The document discusses the history and future challenges of national parks. It notes that while national parks were originally established to promote both natural protection and human enjoyment, growing tourism is putting pressure on parks' ability to support heavy use. Looking to the past can help understand how shifts in human values have both protected and exploited natural areas. The future will likely bring issues of overuse, climate change impacts, and less government funding, requiring new collaborative management strategies between various stakeholders to sustainably balance conservation and tourism.

1. Tracy Mezger
RECN341
28/03/2013
“Implications of National Parks and the Future”
As we continue the effort for a better future and human quality of life, we must analyse
what is most important to us. It is a matter of prioritising our wants and needs socially,
economically, and culturally. Contemporary society needs National Parks not only for nature to
flourish but for humans to flourish alongside. Although the concept of conservation differs in
meaning to people, there is a trend of education and awareness happening around the world that
is proving the societal value in natural areas. Some may argue that it has become too popular in
regions and that overuse and crowding will lead to the destruction of these valued areas. We will
discuss the history and evolution of National Parks, address the functions and their
characteristics, and analyse some future challenges parks face.
When looking at the most human valued resources and how they came to be such
powerful indicators of success through history, one can better understand globalisation and the
future of resources. We should first look to the past for clues on how shifts in values change.
History tells us that humans make mistakes, often because we are greedy beings. Looking at the
evolution of National Parks, we can see that once it was discovered that there is money and
useful resources free for the taking, natural areas were exploited and developed around human
needs. A shift from greed to appreciation created the protection of areas and nature through the
establishment of National Parks in 1872. Today, we can identify the shift back to human interests
as tourism has become the world's fast growing industry and the main focus of park management.
As usage increases with growing populations, there is potential for another shift as global
resources are exhausted; what we do and protect today will have an effect on what we do and
protect in the future.
Most National parks were originally established with the intent of promoting the
protection of natural areas in collaboration with human enjoyment of them. (Perkins) However,
growing numbers of humans with disposable income and time have made it difficult for parks to
support such vigorous use. Along with numbers, we can see a growing appreciation in different
demographics for the areas. Goals of natural areas and tourism do not line up, but do interrelate in
some areas. Park management has recognised this trend and has seen its benefits, but as human
value of parks change, so does the management. Managers must learn to balance the nonlinear
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2. relationship between nature and people to improve both conservation and user experiences.
Increased human usage means more human management and the consequence being less resource
management protection.
Parks and protected areas serve to protect species, habitats, land formations, and
biodiversity. Direct organised benefits of parks include biodiversity conservation, opportunities
for recreation and tourism, environmental services, and serve as icons of national heritage. These
areas are socially defined as being unique and significant and worth protecting for human
enjoyment. The purpose of a park is purely that which society defines it as based on values and
needs at that time. The global growing interest in conservation and the tourist-environment
relationship has led to sustainable use of natural resources, proper management and planning, and
minimizing human impact. Global standards have also been established and are fairly direct and
mutual.
Tourism gives value to National Parks and an incentive for appropriate management and
conservation. It is also an industry that is affected by social, cultural, economic, and political
extensions; demand for recreation and tourism opportunities in National Parks relies on the
supply of tourists wanting to visit a National Park. There are also certain expected benefits from
recreating in parks. Managers are able to manipulate certain components of parks to enable more
or less opportunities and experiences for people. However, humans carry many different
perceptions of the world, especially their environmental views, so it is very difficult to please
everyone.
After looking at the past and current issues humans have with resources, we can almost
predict the future challenges parks will see. We are already seeing the effects of population
growth and the impacts of overuse in many National Parks, many of which are negative impacts
on their biophysical components. Sometimes, demand exceeds the carrying capacity of a park,
adding to social dissatisfaction. Previously, we determined that nature and tourism can
collaborate, but to what extent and capacity? Nature holds intrinsic value in its ability to sustain
life but nature does not need us to survive; we need it.
The areas that retain natural characteristics with little human interference will see more
use as activity distribution increases and user groups want to escape crowding. There is only so
much space and as the environmental limits for human use come closer, new management
policies will need to be put in place. Access cannot be monitored solely by park management
because these areas are for the people and must be taken care of by the people. The government,
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3. private sectors, the tourism industry, the local community, and individuals must all work together
to protect and enhance the environment.
The rising demand for energy and energy alternatives may lead to unmanaged and
destructive deforestation. Current forms of energy such as oil are becoming too costly for
industries to produce with current technology, which makes prices sky rocket. Once the price is
too high for consumers, radical decisions could be made about where to get energy alternatives.
As economic pressures increase on forests for fuel and other natural resources, pressure begins to
build up on ecological systems. Additionally, climate change will assist in biodiversity loss and
the park's visual and cultural appeal, making the areas less valuable to people. (Ridgeway)
Climate change also has an effect on the tourism industry. As conservation and
environmental interests become more of a concern to people, perceptions about their travel
decisions and their moral responsibility to reduce their impact may be a motivation to travel or
not travel. (Burton) This could be a good thing for parks, as it is easier to protect land in smaller
populations, yet if numbers drop too low there will not be enough incentive to continue managing
the area. Educating tourists about their carbon footprint and its consequences as well as what they
can do to extend their tourism opportunities in parks can serve as a tool for park managers to
protect natural areas. A large motivator for travel is education, especially nature-based tourism.
Protected areas value conservation to nature and biodiversity and could further serve to educate
and initiate understanding through recreation and tourism.
There will be much needed management for the future as government funded parks see
cutbacks of both employees and salaries. Planning for the future must take place today and
incorporate various financial challenges of the future. Planning and management of industries has
both political and social components; any structural change carries with it deeper, central changes
that may affect cultural norms like tourist behaviours and motivations. It is in the best interest for
parks to keep user numbers and activities sustainable because the industry sells more than the
scenery and the photos; it sells the experience, both predicted and unpredicted by the park user.
When using a self-sustaining program, it is possible to have benefits that outweigh the park's cost
which will keep impact levels stable. It is a common concept that “a healthy economy depends on
a healthy environment,” (Newsome) so even if we want firm economics, then it is our
responsibility to be mindful and help parks be prosper.
Analysing human value of commodities from their beginnings is helpful in understanding
how the global system works today and what it will look like 30 years from now. Parks are vital
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4. for socialisation and the community, as well as technology and research for the future. Tragedy of
the Commons, or the overuse of a shared resource for personal gain, is becoming more and more
relevant as population growth and resource depletion are causing a global panic. We are aware of
the impact and consequences our actions are creating on the environment and we must work
together to ensure a future for National Parks. However, the future of parks and the environment
will never be fully predicted because there are so many external factors affecting its prospect.
Human ambition for change is created by societal norms; at every stage in one's life inner
motivations are altered by external circumstances. As societal norms change, motivations will
change, and we cannot predict what people will be motivated to do, especially when resources
run out. Many people have been raised to assume there are infinite amounts of resources
available for the taking; it is a global challenge that we must face in this generation.
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5. References:
1. Burton, R. (1995). “Climatic Resources for Tourism,” Travel Geography: Chapter 2. 2nd
Edition. London. Pitman.
2. Perkins, H. (2005). Leisure, Recreation and Tourism in New Zealand and Australia.
Longman, Auckland.
3. Newsome, D., Moore, S., Dowling, R. (2013). “Natural Area Tourism: Ecology, Impacts
and Management,” Channel View Publications: Clevedon. Pg 5.
4. Ridgeway, James. (2004). “It’s All For Sale,” Duke University Press Book.
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6. References:
1. Burton, R. (1995). “Climatic Resources for Tourism,” Travel Geography: Chapter 2. 2nd
Edition. London. Pitman.
2. Perkins, H. (2005). Leisure, Recreation and Tourism in New Zealand and Australia.
Longman, Auckland.
3. Newsome, D., Moore, S., Dowling, R. (2013). “Natural Area Tourism: Ecology, Impacts
and Management,” Channel View Publications: Clevedon. Pg 5.
4. Ridgeway, James. (2004). “It’s All For Sale,” Duke University Press Book.
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