Issues
The National Park Service and its 431 park areas 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 partnerships and private funds such as donations and gifts 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 have been regularly prepared by our reporters since 2007. We discuss funding plans, budget concerns, admissions fees and other revenue streams, accessibility for the disabled, attendance and visitation patterns, overuse of some parks, promotion and under-use 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 2015
Our issues and problems stories for the spring 2015 project:
| Biscayne works to increase visitors | Parks present dangers for unprepared |
National Parks Issues Fall 2014
Our issues and problems stories for the fall 2014 project:
National Parks Issues Spring 2014
Our issues and problems stories for the spring 2014 project:
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Denali works to increase wolves sightings Endangered wildlife threatened in Hawaii |
Park volcanoes pose no imminent threat Spotted owl population declines
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National Parks Issues Fall 2013
Our issues and problems stories for the fall 2013 project:
National Parks Issues Spring 2013
Our issues and problems stories for the spring 2013 project:
National Parks Issues Fall 2011
Our issues and problems stories for the fall 2011 project:
National Parks Issues Spring 2011
Our issues and problems stories for the spring 2011 project:
National Parks Issues Spring 2010
Our issues and problems stories for the spring 2010 project:
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Minorities and the national parks National parks in Hollywood movies The role of urban national parks today |
Foreign language use and foreign visitors Consequences of overuse of national parks |
National Parks Issues Fall 2009
Our issues and problems stories of the fall 2009 project:
National Parks Issues Spring 2008
Our issues and problems stories of the spring 2008 project :
National Parks Issues Spring 2007
Our issues and problems stories of the spring 2007 project :