National parks, in many countries around the world, are part of a larger government system of interconnected spaces that have been set up as natural reserves. The intended purposes of the park systems in the world are to conserve the cherished wildlife that lives in the park spaces for future generations to still see and enjoy in their natural setting. National parks are home to many species of plants and animals, many of which live protected, just a quick car ride away from the city. Besides serving as protected wildlife habitats, national parks provide people with a safe, natural outdoor recreational site, as well as offer environmental education experiences about the variety of the natural world found in the parks. While there are national parks in most countries of the world, this list will focus on some of the great national parks globally. Popular parks that are well managed to avoid critical habitat degradation are sometimes owned by one tribe, while others are managed through international organizations and arranged according to international or local governmental agencies. Several countries have also created virtual tours and museums, especially for educating the public about the important parks around the world. Providing this connection to people from around the world allows them to access the natural beauty and important park treasures they could never see in any other way; this serves as a good education for visitors and an effective tool for supporting national park management.
Definition and Importance
National parks are predefined areas established by governments in order to preserve and maintain natural and scenic resources. They are also intended for the enjoyment of the public, as well as the perpetuation of wildlife or for the purposes of national or international scientific study. While there is no definitive evidence of the origins of the concept of national parks, many countries of the world have implemented such parks.
The conservation of biotic diversity is an important undertaking for each government, and it is for this reason that some governments have established national parks, areas of natural beauty, and national wildlife refuges to protect important aspects of their natural heritage. National parks frequently provide habitat for a clear representation of species, thus providing one of the primary reasons for their retention. National landscape areas have commonly been established for community welfare, with grazing and mining allowed, whereas national parks have generally been interdicted against these more intense forms of land use. Ecological education to promote an awareness of the public has also been one of the motives leading to park establishment, but a major justification is the present and future demand by urban communities for recreation. In many parks, tourism and recreational activities are thus heavily promoted through government policy as a means of enhancing rural supplies. Nevertheless, there is also a realization that significant environmental benefits are derived from both direct and associated protective measures. The social, economic, political, and educational roles of parks are often interlinked and support the need for park preservation. They are local and state resources with national dimensions and are also relevant to the international community in a world where so many values are transboundary in nature. National parks are thus a vital part of the nation’s heritage.
History and Evolution
The development of national parks has followed a long historical context, detailing the evolution of policy, property regimes, normative beliefs, expectations, and technology. Firstly, some of these aspects are developed here. The origins of national parks are largely multiple. Yellowstone was the first established in 1872; the decennial of their creation has seen the writing of multiple histories. Moreover, icons of the European national parks could also be candidates, as could some key parks in Africa. Although, if given the occasion, ‘Many parks owe their existence to the desires of institutions to increase the numbers of members and the funds available to them.’ The context of their creation – transhumance control, forest management, and Anglo-Saxon romanticism – is generally significant given that it located and informed the park managers’ and previous decisions.
The visionary writings included appreciation of national parks, but their main emphasis was not on ‘policy and practice.’ Moreover, despite the underlying radicalism (which is also reflected by their contemporaries), ‘neither convinced nor documented the requisite turf to play for high stakes – namely, parks and protected areas.’ In short, over 60 years after the appearance of ‘Walden’ and ‘Leaving the Pristine,’ the park managers and ecologists enforcing these decisions were ‘retrofitting’ the American landscape to these ‘wilderness’ documents in ‘reverential celebration of the same figures whom [we] delighted in excoriating.’ As many years have passed, the large shared properties have persistently begun to be divided, a process that is likely to gather momentum despite increasing desires to retain large landscapes. A global survey of guidelines and management techniques of protected areas.
Criteria for Selecting the Best National Parks
National parks were evaluated on several criteria, including their size, biological diversity, compliance with ecological criteria, the presence of rare and endangered species, the preservation of large mammal species, high biodiversity, low human population densities, and a connectedness to protected areas for free-ranging mammal species. Now the criteria for evaluating the “best” national parks have evolved further to include aesthetic, cultural, and sustainable resource management values. Ecologically, national parks are considered to be the top category of protected areas. National parks are now also assessed based on visitor experiences and management experts’ ratings. Conservation activities have become more important, and the best national parks are now those that exhibit the least threats to their ecological integrity and highly secure management systems.
National parks are the best places to preserve biological diversity and are often some of the largest protected areas within a given country. They also showcase the aesthetic appeal of local landscapes; they often contain unique geological features and have important cultural values. In determining the “best” national parks around the world, a park’s pristine natural qualities, its natural features, and how well they have been preserved are considered most important. National parks and protected areas showcase various natural and cultural characteristics. However, not all are equal in their offerings. This review demonstrates some of the most significant natural attributes any of the global parks have to offer.
Biodiversity and Ecosystems
National parks are areas established by various countries around the world for the conservation of biodiversity and its ecosystems, exhibition, education, inspiration, and enjoyment of visitors. People come from all over the world to experience the scenic beauty and gain inspiration from nature. Wildlife and Scenic Appeal: A significant interest of many visitors is the diversity of wildlife found within these parks. Biodiversity has been shown to greatly enhance the visitor experience. Not only wildlife, but also the diverse plant life is often the reason for designating national parks and other areas for protection. These parks are some of the best to view a wide array of wildlife because they directly contribute to the protection of habitats. These habitats are intrinsically valuable as a necessary ecosystem component to maintain the wildland and its biodiversity, as well as a scenic wonder for the ecotourist. Defending Sporting Destinations: The health of ecosystems is also interdependent on every member, large and small. Interactions among flora, fauna, and natural events create the habitat. Individual habitats and a wide array depend on the presence of species for ecosystem integrity. Protecting the habitats and the species is a major function of parks and reserves worldwide. The rapid decline of plants and animals has resulted in global extinction rates far exceeding the normal rate. These extinctions often have widespread impacts on communities and habitats.
Scenic Beauty and Landscapes
National parks represent one of the best places to see some of the world’s most scenic areas. They often show off the best of that region’s landscape and its topography. For example, they usually protect and are correlated with points of scenic and scientific interest, such as unique geological or natural areas. Some parks are famous for their mountain peaks, while others are magnets for travelers due to their forested lands, large meadows, lush savannas, deserts, or deep, narrow gorges and canyons. Still, some parks protect and highlight large expanses of uninhabited valleys, wetlands, or backcountry in addition to their geological values. Often, a park’s visitor flow can be determined by multiple factors at play. These can include the scenic appeal of the landscapes, being in close-to-wilderness surroundings, or relatively pristine places and/or historic sites.
Many national parks not only seek to preserve and conserve significant natural values such as extraordinary aesthetic features but also aim to protect and conserve particular scenic resources for the use and benefits of future generations or in perpetuity. Indeed, scenic quality can be a greater driver of visitor spending or net regional added value from tourism than the size of a base of regular visitors. Over time, they can create gateway communities near national parks that are branded with a wide variety of attributes. Many parks were planned for scenic use to show off their panoramic views and vistas. Indeed, the protection and visual enjoyment of such landscapes and scenic resources, such as natural and cultural scenery quality, have been fundamental to both the British National Parks Act and the National Park Service Act, respectively, in the U.S., as well as for many parks around the world. Being found in scenic landscapes entails and requires protection, appreciation, and enjoyment by humans, linking the policy and management of frameworks regarding people and landscapes. Photos and footage captured in these parks are often used in photo contests, calendars, brochures, advertisements, and photography exhibitions. Artistic and research subjects in national park environments can provide inspiration for a broad range of genres, formats, and participants.
Top National Parks by Continent
There are national parks around the globe that showcase the best of a country’s natural and cultural assets. From the geothermal landscape of Yellowstone to the towering opulence of Torres del Paine, the sheer diversity of national parks is astounding. This section will give an overview of the greatest national park on each of the world’s seven continents. Each of the continent’s national parks was selected because it is renowned for a certain feature or aspect that cannot be found in any of the other national parks on the continent, allowing them to be compared.
North America
In North America, the United States of America alone has 63 national parks under the guidance of the National Park Service. Each of these parks is starkly different, often showcasing the region they guard. In some cases, geographic diversity in a single park can be surprising. This is the case with Yellowstone National Park, one of the earliest national parks founded in 1872. It stretches through the states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. The best-known feature of this park is the Old Faithful Geyser, but the park is also a sanctuary for grizzly bears, wolves, and herds of bison and elk. Created in 1890 as a national preserve, Yosemite is the nation’s third-oldest park. The valley of this park is the place to visit with its countless waterfalls and granite cliffs. Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks are in the southern Sierra Nevada range. The parks are also home to over 200 marble caves and a vibrant underground river. These are only a few parks in a long list of national parks in the country.
In addition to breathtaking scenery and ecological diversity, the national parks are very engaged in conservation and local challenges. The tourism industry is also actively campaigning to preserve these natural wonders. Wilderness, recreation, culture, and wildlife are all at the forefront of the park’s conservation. Culture and spirituality are also incredibly important to the First Nations and local communities, with many places in the parks being considered sacred to them. The parks are home to an array of wonderful recreational activities from bird watching to photography, camping, and of course, the best hiking. In North America, the parks are often classed as some of the best in the world, the oldest in their country, and are usually the pride and joy of the nation.
South America
One of the many wonderful reasons to book that long-awaited round-the-world ticket is to start ticking off some of the world’s finest national parks. Worldwide, national parks can boast an incredible range of natural landscapes, wildlife spectacles, iconic attractions, and recreational activities. National parks provide habitats and refuges for rare plants and animals, and these reserves often allow us to experience some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes and untouched beauty the planet has to offer. Some of the best year-round experiences are encounters with universal wildlife superstars such as grizzly bears in Canada’s Rocky Mountains, India’s regal Bengal tiger, or the in-your-face wildlife extravaganza that unfolds across many African reserves. Iguazú National Park, Argentina, and Torres del Paine, Chile: South American national parks together are cocooned within an incredible amount of aesthetic beauty. Iguazú National Park is nestled in Argentina’s northeasterly Misiones province. Equally stupendous, and within touching distance of nearby towns, these dramatic waterfalls aren’t only a visual magnet. Chase butterfly swarms, wander amid verdant rainforests, and spot resplendent plant life plus multicultural wildlife such as iconic jaguars and tapirs, and the rarer inhabitants – the ocelot and giant anteater. In the far southwest of Chile, Torres del Paine greets visitors post-flight, and post-four hours’ scenic drive from the closest airport. On approach, the park’s twelve million acres of wild Chilean wine country are sure to blow your outdoor pursuits-oriented hats right off. Ranging from the glacial beauty of the Torres del Paine massif and native lenga beech trees to the torn and billowing peaks of Los Cuernos, its landscape is as varied as its rarity of UNESCO biospheres and national park status. Founded in 1959 and 1978 respectively, Iguazú and Torres del Paine are not exactly South American infants.
Europe
Nothing defines Europe’s national parks better than their rich cultural heritage. The European national parks reflect the uniqueness of the continent in natural and cultural diversity. National parks offer world-class natural landscapes in well-protected areas. Two of the most iconic natural landmarks in Europe belong to the European national parks. Some of them are historically known for their traditional land use practices. Today, the European national parks have the purpose and goal of conserving landscapes and biodiversity. Furthermore, national parks are ideal for preserving or re-establishing a biotope typical for a region. Europe’s national parks range from flat lowland areas to midland areas, the European terrains up to mountain regions. Running projects in cooperation with the locals to offer a cultural experience is a top priority of some European national parks.
All European national parks have the objective of protecting animal and plant species and promoting biodiversity. In this day and age, with diminishing natural habitat opportunities, national parks can work towards creating opportunities for plant and animal species to live freely due to non-intervention. The points of interest in European national parks vary greatly. Some have unique plants and animals not found anywhere in the surrounding natural habitat of the national park. Recreational opportunities in European national parks are normally based around monitoring animals during certain times of the year, hiking trails with potential crossings of rock formations, and parks with skiing and beaches to name but a few activities. Established in 1981, the Plitvice Lakes National Park is the largest national park in Croatia and the oldest national park in southeastern Europe. Over one million tourists visit the national park every year because of its unique nature and cultural landscape. Increased tourism has also posed a danger to the park. The Plitvice Lakes National Park is tackling the problem with waste and wood from forest management. At the same time, they want to limit the number of visitors by increasing the ticket prices. The Majella National Park, which was established in 1991, guarantees the region of Abruzzo peace and protection. Based on Italy’s largest unbroken forest and bush landscape and a particularly ancient pastoral culture, this part has spectacular high mountain and rough granite cliffs that attract nature tourists.
Asia
One of the key characteristics of the national parks in Asia is their vast diversity among the parks, both in their ecological environments and in their management and administration. Indonesia, a country composed of more than 17,000 islands, has many insular ecosystems that are quite rich thanks to their isolation. Komodo National Park, for instance, protects a unique insular ecosystem that is home to the world’s largest living lizard, the Komodo dragon. India is home to the vast Kaziranga National Park, which houses two-thirds of the world’s great one-horned rhinoceroses and many other species, including tigers, elephants, panthers, and gray pelicans. Similarly, Nepal’s Chitwan National Park protects the habitat of the Royal Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, one-horned rhinoceros, and various other animals. Landscape-wise, the scene of its grassy banks and meandering rivers is one of the most unique in the world. In many Asian cultures, there is great reverence for nature and consequently for many of Asia’s diverse national parks. This is evident not only in the management and administration of the parks, but in nature as a whole, with the tiger considered a protector south of the Himalayas. However, the reality in the new millennium is that most national parks in Asia continue to face the twin challenges of habitat loss due to both local encroachment and the establishment of urban areas, as well as development in and around parks and subsequent impacts on wildlife populations from what are often conflicting interests with the people who have coexisted with the wildlife of the region for centuries. As a result of this urban encroachment, many of these protected areas have lost a large proportion of their resource base that can sustain large mammalian populations. Though confined to small areas, many of these parks now harbor a wide variety of wildlife that is quite different from that of Africa. National parks in Asia continue to occupy the hearts and minds of the people of Asia and indeed most worldwide. Even in places like India, where mostly foreigners frequent the parks, there is an annual park and wildlife seminar attended by many prominent individuals. There is also a dedicated newsletter for the region on parks and wildlife issues. Moreover, as the most populated area in the world, parks in Asia offer many wildlife watching opportunities, including tigers, rhinos, elephants, and many others for those interested. Aside from wildlife, travelers could spend many months visiting Indian parks and observing the various elephants and cultures, some of which are showcased as hard cash items of tourism promotions in India and Nepal. Parks also offer medical benefits through the plants and herbs that are a large part of medical treatments even today in Asia. These may or may not be a part of a visitor’s travel experience, of course. Other aspects that draw people to parks are the cultural experiences, such as learning about sacred groves, the impact of religion, and the beliefs of indigenous peoples in these regions, and how they interact with their environments. Resident populations in and around the parks also offer boutique products for visitors to buy, adding value to a visitor’s experience with the possible benefit to the host community. In addition to the above, the region is host to several of the world’s large river systems, and along their expansive courses, several wetland parks offer opportunities to observe various birds and other water-associated wildlife, sport fishing, boat safaris, horseback riding, and more, along with witnessing, or even participating in, some of the oldest bush-to-tusk debates on the ecology and management of such parks. One of the main challenges in preserving the parks in the region is that very few of these parks are isolated from one another, with borders that are easily seen and accessed. On the other hand, many parks in the region do represent an international effort at transboundary conservation in one form or another.
Africa
Africa is home to some of the world’s most incredible national parks. These parks are teeming with wildlife as well as diverse ecosystems. For wildlife enthusiasts, there’s no place like Africa. The Serengeti in Tanzania is one park where visitors can see migration. Each year, nearly 2 million wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles make the dangerous journey from Tanzania into Kenya. At Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique, visitors can see an incredible array of wildlife. Until recently, some of these animals were nearly wiped out by overhunting and decades of war. Now the park is working to bring the animals and the local community back. South Africa’s Kruger National Park has a lot of elephants, but it’s also home to the Big Five: lions, leopards, buffalo, and rhinoceros, in addition to elephants. Rhinos are also a big attraction in Kenya’s Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. The ranch houses some 120 black and white rhinos, while the rest of Kenya is home to about 900 black and 4,500 white rhinos. This is one of the few places where you can see the species. All over the world, rhino poachers are winning, killing more every year. Lewa is a private ranch created to give these endangered species a better chance of survival. The profits from tourism go into conserving the animals. Informing the public about the creatures and promoting the value of conserving them are the keys to success.
Across the way, in Uganda’s Murchison Falls National Park, you can spot leopards and see an amazing waterfall. More than 5,200 miles of land in eastern Africa are protected in the Serengeti National Park, a vast area of plains, rivers, hills, and woods. The park has the largest diversity of animals on the planet, including such endangered species as lions, elephants, rhinos, and zebras. When a drought hits the region, some of these animals migrate to Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, which also has enormous herds of animals. Poaching of elephants and rhinos is still a major concern at these African parks, even though they are protected areas. In addition, they are concerned about food shortages caused by conflict and diseases that diminish their habitat. To balance their own interests, local people must decide to kill animals for food or earn a profit from them. Despite these major challenges, people are rallying to save these wild places. “Tourism is the lifeblood of Africa’s national park system.” “It’s the only way to stop the wilderness and wildlife from disappearing. It’s also the only way to create conservation economies that lift people out of poverty.” More than 100 national parks around the world could be lost within the next 15 years. “It’s already happening.” “We’re going to lose 100 national parks in total.”
Oceania
National parks in Oceania serve the same function, working to conserve the unique biodiversity and ecosystems present in that country. Fiordland National Park, situated in New Zealand, encompasses a range of landscapes from expansive lakes to towering peaks. The park has gained international recognition for its role in conserving New Zealand’s biodiversity and was named a World Heritage Site for its pristine natural landscape. In Australia, the Great Barrier Reef National Park is home to the world’s largest reef system. This great expanse of marine life supports a diverse range of organisms and lures millions of tourists every year. The park also provides a source of food and a connection to culture for the Indigenous population of Eastern Australia and has become a place central to those communities. Filming on the reef is also providing incentive for the protection of this ecosystem.
Indigenous communities also play a significant role in the management and protection of national parks by drawing on traditional Indigenous knowledge. Indigenous communities have substantial knowledge of the land passed down through generations and have a unique cultural connection with the park, enabling conservation practices that integrate traditional knowledge and the development of sustainable ecotourism. Small island nations represent an even greater percentage of their countryside as national parks. Isolated island ecosystems are particularly susceptible to the introduction and spread of invasive species due to their generally small landmass size. National parks protect fragile ecosystems from outside threats such as invasive species and climate change. By definition, national parks also provide significant recreational opportunities for locals and tourists and are well maintained. Snorkeling, hiking, and sightseeing are but a few options for visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of these parks. Climate change and the spread of invasive species are two major threats to national parks. The conservation of these natural treasures is necessary to ensure the ongoing existence of beautiful and unique ecosystems in these countries for future generations.
Activities and Attractions in National Parks
National parks around the world serve many functions, including recreation. Common activities in almost all the national parks include trekking, hiking, mountain climbing, abseiling, rafting, kayaking, and mountain biking. Popular in most parks, wildlife watching is an activity often cited by visitors as the primary purpose of their trip. Many national parks also offer camping areas. These areas range from wilderness-based backcountry camping areas to basic low-cost campsites and high-end facilities. There are a range of camping methods available in most parks, including campervan facilities, cabins, and hostels.
In many countries, it is compulsory to use designated huts when trekking or mountaineering in national parks. Such huts provide basic shelter and could include bunk bed facilities, and in some cases, cooking facilities, shower facilities, and interpretive and guided walks programs. Most states have established visitor centers and museums that offer information and displays on the natural and cultural history of the park, as well as a schedule of ranger-led activities, such as slide shows, guided walks, guest speakers, and campfire programs that focus on the ecology, history, and resources of the park. Access and programs may change with the seasons. In tropical locations, floods, cyclones, and torrents are often mentioned. Snow and ice are often cited in national parks located in alpine or polar regions. In some cases, the weather hazards are predictable. Local towns and regions often benefit economically from the recreational activities of national park visitors. Cities and towns close to parks can profit from visitor spending on accommodation and out-of-park attractions.
Hiking and Trekking
Hiking and trekking are typical activities undertaken in many national parks. Trails are provided in a range of types, from easy walks to challenging backcountry routes. Hiking brings people into close contact with nature and also offers an opportunity to understand ecosystems more intimately. Many hikers also consider the physical exertion to be part of the enjoyment of the activity. Safety should be seen as one of the most important issues. Proper prerequisites help provide rewarding experiences and reduce morbidity and environmental degradation. Some trails are of special significance and importance as focal points for cultural and spiritual understanding or may have deep historic import. Many trails have specific characteristics that vary with the season: flora, fauna, human use, and weather equally add to the mix of the trail’s effect on the wilderness and the hiker. One developed area trail may be used by thousands in the backcountry and intensively affect wildlife. Another trail, with controlled access and careful management and light use, can be experienced much as hikers before history would have experienced it. Many hikers welcome opportunities to hike with other hikers—day and multi-day treks led by guides and interpreters in the natural and human history of the trail can and do foster trail consciousness and trail protectiveness.
Wildlife Viewing
One of the primary reasons that people visit national parks is to view wildlife. In places like Eastern Africa and the Northwest United States, visitors may see and photograph hundreds of species of birds and mammals, located in several different ecosystems within the park. Regardless of the setting, wildlife viewing draws people from all over the world. For many people, the only way that they may see wildlife is in a park or other protected area. Because viewing wildlife is so attractive to so many visitors, managing wildlife can be challenging. Parks must not only balance the sometimes conflicting needs of wildlife species, but also need to educate visitors about appropriate wildlife viewing practices. For instance, feeding animals decreases the animals’ ability to be self-sufficient, may lead to injury of people or damage to their property, and undermines the protection of wildlife populations. Yet in the US, Canada, and other countries, it is illegal to intentionally place food to attract wildlife.
In some parks, visitors may view species that have not been as lucky. Many parks offer an active wildlife recovery program. Participation in interpretive programs such as ranger-naturalist guided hikes or wildlife viewing is increasing in popularity. Sometimes the best wildlife viewing is best done in conjunction with the least populated times of the year. In many parks and wildlife refuges, animals tend to move to lower elevations and valleys in the winter, and can provide better viewing opportunities. Even at this time, however, a variety of weather conditions may hamper wildlife viewing. Wildlife will usually begin moving to higher elevations in the spring. Guided tours, conducted by knowledgeable naturalists, are more regularly present in themes such as valley ecosystems or wildlife viewing. A number of interesting fine points concerning wildlife behavior and ecology are included where applicable. Often, in the wildlife sanctuaries of India, the extra benefit of being led by a local guide or park naturalist streamlines the visitors’ viewing experiences. These local experts know the Indian game parks like the back of their hands and can help track and predict the animals’ movements. Often, seeing an animal is the result of much hard work, and it is interesting for the visitor to be let in on the process. Poison arrows can be quite exciting to watch, particularly when your guide demonstrates it. Often, the guides relive history with the visitor, telling blood-curdling stories of man-eating tigers. Experienced guides know the breeding habits of vultures and the best place to watch the winter migration of the storks and cranes. Even in the restricted areas of the wildlife sanctuaries and game parks, the local people and visitors have a good chance of seeing an impressive array of birds such as Sarus cranes, painted storks, and ibises.
Camping and Lodging Options
Camping is a quintessential national park experience, and visitors have their pick of camping styles. Rugged, do-it-yourself types can head out for a primitive, backcountry, or wilderness camping experience anywhere that’s allowed. National park accommodations may be limited, but options abound right at the edge of the parks in gateway communities and further afield. The park properties have variously elegant, historic, or just plain fun lodging options, from serviced campgrounds to cozy cabins and full-service hotels. Whether you’re sleeping out under the stars or snuggled indoors, every national park lodging has its unique charm. One of the best parts of visiting a national park is the chance to spend the night surrounded by the wonders of nature. Whether you spend your days exploring wondrous landscapes by foot, bike, boat, or car, overnight hours in a park offer an entirely different experience. Camping and lodging options vary widely among national parks, letting you choose how close to nature you want to be when you set up your home away from home. If you plan to stay overnight in a campground or at a lodge while visiting a national park, it’s essential to check ahead and know your options. Campsite reservations are essential in most national parks, where an increasing number of guests and a limited number of places to camp can lead to swift “no vacancy” notices. National park campgrounds range from primitive to “glamping,” both inside major parks and in the more than 200 properties of the National Park Service. Some parks have developed a reputation for their spectacular camping facilities. Amenities and fees vary, but all the campgrounds in our parks aim for a light footprint with minimal impacts.
Conservation and Sustainability Efforts in National Parks
National parks lay the groundwork for preserving land and conserving threatened species for future generations to experience and enjoy. By taking a proactive approach, national parks play a pivotal role in holding off the most serious environmental threats, including pollution, habitat destruction, and non-native invasive plants and animals. Park management teams employ a variety of strategies to ensure the parks are well-managed and that sustainable practices are followed. These include restoring heavily impacted habitats, protecting and reintroducing rare species, and ensuring a balance between animals and their ecosystems. Additionally, national parks often collaborate with local and regional conservation organizations to achieve mutual goals.
Conserving parks for the long term involves the development and implementation of sustainability initiatives that support local human economies and curb human ecological footprints. By working with the economies surrounding the parks in a collaborative manner, park administration contributes to conserving the local culture, businesses, and quality of life. Protected areas offer visitors a chance to experience the cultural, historically important, and personally fulfilling shared aspect of being in close contact with relatively undisturbed nature. Despite the productive mixing of rural and urban/agricultural land uses, park managers undertake initiatives to promote the diversified use and conservation of natural, historical, and ethnographic resources. Importantly, a major goal of many parks is providing visitors with intriguing and educational experiences, fostering habits that will serve to enrich the conservation ethic of generations to come.
Adaptive management is an approach to conservation management and policy development that is based on learning by doing. This principles-based approach allows conservation managers to incorporate new knowledge and technologies over time, as well as new cultural, historical, and ecological perspectives. It is an ideal tool to foster interdisciplinary and interagency collaboration, and thus also new learning about how natural ecosystems function and the best ways to find compatible strategies for conserving them. In contrast to top-down decision-making, where all decisions are made before any action is initiated, in adaptive management, managers continue to monitor and improve conservation projects from their inception through their lifespan, changing course where necessary. Just as the wisdom of crowds is sometimes found to be greater than that of any single individual, the wisdom and experience of many, all active and involved in a process, is often much greater than that of just a few humans running the show.