WHAT WE DO

   Created in 1917 as Mount McKinley National Park, Denali National Park and Preserve's original boundaries constitute one of the world's largest protected ecosystems. Congress expanded the park in 1980 to protect more than six million acres of sub-arctic Alaska, roughly the size of New Hampshire.

   Today, one of every four tourists to Alaska visits Denali National Park. But according to the park's business plan, Denali's inflation-adjusted base operating budget decreased 7 percent from 1983 to 1999. The plan, based on 1999 budget numbers, identified an annual shortfall of $4.3 million. NPCA's July 2003 State of the Parks® report put the park's annual funding shortfall at $11 million.

   This funding is needed to cover the costs of critical research and visitor services such as continuation of a long-term study on wolf population dynamics and operation of the new visitor facilities. A full-time archaeologist would allow Denali to discover more about the relationship forged between humans and the natural environment over the centuries. A full-time museum curator is needed to catalog and protect the park's archives, which number well into the thousands. The park has 144 known historic sites, but can afford to keep only 20 percent in good condition.

   Although the park has new visitor centers and science and research centers and has received funding from the Natural Resource Challenge to augment park programs, current funding levels are inadequate for operations and supporting staff in science, education, and outreach. Nearly three-quarters of park visitors have little or no exposure to Denali's interpretive and educational programs.

   As a result of a $262,000 budget cut in fiscal year 2004 and more than $550,000 worth of unfunded expenses, Denali will be forced to make many budget adjustments, including the reduction of its seasonal summer staff by 6 percent.