adult and youth volunteers as well as internships available. Support the National Parks Foundation through donations or your time, and sign up

for their email updates to learn about upcoming programs. The Parks are 84 million acres of America’s backyard, and we should all take part in ensuring that they continue to stay a national treasure.

Photos: Above, Glacier National Park sign; Below, Bandlands National Park. By John Ur.

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