Protecting the Legacy

Brenden Rowan - DN Illustration
Brenden Rowan - DN Illustration

Elaine Ulsh is a third-year computer science and physics major and writes “The Occasional Observer” for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.

I have always said that my favorite president is Theodore Roosevelt. This statement leads to many weird looks from those who only know him as a Republican president.

But honestly, it has nothing to do with politics at all. I’m more interested in his work in helping to create spaces where our nation’s natural beauty can flourish, untouched: our national parks. 

When I think about where I am the happiest, I imagine cliffs overlooking tall trees exploding with green leaves, free-flowing water filled with fish and the sky dotted with more stars than you can count. These sights cannot be found in cities and towns because the very existence of those things destroys beauty.

I have so many memories of my parents taking my brothers and me hiking or riding our bikes on a trail. When I got older, that translated to going to several state parks with my now-fiancé in our free time throughout high school. There was even a point when all I wanted to do was go to a park and work on my photography skills. I was and still am obsessed with Smokey Bear.

Though my time spent outdoors has been limited in my college years, I still make sure that nature and I spend quality time together whenever I get the chance.

I honestly believe that being outdoors is the key to being the purest self you can be. Without spending time in true nature, we begin to lose touch with what has made us human in the first place.

For a long time, I wanted to be a part of the forest rangers. I wanted to protect the outdoors from the grasp of humans. We have already destroyed so much of this planet, and thus, we must set aside land for nature to flourish.

It was for these reasons that Roosevelt took action. He created the United States Forest Service and established “150 national forests, 51 federal bird reserves, 4 national game preserves, 5 national parks and 18 national monuments,” according to the National Park Service (NPS). This was done through the 1906 American Antiquities Act, which was “the first law to provide general legal protection of cultural and national resources of historic or scientific interest on federal lands.”

Over his tenure, Roosevelt protected around 230 million acres of nature. Today, according to the National Park Foundation, there are currently 433 national park sites in the United States and its territories, up over 200 sites in the last hundred years.

These acts of conservation are not new. Not only do they create jobs, such as park rangers or conservation specialists, but they also allow us to connect with true, pure nature. If the land was deemed worthy so long ago, why is it not worthy of that same protection today?

These lands are just as sacred as they were 119 years ago, no matter what your personal beliefs are. 

Our national parks are in danger.

The Associated Press estimated that more than 1,000 newly hired park service employees were let go Feb. 14 in relation to the Trump administration’s effort to cut federal spending.

To me, this is not a political issue. This is about protecting the world we were given. It’s about cherishing and not taking for granted something that cannot be rebuilt as simply as it is destroyed.

According to the Pew Research Center, 75 percent of Americans are particularly concerned about the environment, with only 20 percent saying they make an effort to live in ways that help protect the environment. 

I am not saying that we do not need to take individual measures, such as recycling and limiting our waste production. However, we take for granted the work that people are paid to do to protect our environment, including park service employees.

Firing those who help to protect our most sacred, conserved areas is not something that should have even been considered. It is extremely unnecessary and harmful. 

Without such workers, these parks would be forced into making tough decisions about things we, at present, take for granted. National parks are typically open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But without proper staffing, this is expected to no longer be the case.

It is worth mentioning that after the vicious backlash faced by the general public, it is estimated that around 50 of the 1,000 jobs were restored, which is about five percent. The NPS has also pledged to hire around 7,000 seasonal workers for the coming season, which is hundreds more than hired in a typical season. However, this still does not make up for the discrepancy from the newly fired workers.

So, the question that we should be asking ourselves is: Is this good enough? 

Over time, people have created numerous conspiracy theories about the government overstepping or having more power than is spoken about publicly. But when it is right in front of our faces, no one seems to care at all.

And although those in the Department of Government Efficiency, such as Elon Musk, don’t have the actual power to fire people, it is ultimately his reports that are getting thousands fired in mere months. 

Just because a man has gained power and deemed our park sites unnecessary to protect doesn’t mean he is right. It is our duty as citizens to take action and protect nature in this country.

What will be destroyed due to the appointment of yet another money-hungry billionaire in our government? Our education system? The Department of Energy?

Some things cannot and should not be about money. Protecting the little bit of nature our country has left is so important. It doesn’t have to be about protecting the environment. It can be about wanting to always have a place to enjoy outdoor activities like camping, fishing, hiking or even swimming. 

Roosevelt’s legacy in the creation of our national parks and the protection of our natural resources needs to live on.

Although protecting the environment is important to me personally, my desire to preserve our national parks is purely selfish. And that’s OK. If it gets you to take action, then so be it. 

The most important thing is taking action. We need to pay attention. Look into your local parks, your favorite state park, or even a nature reserve. Watch for sneaky legislation. See what’s going on. Be informed. Otherwise, our connection to nature could be swept from under our feet without us even noticing until it’s too late.

Contact Elaine Ulsh via email at elaine.ulsh@bsu.edu.

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