Message From Advocates: Cancel Your National Park Visit
Let park employees fight for our land without distractions
The public’s role in showing support for our national lands and the employees who care for them is evolving right along with Trump’s assaults on them. Initially, there was a call to show up to parks, demonstrate their value to the public through visitors, and confront policy changes in person, with protest signs or petition comments.
And our people enthusiastically answered the call.
Now, since the government shutdown started, the path forward has changed. While national parks and forests are still open, they are sorely unequipped to handle visitors. Even well-meaning volunteers can get in the way of employees’ ability to manage and surveil the land.
Here’s why:
At the beginning of the year, 24% of National Park permanent staff were fired. Though some were reinstated, park employees have remained stretched thin.
Since the shutdown, over 9,000 more (or 64% of remaining staff) have been furloughed. These include people who are necessary to assist and keep visitors safe.
Further permanent cuts are expected.
Fire suppression staff is down to 3,300, and is expected to be further reduced to 1,000 when a Wildland Fire Management carryover fund runs out. More visitors increase the risk of wildfires.
The advice?
Stay away… just for now. Urge others to postpone visits.
Pressure Secretary Burgum to shut down the parks while the government shutdown continues (link to contact page here).
Advocate for federal employees to come back to work and for our National Park and Forest Services to be fully funded by calling and writing letters to your congress people.
Let them know YOU KNOW how unfair it is that we are forced to stay away from our beloved public places—while those who would do them harm are given unprecedented access.
With love and hope for the future,
Stephanie Lovely
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Thanks for relaying this important message!