NPCA President's Statement About New Report by National Park Service Retirees

- "We welcome the Call to Action from this dedicated, experienced group of hundreds of former senior National Park Service officials. The report, a statement of concern by those who know the parks best, strongly underscores the importance of our national heritage and the leadership needed from Congress and the White House to address the declining health of our parks.

"Not only do our parks suffer from an annual shortfall in excess of $600 million annually, but park protections are also being eroded by misguided policy decisions. The report's recommendation to launch a "National Parks Blue Ribbon Commission" could provide important guidance for addressing park needs and creating the strongest possible National Park Service to preserve the parks."

The National Parks Conservation Association's report on the $600 million annual funding shortfall and critical staffing shortages in the national parks, Endangered Rangers, is available online at www.npca.org/report/endangeredrangers.asp. Information about the national parks' burgeoning backlog of maintenance needs is available at www.npca.org/report/backlog.asp