||| FROM JOSLIN BROETJS BAIRSTOW |||
As a resident of Orcas Island, I have the privilege of being surrounded by natural landscapes and beautiful parks. Theodore Roosevelt, commonly known as the conservation president, believed that our forests, mountains, prairies, and deserts are sacred spaces that should be protected for future generations.
Although National Parks provide many environmental and economic services, they are often devalued. It is estimated that in 2023 National Parks benefited the nation’s economy with $55.6 billion, yet only received $3.475 billion in federal funding (NPS 2023). This level of funding does not even cover maintenance projects, which stand at a backlog of $22 billion. As funds become more and more limited, an increasing number of staff are laid off, reducing the quality and accessibility of parks. Funding for the NPS has been tight for years, but the current administration puts further strains, proposing a decrease in funding by more than a third of 2024 levels and going so far as to mandate park staff layoffs all over the country.
However, hope is not lost. Communication with government officials is proven to be an effective tool in change. You can reach out via email, letter, or phone call to our Washington State legislators and with Doug Burgum, the secretary of the Department of the Interior who is responsible for allocating money to the NPS. As islanders, we have access to nature that many do not. I urge you to help close this gap by protecting our National Parks.
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