Outdoor Living and Recreation
Visitors Go Online to Help Protect National Parks
By
Jul 1, 2008, 20:26

(ARA) – From camping to canoeing to cookouts -- summer draws millions of Americans to national parks each year. However, as global warming progresses, visitors may also notice the numerous adverse effects on the parks leaving many people asking: what can be done?

This year, park-loving Americans can “Do Your Part for Climate Friendly Parks.” The Web site, launched by the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), is dedicated to helping protect America’s national parks from the effects of global warming. The Web site, www.doyourpartparks.org, educates visitors about climate change and gives them a tool to calculate how to lower their own contributions to global warming pollution.

Visitors pledge their emissions reductions to their park of choice and periodically check on their progress. A household carbon emissions calculator designed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will assist with determining how much progress has been made. Reductions help the park meet its carbon emissions goal, which has been set for both visitors and park employees.

“Do Your Part for Climate Friendly Parks Web site helps national park visitors understand why we need to address climate change to protect the places they love most, and more importantly gives them the tools to make a difference,” says Mark Wenzler, NPCA director of clean air and climate programs.

“With nearly 300 million visitors each year, our national parks can lead the fight against global warming in ways that few other institutions can.”

The Web site complements the Climate Friendly Parks program, a joint partnership between the EPA and the National Park Service, which provides national parks with management tools and resources needed to combat climate change.

At this time, 40 parks participate in the program. Each park has either met, or is working to meet, required milestones to be officially recognized as a "Climate Friendly Park." Of these parks, 15 are currently participating in the Do Your Part for Climate Friendly Parks Web site.

* Yosemite National Park (Calif.), officially a Climate Friendly Park, offers a free shuttle system with hybrid buses for visitors, which helps the park reduce its carbon footprint. Yosemite’s goal is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 10 percent below 2005 levels by the year 2010. The park will strive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in its operations and inspire visitors to reduce their own daily carbon footprint. For more information about visiting Yosemite, please go to www.nps.gov/yose.

* Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Virginia is improving recycling efforts, using environmentally friendly products, reducing energy use, and educating the public about climate change and environmentally friendly practices. For more information about visiting Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, visit www.nps.gov/wotr.

* Glacier National Park (Mont.) continues to lose its glaciers, becoming one of the most visible examples of climate change in the parks. Glacier plans to reduce emissions by using its "Red Bicycles" for employees to commute between buildings and in campgrounds, expanding the "Jammers" shuttle system along the Going to the Sun road, enhancing recycling opportunities, and working to achieve maximum energy efficiency in the all park's historical buildings. For more information about visiting Glacier, visit www.nps.gov/glac.

* As an urban park with high annual visitation, Gateway National Recreation Area in New York and New Jersey is able to reach large audiences with its climate-friendly message. Education is key at Gateway, as the park has embraced programs that encourage recycling and sustainability. One new hands-on program provides students with an opportunity to explore how air masses and geography affect climate at several park sites. The recently rehabilitated Jamaica Bay visitor center features geothermal energy and passive solar heating, natural daylighting and other energy-saving features. For information about visiting Gateway, go to www.nps.gov/gate.

* Zion National Park in Utah has eliminated thousands of vehicles from its roadways each year with the free Zion Canyon Shuttle System. The park has made recycling and using environmentally preferable materials a priority. They have also constructed two buildings, including their visitor center, with the latest energy-efficienct technologies, which are showcased to the public. Zion has also made it a priority to educate and engage the local community about combating climate change. For more information about visiting Zion, go to www.nps.gov/zion.

* At Everglades National Park in Florida, sea level rise is expected to accelerate as temperatures continue to increase this century. Everglades has reduced both its staff marine fleet and staff automotive fleet to help curb the park's annual greenhouse gas and criteria air pollutant emissions. In addition, the park has replaced five of its highway vehicles with hybrids and added two electric carts for the maintenance of campgrounds. In larger park office buildings, lighting fixtures are being replaced, which will result in at least a 75 percent reduction in the park’s use of electricity. The park is also committed to educating every park visitor about climate change issues. For more information about visiting Everglades, visit www.nps.gov/ever/.

“National parks throughout the country are taking concrete steps to reduce their global warming pollution," Wenzler says. "Do Your Part helps visitors learn what the parks are doing and apply these lessons at home.”

Courtesy of ARAcontent


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SIDEBAR:

National Parks Participating in the Do Your Part Web Site, as of June 18, 2008:

*Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (Wis.)
*Bandelier National Monument (N.M.)
*Everglades National Park (Fla.)
*Gateway National Recreation Area (N.Y., N.J.)
*Glacier National Park (Mont.)
*Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (Alaska)
*Golden Gate National Recreation Area (Calif.)
*Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tenn., N.C.)
*Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii)
*Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Mich.)
*Rocky Mountain National Park (Colo.)
*Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (Calif.)
*Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts (Va.)
*Yosemite National Park (Calif.)
*Zion National Park (Utah

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