The 152 Year Experiment
March 1, 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant, signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act and the world’s first national park was born. At first, no government funds were given to the park. Threats from poachers, unsavory developers and chaos finally brought some funds in 1878. Then in 1916, the National Park Service was established to guide the management and protection of the area. Today, Yellowstone is one of 63 National Parks plus national monuments, national preserves (our Tallgrass Prairie being one) and other protected designations (424 total). We need such places to preserve and protect ecosystems as well as for human mental and physical health. This was a grand experiment and a gift for all of us.
Earth Steward Action: Give thanks to past actions that created a national park system. What can we learn from their example?
Sources:
https://www.npca.org/ (learn and donate)