User:UniqueFerns12/sandbox

= Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on U.S. National Parks = Lead summary info here. 62 National Parks; total number of national monuments and historical sites are 423.


 * https://www.lendio.com/blog/impact-of-covid-19-national-parks/
 * https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-coronavirus-affecting-national-parks-180974489/
 * https://www.npr.org/2020/08/11/900270344/we-had-to-get-out-despite-the-risks-business-is-booming-at-national-parks
 * Debate on full park closures:https://protectnps.org/2020/03/16/coalition-calls-for-closures-at-national-parks/
 * Spike in visitation causes concerns for crowding https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/mar/17/national-parks-cause-public-health-concern-visitors-flood-in
 * List of N.P. closures https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2020/04/coronavirus-and-national-parks-whats-closed
 * The public can virtually explore many of the National Parks via "The Hidden World of the National Parks" offered through Google Arts & Culture. second source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-is-closing-national-parks-but-you-can-still-visit-them-on-a-virtual-tour-2020-03-21/
 * https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/pandemic-and-national-parks
 * https://www.huffpost.com/entry/national-parks-coronavirus_n_5e71196ac5b60fb69ddf5fe1
 * https://www.resourcesmag.org/on-the-issues/issues-environmental-impacts-social-distancing-national-parks-closed-amid-pandemic-and-more/
 * The National Parks website maintains a page for visitors to check active alerts and updates before visiting their chosen park.
 * https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/visitors.html
 * https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/07/us-national-parks-coronavirus-close-open

Environmental impact
As many national parks began to re-open their doors in May-July of 2020, an overwhelming number of visitors, many of whom were first time outdoor enthusiasts, brought with them new troubles: graffiti, trash, and a less than respectful attitude toward environmental stewardship. Parks across the nation reported visitors hiking and operating all-terrain vehicles off trail, destroying fragile ecosystems. Americans who were hesitant to travel via air, or unable to visit the usual overseas locations, have flocked to the campsites and campgrounds of their local national parks causing overcrowding for many under-staffed departments. The traditional Leave No Trace principles encourage visitors to natural areas pack out everything they have brought in. However, the surging amount of garbage has been difficult for many parks to handle with reduced maintenance and janitorial services due to pandemic job and funding losses.

Some parks like Rocky Mountain National Park and Acadia, piloted a virtual registration system in which visitors were required to sign up for a specific entrance time. The goal was to reduce congestion in the park by staggering visitors and keep overall visitation numbers low. The effort met with mixed results as many visitors still flocked to the most scenic trails or unique locations within the parks, many of which are narrow trails where it can be difficult to maintain social-distancing and not all visitors wore facemasks.

Multiple reports of National Parks getting trashed during COVID-19 lockdowns or after- sources:


 * https://parksjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Hockings-et-al-10.2305-IUCN.CH_.2020.PARKS-26-1MH.en_-1.pdf
 * https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/2020/11/how-to-care-for-national-lands-despite-coronavirus-wildfire-pressures/
 * https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2020/10/america-long-neglected-hiking-trails-are-more-popular-than-ever-but-they-are-struggling-feature/
 * https://publiclands.colostate.edu/2020/04/public-landemic/
 * https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/north-america/united-states/national-parks/least-visited/
 * https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/2020/05/national-parks-reopen-to-hectic-crowds-but-what-happens-next/
 * https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/2020/04/visitors-vandalize-trespass-national-parks-during-coronavirus-pandemic/
 * https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/2020/05/national-parks-are-opening-heres-what-to-do-cvd/
 * https://abcnews.go.com/International/social-distancing-impact-park-marine-life/story?id=70245016
 * https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/21/wildlife-national-parks-covid-19-shutdown-death-valley
 * https://abcnews.go.com/International/social-distancing-impact-park-marine-life/story?id=70245016
 * https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/21/wildlife-national-parks-covid-19-shutdown-death-valley


 * Paragraph on closures/visitation numbers & travel despite the pandemic. Link:https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/visitation-numbers.htm
 * Paragraph on challenges experienced by National Park staff due to low funding and reduced volunteer assistance.
 * White House makes free admission day to public for select national parks to assist with isolation/covid/quarantine fatigue https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/03/19/national-parks-fees-waived/ Second article on entrance fees waived to encourage social distancing practices:https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/18/politics/national-parks-service-coronavirus/index.html?utm_term=link&utm_medium=social&utm_content=2020-03-18T21%3A51%3A07&utm_source=twCNN controversy on visitation at NP https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/2020/03/national-parks-waived-fees-coronavirus-health-risk-remains/
 * Examples from Utah's NP https://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/2020/12/21/covid-19-stopped-international-travel-utahs-parks-businesses/6472430002/
 * Budget crunch at NP: https://therevelator.org/budget-crunch-national-parks/
 * Big picture economic impact of NP on local communities (pre-covid?) https://www.inverse.com/science/do-national-parks-hurt-or-help-us-economy-25-years-of-data-have-answer
 * Examples from Yellowstone: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/2020/05/small-town-jackson-wyoming-coping-after-coronavirus-closed-yellowstone-grand-teton-national-parks/
 * Examples from Yellowstone: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/2020/05/small-town-jackson-wyoming-coping-after-coronavirus-closed-yellowstone-grand-teton-national-parks/

Native American lands near National Parks
After intensive state lock-downs, pandemic fatigue, and social isolation, many Americans were eager to travel to National Parks in the summer and fall of 2020 amid rising concerns of nearby Native American populations who are highly vulnerable to COVID-19. There are several famous National Parks located near Native American tribal lands, such as Glacier National Park near the Blackfeet Nation in Montana, and the Grand Canyon National Park near the Navajo Nation and Havasupai Tribe in Arizona.

Grand Canyon National Park issued a press release in July 2020, asking visitors on the Colorado River to not stop at Havasupai Canyon in respect of the emergency closure of all tourism by the Havasupai Tribe due to COVID-19 in May. The Navajo Nation has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The President of the Navajo Nation, Johnathan Nez, spoke against the re-opening of Grand Canyon National Park in May 2020. In September, with an increase of coronavirus infections in Arizona, the Navajo Nation issued 57-hour lockdown recommending visitors and locals not to travel across the reservation to the eastern entrances of the park.

Glacier National Park's east entrances have five main roads that travel through the Blackfeet Nation. The tribe decided to close these roads in June 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns from the hundreds of thousands of visitors that annually visit the park from all over the world. Park officials have worked with the Blackfeet leadership to mitigate crowding and traffic congestion in the west side of the park. The entrances are still closed as of January 2021.

List of National Parks near Native American communities:
 * Yellowstone
 * Yosemite
 * Grand Canyon
 * Badlands
 * Redwood
 * Mesa Verde
 * Olympic
 * Everglades
 * Death Valley
 * Voyagers
 * Gateway Arch
 * Wind Cave

Facemasks outdoors
On February 2, 2021, the National Park Service (NPS) announced mandatory mask wearing for all employees and visitors, per President Biden's executive order requiring masks to be worn on federal lands and buildings. Prior to President Biden's executive order "Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing" on January 20, 2021, mask wearing was not required on federal properties.

Beginning February 2021, masks are required in NPS buildings, facilities, and on park lands when social distancing is not possible. The NPS also implemented capacity limits for one-way trails. On-duty park rangers are responsible for upholding mask and social distancing requirements. The National Park Service advises visitors to check individual national park pages for information relating to operations, closures, and important alerts.

Together with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as well as state, tribal, and local public health authorities, the NPS is working to ensure the safety of all NPS employees, volunteers, and visitors. Shawn Benge, the NPS Deputy Director, issued a statement: "we will continue to evaluate operations and make appropriate modifications to visitor services as needed."

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By National Park
Include short 2-3 sentences on each park.

Acadia
In 2019, Acadia National Park received 3.4 million visitors. It is estimated that visitation dropped around 22% in 2020, the National Parks Service is still collecting data from 2020. On April 3rd, 2020, Maine governor declared all out of state visitors must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arriving in state.

The Island Explorer bus, which provides 10 routes of transportation service to visitors and locals, ceased operations for the entire season of 2020 due to the pandemic in May. The seasonal bus route connects the public to Acadia National Park visitor centers, trails, campgrounds, and communities, museums, and hotels on Mount Desert Island.

Economic impact
The fare-free bus line, in past years, has helped to reduce visitor car congestion and its closure significantly impacted small businesses in the tourism industry in local communities. The park recommends all visitors purchase online passes ahead of visiting. Friends of Acadia maintains a list of COVID-19 Acadia related news and tips on how to be safe while enjoying the natural beauty of the park.

Arches
https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/moab-hospital-medical-director-asks-tourists-stay-away-national-parks#stream/0

Big Bend
https://www.nps.gov/bibe/learn/news/changes-in-park-operations-due-to-covid-19.htm

https://www.nps.gov/bibe/learn/news/bbnp-closed-2020-07-01.htm

Glacier Bay
List of closures in 2020 in Glacier Bay Nat. Park https://www.nps.gov/glba/learn/covid-19-impacts-to-services.htm

Grand Canyon
https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/grand-canyon-national-park-public-health-update.htm

Concerns over COVID-19 transmission closed many of the usual in-person park ranger programs, but the park continues to offer virtual visitor experiences.

Guadalupe Mountains
https://www.nps.gov/gumo/learn/news/guadalupe-mountains-national-park-temporarily-closed.htm

Hawai'i Volcanos
https://www.nps.gov/havo/learn/news/032020-update.htm

Isle Royale
https://www.nps.gov/isro/learn/news/isle-royale-to-further-delay-park-opening-no-visitor-ferry-service-for-summer-2020.htm

Joshua Tree
https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2020/03/22/joshua-tree-park-swarmed-out-town-visitors-eventhough-coronavirus-campers-and-cars-crowds-keep-comin/2896691001/

Rocky Mountain
https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2020/05/rocky-mountain-national-park-proposing-timed-entry-system-visitors

White Sands
https://www.nps.gov/whsa/learn/news/nr03212020.htm

Yellowstone
https://web.archive.org/web/20200616095740/https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/jackson_hole_daily/state_and_regional/national-parks-hope-visitors-comply-with-virus-measures/article_a6b67a49-8ceb-5f5e-b3ac-d935a137f0a2.html

https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/news/20015.htm

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/2020/07/jackson-hole-yellowstone-grand-teton-struggle-with-record-breaking-coronavirus-tourism/

Yosemite
https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/There-were-no-reports-of-coronavirus-in-Yosemite-15414351.php

Zion
https://www.nps.gov/zion/learn/news/zion-national-park-to-temporarily-suspend-shuttle-operation-to-comply-with-coronovirus-protective-guidelines.htm

So busy park closed and sent visitors away:https://twitter.com/ZionNPS/status/1264181158130053121?s=20

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(Draft Space: Links to follow up on)
https://www.aarp.org/travel/travel-tips/safety/info-2020/national-parks-during-coronavirus-outbreak.html

NP make wearing facemasks required after federal mandate.

NP March 2020 health guidance https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/statmentonparkopscovid19.htm

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/19/yellowstone-coronavirus-reopening-grand-teton-covid-19

RecreateResponsibly Movement https://www.recreateresponsibly.org/home

https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/news/20029.htm (Fourth of July safety guidance from NPS)