Celebrating Our (Critically Underfunded) National Parks!
On Thursday, President Obama continued his prolific use of the Antiquities Act to establish Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument — the first National Monument in the Atlantic Ocean. The protected area aims to safeguard the fragile ecosystems that serve as habitats for a great number of endangered species, and (along with the expansion of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in the Pacific Ocean and the establishment of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument) is the third expansion of NPS-managed land since the agency’s centennial in late August.
The administration’s efforts in protecting fragile natural ecosystems and ensuring their biodiversity and beauty are preserved are no doubt to be lauded. However, underneath the Instagram-worthy promotional photos and heartfelt intentions lies the multi-million dollar question: who is going to pay for these areas’ management and continued protection? As of Thursday, the NPS now manages roughly 413 (depending on how you count them) different units across the 50 states, as well as 5 different territories from the U.S. Virgin Islands to American Samoa. It needs funding for important infrastructure, enforcement, and conservation purposes that help preserve the natural beauty of the parks and allow visitors to safely enjoy them. However, as of late 2015, the NPS reported that it faces a nearly $12 billion backlog of maintenance needs, and those needs are growing under the pressure of increasing tourism and climate change.
While acknowledging these critical funding needs, the House Appropriations Committee decided to instead fund it a mere $2.9 billion in its 2017 Interior and Environment Bill, including only “$65 million in targeted increases for park operations and maintenance to help reduce the maintenance backlog and addresses other priorities related to the Park Service’s centennial anniversary.” This $2.9 billion barely meets the backlog needs of the top twelve national parks and monuments (the deferred funding of Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Mount Rainier, Grand Teton Glacier, Death Valley, Olympic, Shenandoah, and Big Bend National Parks, as well as Statue of Liberty National Monument and Point Reyes National Seashore, total $2.97 billion), and is clearly not enough for all 413 units.
Luckily for the NPS, the 493,000 square miles of newly added maritime territory are not its responsibility (jurisdiction of Papahānaumokuākea and Northeast Canyons fall jointly under NOAA and the FWS). But it is responsible for Katahdin Woods in Maine, and still faces stiff opposition from local economies opposed to its creation. A quick analysis of the individual NPS units’ budget deferments show critical funding needs in some of the most popular parks, including Yosemite, Yellowstone, Great Smoky Mountains, and Death Valley — all of which are facing increasing tourist numbers.
According to a nationwide survey of registered voters by the Center for American Progress in January, over three-quarters of those surveyed believe that the United States benefits from national parks and the NPS. President Obama has clearly recognized this desire, and has helped set aside 24 new protected areas. And despite its paltry appropriation, Congress also has [somewhat] jumped onboard, [temporarily] reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund (that it let expire in September 2015 in the first place) as a part of the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act of 2016 currently awaiting Senate approval, and introducing bipartisan bill H.R. 4680, the National Park Service Centennial Act, which “finance[s] signature projects and programs to enhance the National Park System.” So there is hope. But the important priority is that the Interior Department, Congress, and White House all act prudently when it comes to management of these protected areas, as funds will continue to be limited in the future while needs remain high.
