This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Centennial observances are pivotal moments to reflect on where we've been and to look forward to where we will go next.
Today as we celebrate the 100th birthday of the National Park Service (NPS), we can revel in the good fortune our nation has had in producing leaders and remarkable citizens whose great foresight has recognized places in this vast and incredible country that warrant protection and commemoration.
While numerous national parks have been established, some with considerable conflict, they have evolved into cherished havens for so many. Each possesses unique natural and cultural attributes, all with one common thread: National parks belong to all of us.
Here in Utah we are gifted with national parks that possess extraordinary landscapes like our celebrated "Mighty Five," Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion, as well as eight national monuments and historic sites that protect and commemorate important cultural and historic landmarks, such as Hovenweep in the southeast and Golden Spike in the north. Collectively they draw millions of visitors from around the globe annually.
Working with federal, state, local and tribal government entities, local businesses, and recreation and conservation groups, National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) tackles the issues our parks face with a focus on protecting the integrity of these special places so that their distinctive values and American stories are sustained for future generations to enjoy and learn from.
We cheer accomplishments like the Moab Master Leasing Plan (MLP). MLPs are a collaborative process, initiated by the Bureau of Land Management, using "smart from the start planning," bringing all parties to the table before oil and gas leasing takes place, to identify areas which are and aren't appropriate for development. The Moab MLP, expected to be finalized this fall, proposes closing 145,000 acres to development along park boundaries, and adding strong protections to 300,000 more acres. Five additional MLPs are proposed for eastern Utah to better address oil and gas issues affecting Utah's iconic national parks and their connected economies.
We are encouraged by a recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision that, in compliance with the Regional Haze Rule of the Clean Air Act, will cut 75 percent of nitrogen oxide pollution from two Emery County coal plants and improve the magnificent vistas of eight southwestern national parks including Utah's Mighty Five.
NPCA also supports the intertribal Bears Ears National Monument proposal which could provide protection for irreplaceable lands adjacent to Canyonlands National Park from persistent threats of oil and gas drilling, potash mining and irresponsible off-road vehicle use.
And we are working to engage new voices for the parks including younger and more diverse audiences through endeavors like the YouthWorks in the Parks program and citizens of gateway communities through the Utah Gateway Community Forum. Utah's national parks are frequently acknowledged as an economic boon for the state, and crucial for gateway communities, whose quality of life and economic sustainability are intricately tied to their future
Yet, as with parks throughout the Southwest, Utah's national parks continue to face challenges such as the struggle with clean air issues, oil and gas development on the landscape they share and the colossal increase in visitors. Meanwhile NPS grapples with inadequate congressional funding, striving to ensure that basic amenities and infrastructure are maintained and resource impacts from explosive visitation growth is minimized.
Thus as we pay tribute to their first century, we cannot take our national parks for granted. They need our collective voices. It is the responsibility of all Americans to advocate to ensure national parks are protected and thriving for the next 100 years and beyond.
Renowned naturalist author and Utahn Terry Tempest Williams' writes:
"This is what we can promise the future: a legacy of care. That we will be good stewards and not take too much or give back too little, that we will recognize wild nature for what it is, in all its magnificent and complex history — an unfathomable wealth that should be consciously saved, not ruthlessly spent. Privilege is what we inherit by our status as homo sapiens living on this planet. This is the privilege of imagination. What we choose to do with our privilege as a species is up to each of us."
David Nimkin is the regional director for the National Parks Conservation Association's Southwest region (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah) and lives in Salt Lake City. Erika Pollard and Cory MacNulty share the Utah Senior Program manager position at National Parks Conservation Association.