FEATURED PARK
Fort Davis National Historic Site, Texas
Curious about life at a frontier military post? Wondering what it would have been like to serve in the military at a remote post in the Southwest during the Indian Wars? Then Fort Davis National Historic Site in Texas should be on your list of parks to visit this summer. It is one of the best examples of a frontier fort in the Southwest. Fort Davis is widely recognized for its role in the history of the "Buffalo Soldiers," African Americans who served in the frontier army. Undeveloped and historic views help tell the story of army life on the American frontier. The views at Fort Davis are just as much a part of the experience as the fort itself. Wide-open vistas help park visitors experience the frontier as the soldiers did in the nineteenth century.
But these important views were threatened recently when a prominent bluff behind the historic fort went on the market. This 38-acre tract is only 250 feet from the boundary of the fort—and if a developer were to purchase the land and build commercial or residential buildings, it would mar the park's scenic views and diminish the park's historic character.
To protect the park and visitor experience, NPCA's Texas office took action. We worked with the Friends of Fort Davis National Historic Site, the local chapter of The Conservation Fund, as well as county officials and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. We engaged the congressional delegation, and generated front-page news articles about the development threat. And we're pleased to tell you that we won!
Read More About Fort Davis > >
Watch the Slideshow > >
NPCA REPORT
America's Heritage For Sale
 Where is America's hottest real estate market? It could be our national parks.
That's right. Luxury houses and commercial developments may be built right in the heart of many national parks. While Congress drew the boundaries, the White House and Congress have yet to provide the funds needed to purchase all of the land within those parks.
NPCA has published America's Heritage For Sale, which takes the first comprehensive look in decades at the development threats to land within national park boundaries. The report highlights ten national parks with "For Sale" signs within their boundaries.
Learn More > >
NEW PODCAST
Park Stories: Development Marches on Saguaro National Park
 The giant saguaro cactus is one of the many features that lures travelers to Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona. But this inspiring Sonoran desert landscape has also lured development, which, as Park Stories host Jim Williams reports, is increasingly biting at the edges of Saguaro National Park, and risking the views and wildlife of this fragile place.
Download Today > >
NPCA AT WORK IN THE PARKS
Report States that the U.S. Virgin Islands Are at Risk
 Few experiences compare to snorkeling through tranquil turquoise waters, where you glide effortlessly among colorful fish, sea turtles, and spectacular coral formations; or walking along a warm white sand beach at sunset with swaying palms whispering in the evening breeze. Visions like this draw tourists to the Caribbean Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are no exception.
A popular attraction for millions of visitors each year, Virgin Islands National Park and Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument are at risk from development on privately-owned land within and adjacent to park boundaries. According to a new assessment by NPCA's Center for State of the Parks, chronic funding and staffing shortfalls have limited the National Park Service's ability to protect the parks' historic structures and marine ecosystems.
Read the full report > >
NPCA AT WORK IN THE PARKS
NPCA's Northwest Regional Office Wins Cooperative Conservation Award
NPCA's Northwest Regional Office and its leadership in the Northwest Storm Recovery Coalition has been recognized by the Department of the Interior as one of its 2008 Cooperative Conservation Award winners!
Congratulations to NPCA's Northwest team—Sean Smith (the coalition's Chair), David Graves, and Shane Farnor—for the great work they've done and the leadership they have provided in helping Rainier and Olympic recover from crippling storms. NPCA will share the award with coalition partners, which include the Student Conservation Association, The Mountaineers, Washington Trails Association, Washington National Park Foundation, and the National Park Service.
TAKE ACTION
Energy Corridors Could Threaten National Parks in Pennsylvania
 Senator Casey (D-PA) is taking the lead to stop the U.S. Department of Energy and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from allowing power lines wherever they choose.
The National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors are areas of the country where transmission companies have been given new power to go directly to the federal government and site high voltage lines, superceding state processes and decisions. This could have a devastating impact on alternative sources of energy, greenhouse gas emissions, and farms and communities in the state since these lines are designed to serve coal fired power plants, making local generation and alternative energy options less competitive.
This trend, which we may continue to see throughout the country, could potentially affect our national parks. Click here to sign Senator Casey's petition to reject the Department of Energy's corridors program!
PARK NEWS
Flight 93 Memorial to Gain More Than 900 Acres
 Plans to create a permanent memorial to the passengers and crew killed aboard Flight 93 have taken a giant step forward. The Families of Flight 93 announced in March that they will purchase over 900 acres of land near Shanksville in western Pennsylvania. This purchase brings the total land acquired for the park up to 75 percent.
Once complete, the memorial will cover approximately 2,200 acres and include easements on 900 acres as a view shed to protect the memorial from incompatible development.
Congress authorized the park in 2002. The memorial will honor the passengers and crew of Flight 93 who lost their lives in a heroic struggle to stop an attack on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2001. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 2009.
NPCA EVENT
NPCA Announces Our
2008 Salute to the Parks Gala
 Protecting America's Heritage
The Salute to the Parks Gala offers one of the largest and most influential gatherings involving the conservation and environmental communities. This event celebrates America's national parks, calls attention to their needs, and recognizes individuals whose dedication to the national parks and impact on the system deserves attention.
This year's honorees include the Honorable Nick Rahall (D-WV), who will be awarded the William Penn Mott Jr. Park Leadership Award, and Dr. Edward Osborne (E.O.) Wilson, who will be awarded the Robin W. Winks Award for Enhancing Public Understanding of National Parks.
When:
6:00 PM, Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Where:
National Building Museum
Washington, DC
For additional event information, please contact Elizabeth Jordan, Manager, Special Events, at ejordan@npca.org or 1.800.628.7275.
FACES
Meet the Voice of NPCA
 Literally. When you call NPCA's Washington, D.C. office, you hear Jim Thomson directing you to the right extension. You can also find Jim helping our members and supporters with whatever they need. Jim is an avid park supporter, and has been an invaluable member of NPCA's staff for more than ten years. Here's his story:
I was lucky enough to grow up in the National Park System. My father was a wildlife photographer and I spent my childhood traveling with him across the American West. I joined the family business as an adult and for many years we ranged across the Park System (with occasional breaks for school). Our home base was Alaska, but we worked in parks and wilderness all across the country.
By the mid-90s it had become clear to me that the places I loved were in terrible danger and that I would have to go where I might be able to play a role in protecting them. Leaving Alaska was difficult, but not as hard as it would have been to sit on the sidelines. In 1997, NPCA hired me full-time. It's the most rewarding work I've ever done.
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August 7-13, 2008
The Trustees for the Parks are a special group of dedicated members whose annual commitments of $1,000 or more support NPCA's work to preserve our national parks as a legacy for future generations. 
