Global warming, wildfires, invasive species, and certain human activities are a major threat to the preservation of the Yosemite National Park. The park covers an approximate area of 747,956 acres. The main attraction sites include mountains, glaciers, lakes, and clear streams (O’Connor, 2015). The main activities are hiking, climbing, and the winter activities such as downhill skiing and snowshoeing. On average, it is estimated that more than 4 million visitors make trips to the park. However, there is a huge challenge that might affect the ability of the park to attract the huge number of visitors. The global warming has caused a rise in temperatures, leading to wildfires and destruction of flora and fauna (O’Connor, 2015). Some of the existing waterfalls have been affected by drought. Education, integration of local communities in environmental preservation, and research are some of the strategies that will assist in the preservation of Yosemite National Park. The aim of the research is to establish the main threats to the park and provide strategies of preservation.
Climate change has emerged as one of the major threats to the Yosemite National Park. The high temperatures are as a result of the global warming phenomenon. Human activities, including environmental pollution from industries have had an effect on global warning. In 2014, Yosemite National Park lost many hectares to wildfires, which was attributed to high temperatures. In California, wildfires have been frequent and continue to be a threat to the flora and fauna in the national park. One of the major losses was the decrease in the number of certain animals, particularly the gray owls. These animals have been a major attraction for visitors at the park. Other animals have also been displaced or forced to migrate to other safer grounds. The prolonged drought has also had a negative impact on the quantity of water in the area, particularly affecting the waterfalls. During summer, many visitors are attracted by the waterfalls, especially for photography. If the high temperatures and drought continue, Yosemite faces a real threat of losing some of its major attraction sites.
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The other major threats, according to the ongoing research at the Yosemite National Park has been the invasive species and the visitor experiences at the park (O’Connor, 2015). Lately, scientists at the park have been studying the impact of invasive specifies on the existing flora and fauna (Oskin, 2014). Some of the species come from far away, sometimes outside California. Research indicates that some animal and plant specifies that invade the park have a devastating effect on the ecology (National Park Services, 2014). Certain plants invade the rivers and cover them. This affects the penetration of the light in the water, affecting the lives of the aquatic plants. While the volume of visitors is necessary in generating more revenue, there is a challenge of overcrowding at the park. This has created pressure on the existing resources, especially the Half Dome cables. Proper management of the visitors is imperative in enhancing the customer satisfaction.
Preservation Strategies
Addressing the Challenge of Climate Change
Global warning has affected the flora and fauna in the Yosemite National Park. The issue of global warming is complex and difficult to eliminate. However, the park managers have a role to play in agitating for mitigation of environmental degradation. Industrialization and urbanization are some of the major threats to global warming. The goal is to urge the local, state, and the federal government to enforce environmental laws, especially with the aim of reducing the air pollution. Encouraging people to use public transportation systems, such as trains and buses, instead of personal cars can have a positive impact. Secondly, stern actions must be taken against manufacturing companies that cause water and air pollution. At the park, some of the measures will include ensuring that people do not litter, particularly by dropping plastic bottles. Encouraging people in California to make use of renewable sources of energy will also help in the conservation of the environment. All these measures can have a long-lasting effect on the quality of air, water, and soil in the park. The resultant effect is a healthy life for flora and fauna at the park.
Funding Research Studies
One of the main challenges in most parks is the lack of information on the causes of existing problems. Without the information, it becomes difficult to take mitigation measures. For this reason, one of the best ways to enhance preservation at the parks is by allocating more funds towards scientific studies. While Yosemite National Park has funded research, more still need to be done to detect problems in advance and make informed recommendations. The research will assist in addressing the most complex issues, including how to control invasive plants and animals that cause major problems to the ecosystem. Another area of study should be on customer satisfaction and experience at the park. Social scientists are needed to conduct this kind of study. As mentioned before, there has been a challenge of managing huge crowds at the park. When there is pressure on the existing resources, customer experience and satisfaction might be hampered. Studies will establish what the customers want and work towards expanding the existing amenities and ensuring that customers get the best experiences.
Integration of Local Communities
The local communities play an imperative role in the preservation of the Parks. The park management cannot address the challenges by isolating the people who have a direct impact on the park. For example, overgrazing had been a major problem in the park before it was resolved through legislation and the mutual agreement with the local communities. One of the main strategies of ensuring that local communities participate in the preservation of parks is by ensuring that they benefit from the proceeds directly. The profits made at the park should be shared with the local communities. This could be through supporting community healthcare, accessibility to clean water, and cleaning the environment. The community should consider themselves to be an integral part of the park. This will have a positive impact on the protection of the park against destruction.
Education
Education is aimed at creating awareness on the impact of human activities on ecosystem in the park. It is important for the community to understand that certain manmade activities have a direct impact on the quality of air and water at the park. The global warming is also largely caused by people. For this reason, education will assist in empowering people and urging them to them to take proactive measures to address the problem. People need to know why they need to use renewable sources of energy and public transportation system. It is also important to talk to the customers about the need to keep the park clean.
In conclusion, Yosemite National Park is facing the threat of global warming, invasive species, and the wildfires. The global warming has been majorly as a result of human activities. The wildfires have been attributed to the increased temperatures in California. The challenges in the park should be solved though working closely with the communities, education, and engaging in activities that can mitigate global warming. Failure to take proactive measures will have a devastating effect on the number of visitors and the income generated at the park.
References
O’Connor, M. (2015). Yosemite: Wildlife threatened by shrinking snowpacks, drought, wildfires. Aljazeera America . retrieved from http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/8/6/yosemitewildlifethreatenedbyshrinkingsnowpacksdroughtwildfires.html
Oskin, B. (2014). California's Springtime Wonders Struck by Drought. Life Science . retrieved https://www.livescience.com/43667-california-natural-display-drought-effects.html
National Park Services. (2014). Yosemite’s Alpine Butterflies . retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/upload/4.08%20Alpine%20butterfliesFNL.pdf
