Preservation Campaign News

For Immediate Release:                                                                 For More Information:

Wednesday, October 31^st                                                              Gina Goodhill

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Environment Groups Call on Congress to Approve $200 Million Funding Increase for National Parks. Over $5 Billion Needed for Full Funding in Coming Years

San Francisco – With only a few weeks until the federal government finalizes the FY08 budget, Environment California, the National Park Conservation Association, and the Planning and Conservation League, urged Congress to approve the largest funding increase in national park history. The FY08 budget would increase national park funding by $200 million.

“Our national parks are irreplaceable gems – we cannot make new ones if we lose the ones we have,” said Gina Goodhill, preservation associate for Environment California.  “Yet with a growing funding deficit and increasing environmental problems, their existence as we know them remains uncertain.”

The national park system has deficit of over $5 billion. The operational deficit alone is nearly $800 million.  Environment California said more money may be needed, but that current deficits make it nearly impossible to assess and ameliorate the host of environmental problems facing the parks, such as air pollution, overdevelopment, invasive species and global warming.

“For a real scare, look at the number one threat facing our National Parks – global warming, “ said Matt Vander Sluis.  “Without sufficient financial investment in our parks, we simply won’t be able to ensure that the wildlife they protect can survive changing climatic conditions.”

Environment California said that $800 million is the minimum amount needed to start correcting the operational funding deficit facing the parks.  It does not fix the $900 million backlog for maintenance, or the $1.8 billion shortfall for land acquisitions.

Environment California also highlighted the many environmental problems facing the parks, for which funding needs have not yet been fully assessed.  The parks suffer from air pollution, overdevelopment, water pollution and invasive species.  The controversial development project that was approved last month near Lassen Volcanic National Park was highlighted as a problem, as was the air pollution at Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks.

“As the nation approaches the centennial in 2016, we should commit ourselves to creating, by that anniversary, a well-funded National Park System that encompasses healthy ecosystems and well-preserved cultural and historic landmarks,” said Ron Sundergill, Pacific Regional Director for the National Park Conservation Association.

Goodhill also urged Congress to take the same leadership that Senator Feinstein took 13 years ago when she passed the Desert Protection Act.  “We are asking Congress not to trick our national parks with a budget shortfall; instead, treat them with the respect they need by passing the proposed funding increase of $200 million for fiscal year 2008,” said Goodhill.

Environment California is a statewide non-profit environmental organization that works on clean air, clean water and open space. For more information visit www.environmentcalifornia.org

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