National Parks provide a space for people to go out, explore, and play in nature. They are a great source of natural resources, preserved for our enjoyment. They are some of the prettiest places on Earth, highlighting the feats of the planet.
However, the only reason these areas of land are preserved is because they are protected under law by the federal government. Unfortunately, when the government shut down in early 2019, these spaces were left unattended, causing them to be overrun by continued traffic.
From overflowing trash to intentional human destruction, the parks were left understaffed and even unattended during the shutdown. Because park employees weren’t getting paid, there was no incentive to work during this time. Some employees were even told not to work. This left parks alone without supervision, making space for them to be trashed in the process. Some issues, like unplowed roads, were minor accessibility issues. But others, such as Joshua trees being cut down and vehicles driving in restricted areas, left permanent damage. Recovering from trash piles, wildlife removal, and natural disasters gone unchecked will take time and resources. Even isolated incidents of damage can have long lasting effects, because the parks are sensitive environments.
Prior to the shutdown, national parks were estimated to need an extra $12 billion for maintenance purposes, and now that number is considerably higher. Because of the lack or complete absence of park workers during the shutdown, off road vehicles created unpermitted trails, trash floating throughout the parks, and damaged structures, such as bathrooms and information areas.
At Death Valley, one bathroom took staff two hours to clean fully. That’s one bathroom in one park. The amount of power and work and resources needed to clean all of the bathrooms, all of the land, and recover from damage is pretty much incalculable. In addition to people trashing lands and damaging trees, the natural weather processes went unchecked. Winter storms meant there was damage to fences or trails that could not be fixed without staff. The buildup of snow and ice made parks inaccessible. Winds blew over signs and tree limbs into trails, all of which were not cleaned up, moved or fixed.
In some parks, animals explored areas that are usually occupied by humans, so there is now a danger of visiting some areas. The Joshua trees could take hundreds of years to fully recover. The trash overflow could end up in wetlands and danger animals and attract more predators to an area than usual. Plants that take years to grow were crushed by hikers and off road vehicles.
Throwing away a water bottle, walking off of a trail, and taking part of a plant are all actions that took less than one minute. However, these actions will have lasting impacts, further than anyone can accurately guess at this point.
If you’re planning on visiting a national park anytime soon, be extra loving to the park. Really, anytime you plan on exploring the beautiful nature we have around us, be loving to our shared planet. Leave only footprints and take only pictures.
Emma Farina
Opinions Columnist