Study Guide: Humans, Animals, and National Parks

Yellowstone

First U.S. National Park, established in 1872 to protect geothermal features.

Banff

Canada’s first national park, established in 1885 primarily for tourism.

Mt. Mitchell

First North Carolina State Park, created in 1915 to halt logging degradation.

National Park Service

Established in 1916 by the Organic Act to manage national parks, first director was Stephen Mather.

John Muir

Naturalist who advocated for preservation and influenced Theodore Roosevelt.

Theodore Roosevelt

Conservationist president who enacted the Antiquities Act of 1906.

Gifford Pinchot

Founder of the Forest Service, known for his conservation efforts.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas

Advocated for the preservation of the Everglades, leading to the establishment of Everglades National Park in 1947.

National Parks Organic Act

Legislation passed in 1916 that established the National Park Service.

Endangered Species Act

Passed in 1973 to protect ecosystems and endangered species.

Wilderness Act

Enacted in 1964 to establish the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Leopold Report

A 1963 report that shifted the National Park Service's focus toward ecological preservation.

Antiquities Act

A 1906 act that allows presidents to designate national monuments.

Indigenous communities

Original inhabitants of national park lands, often displaced.

Urbanization

An increase in urban areas that has fueled national park visitation since the early 1900s.

Natural resources

Includes natural, historical, or cultural resources protected by the National Park Service.

Gray wolf

An example of a natural, historical, and cultural resource discussed in park contexts.

Wilderness preservation benefits

Two ways include ecological balance and biodiversity conservation.

Dam Removal (Elwha River)

A restoration project in 2011 that helped revive salmon runs and river ecology.

Poaching

Illegal hunting practices that harm non-target species, such as lions in Zambia.

Agriculture & Tourism

Pressures impacting parks like Kruger National Park (South Africa) and Great Smoky Mountains NP.

Climate Change

A significant environmental challenge leading to controversial political actions.

Land Conflicts

Issues like the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupation and Buffalo River protests.

Human-Animal Bond

Explored through various academic disciplines including geography and psychology.

Preservation vs Conservation

Preservation minimizes human impact, while conservation involves sustainable resource use.

Grizzly Bears

Iconic species found in and around Yellowstone, facing population declines.

U.S. Department of the Interior

The parent department of the National Park Service.

NPS Budget

Approximately $17.6 billion for the fiscal year 2025.

Secretary of the Interior

The Cabinet position responsible for influencing park management.

Gates of the Arctic National Park

Second-largest U.S. national park, located in Alaska with no roads or trails.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Most visited national park in the U.S., located on Cherokee ancestral lands.

Yellowstone Ecosystem

Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is roughly the size of Indiana, home to diverse wildlife.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Known for its historical significance and natural beauty.

Fiordland National Park

New Zealand park with a unique ecosystem, home to the Māori people.

Kruger National Park

Established in 1926 in South Africa, known for its rich biodiversity.

Luangwa National Parks

Zambian parks that form a major wildlife corridor with significant conservation efforts.

Invasive species

Non-native species threatening ecosystems, especially in national parks.

Wildlife monitoring

Involves techniques like aerial surveys, GPS tracking, and genetics for conservation.

Cultural survival

Preservation and continuation of indigenous and local cultures within park borders.

Bison management

Efforts to control the bison population in Yellowstone through transfers and slaughter.

Coyote ecology

The study of coyotes' role in ecosystems, including predator-prey dynamics.

Development pressures

Challenges faced by parks due to urban expansion and infrastructure projects.