 
Nearly 90 years ago, as the world careened toward all-out war, President Woodrow Wilson signed into law the National Parks Organic Act, creating a national system of parks. Less than three decades later, the country was again on the verge of war and pressures mounted to mine, log, and extract valuable resources from the parks. But protections for our nation's parks prevailed. The nation and its leaders believed then - as many do now - that the national parks, these touchstones of our history and our most significant landscapes, are our heritage and legacy. These places represent the soul of our nation and deserve the highest form of protection.
In just 12 years, the National Park System - described by author Wallace Stegner as the best idea America ever had - will celebrate its 100th anniversary. NPCA is committed to creating, by that anniversary, a National Park System that sets the highest examples in sound management, superlative resource protection, and innovative public initiatives that other agencies and organizations would seek to emulate. The world's wealthiest nation has an obligation to meet the challenge of creating this system. The American people - who respect and cherish our nation's parks-deserve nothing less.
For more than 80 years, NPCA has focused on protecting the nation's parks, ensuring that these special places are preserved for current and future generations. In simple terms, our mission is to ensure that the parks tell the American story and protect America's heritage.
We have described our vision for a fully funded National Park System and shared that vision with Congress and the administration. For more than three years, we have made improving the funding of our parks a primary goal. You have helped us in this effort by writing to your representatives and senators to encourage them to support additional funding and sharing your stories about the importance of having money to pay for rangers.
This past fall, Congress took an important step toward our centennial vision by providing an unprecedented increase of nearly 5 percent for the operations of each of the 388 national parks across the country. This increase will stop the hemorrhaging of staff and programs, but doesn't yet enable parks to meet critical needs.
Because of this, NPCA needs your help to ensure that national parks remain a priority for the administration and Congress. NPCA will continue our work with the administration and national park champions on Capitol Hill. Our agenda for the coming year is clear, just as it has been for more than 80 years. With your help, we will continue to ensure that our parks are protected in perpetuity.
Thomas C. Kiernan |
