"Once destroyed, nature's beauty cannot be repurchased at any price."
-Ansel Adams, American photographer and environmentalist
-Ansel Adams, American photographer and environmentalist
Preservation
The NPS has set precedents regarding environmental protection. It marked the first time a government took the responsibility to protect its natural and historical treasures.
"By any account, the establishment of the National Park Service was a cornerstone in the country’s land use ethic. It made the statement, as early as 1916, that Americans will protect their most beautiful places. This concept was later expanded to include the benchmarks of our history, as well. Many laws and movements to further protect land came about as a result of this act." -Carol Shively, in a personal interview |
Preservation or Conservation?
The National Park has influenced the environmental preservation movement. It advocates a philosophy of protecting the environment from human damage.
"There is a difference between conservation and preservation. Conservation is the “wise use” of land and resources. The US Forest Service embodies this principle. On these lands, trees can be logged, animals hunted, and other resources used in a consumptive manner, as long as it’s done in a way that is sustainable. However, in national parks, resources are to be preserved in perpetuity, that is they are not intended to be used for any commercial purposes, only for the enjoyment (recreation) and inspiration of this and future generations." -Carol Shively, in a personal interview |
-Jon Jarvis, in a personal interview
Land Preservation
The National Park Service has preserved lands of national importance since its creation in 1916.
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-Robert Sutton, in a personal interview
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