Environmental Issues: Wildlands

Our National Parks at Risk

America's national parks hold some of the greatest scenic wonders of the West. From the turquoise-colored glacial lakes of Glacier National Park to the brilliant alpine meadows of Mount Rainier to the grizzly bear haunts of Yellowstone, these parks bring Americans face-to-face with wild, majestic beauty.

	Video Commentary: NRDC's Johanna Wald

But these wilderness gems are confronting the greatest threat in their history -- global warming. The world is heating up, and the signs are already visible in the parks: rising temperatures, prolonged drought, severe wildfires and diminished snowfall.

As these forces intensify, the landscapes that we cherish could be drastically transformed. Within 25 years, all the glaciers may be gone from Glacier National Park. The signature tundra scenery of Rocky Mountain National Park could disappear. And soaring temperatures in the Colorado Plateau could make favorite parks like Zion and Arches too hot for summer visitors. The following 12 parks face the greatest risks from global warming:

• Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico
• Death Valley National Park, California
• Glacier National Park, Montana
• Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah/Arizona
• Golden Gate National Recreation Area, California
• Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
• Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
• Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
• North Cascades National Park, Washington
• Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
• Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming/Idaho/Montana
• Yosemite National Park, California

But we can ward off this threat to our national parks. Solutions exist today to stop global warming. If we act now -- by putting clean, innovative energy technologies to use and by enacting policies to encourage their rapid, widespread adoption -- we can prevent serious damage. State and regional leaders throughout the West are already taking the first steps.

With a combination of local and national action to halt global warming, we can help ensure that millions of Americans will be able to enjoy these national treasures for generations to come.

Related link:
Global Warming