“Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children's children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.”
-Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States
-Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States
Global Response
The National Park Service has inspired many other countries to take action to protect their lands. There are currently almost 100 countries with a National Parks totaling over 6,000 such areas.
Other agencies have sprung up to protect the environment, including IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). These organizations take the responsibility to protect natural, historical, and cultural sites. |
-Jon Jarvis, in a personal interview
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-Robert Sutton, in a personal interview
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International Influence
"Many other countries now have national parks and many countries send staff to US national parks like Yellowstone to consult on best practices to manage and protect resources. Staff from parks in Tanzania, China, Bhutan, and Australia, to name a few, have visited Yellowstone and invited our staff to their countries to collaborate and consult with each other."
-Beth Taylor, in a personal interview |
"We’re proud of the fact that the national parks are a uniquely American idea. Other nations had protected large tracts of land, but these were generally for the exclusive use of royalty. America’s national parks were set aside for the use of the people—all people. It’s a very democratic idea. Writer Wallace Stegner called it “the best idea America ever had.” Many nations have sought the counsel of the National Park Service in developing national park systems of their own. There are over 3,000 national parks worldwide based on the American model."
-Carol Shively, in a personal interview |