5 Reasons Why You Should Care About National Parks

Trump just made some huge federal cuts, which included the National Park Service. We wanted to highlight some of the reasons why we rely on National Parks.

1. Natural buffers against extreme weather events.

Dense foliage and soil in nationally protected lands helps buffer us from sever erosion and watershed from natural disasters. This is particularly important as we enter the hottest years ever recorded and natural disasters grow more intense and frequent.

2. Natural climate control

It’s no secret that regions of dense vegetation moderate temperature more effectively than urban areas through as by-product of photosynthesis (check out this article for more information).

But furthermore, protected areas cool the land surface temperature and reduce seasonal temperature ranges, as compared to non-protected areas that are often disturbed or converted to various land uses. The warming rate in protected boreal forests is up to 20% lower than in their surroundings, which is particularly important for species in the boreal where warming is more pronounced. (Source: Xiyan Xu et al.)

3. Clean water

Protected land means protected water. The National Park Service supports the Clean Water Act by monitoring potential impacts to park waters, and routinely tests park water supplies for potability. Water quality is measured as a vital sign for park units, which helps to indicate the overall health or condition of a resource. (Source: nps.gov)

4. Food security

Globally speaking, millions of people depend on protected areas as a means of subsistence. sometimes directly, through the consumption of food produced or obtained in or around protected areas. Other times, employment / income provide indirect benefits vis-a-vis sustaining livelihoods. The benefits don’t stop there: these areas serve as natural horticultural hubs, safeguarding and cultivating biodiversity, including the wild plant relatives of crops. The biodiversity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems protected under the National Park Service has provided fish, plants, seeds, honey, fruits, mushrooms and insects. Protected areas also provide ecosystem services, such as pollination and pest control, with mountain areas playing a special role through their contribution to clean water and decreased disaster risks. (Source: fao.org)

5. They’re f*cking pretty, dude.

Need we say more?

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