Conservation
The National Park Service (NPS) was created on August 25, 1916, to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of all generations.
There are more than 430 national parks across the country, including battlefields, seashores, recreation areas, and historical sites and monuments that preserve American history and landscapes. NPS employs 20,000 people. Close to home are Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier National Parks.
To celebrate the founding of NPS and support our national parks and public lands, Indivisible Park County and the Women’s Action Project, two local organizations, are sponsoring a rally at the Roosevelt Arch at the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park in Gardiner on August 23rd, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm.
Our national parks and their employees face serious threats, according to a recent analysis by the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). Utilizing data from the Department of the Interior workforce database, NPCA found, “Since the Trump administration took office, the National Park Service has lost 24% of its permanent staff, a staggering reduction that has left parks across the country scrambling to operate with bare-bones crews. The park staff who remain are being asked to do more with less, and it’s simply not sustainable.” The analysis also found that seasonal hiring “is lagging far behind the nearly 8,000 positions pledged by the administration, with only roughly 4,500 seasonal positions filled so far.” NPCA concludes that with these staff cuts; there will be fewer rangers to protect visitors and resources, fewer staff to provide interpretation and education to visitors, slower emergency response times, and more strain on staff—all this while visitation to national parks surges.
Other public lands are also under threat. According to The Wilderness Society, threats include oil and gas interests asking the Trump administration to reopen illegal leases in a stretch of the Rocky Mountain Front. Congress is considering proposals that would strip protections from hundreds of thousands of acres of wilderness study areas, potentially opening them up to mining and destructive forms of recreation without public input.
The August 23rd rally at the Roosevelt Arch will begin with a speech from Dave Uberuaga. Before assuming the position of Superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park, Dave served as the superintendent of Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State for nine years. During that time, he also served for more than a year as acting superintendent of Yosemite National Park. Dave will share his views on the threats to NPS and how to support national parks and public lands.
The organizers invite all those who want to learn about this issue and support NPS and public lands to bring their signs, their voices, and their friends to the hour-long rally. A core principle behind all Indivisible Park County and Women’s Action Project events is a commitment to nonviolent action. All participants are expected to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with the views presented.