Sierra Club: National Park Week Highlights Why We Must Protect More Lands and Waters

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The annual National Park Week returns from April 16–24. The event celebrates national parks and historical sites and encourages everyone to get outdoors and explore the history, culture, and landscapes of these lands and waters. After decreases in visitation numbers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many national parks saw record-breaking or near-record attendance figures in 2021. At the same time, many national parks are increasingly threatened by the effects of climate change, including the shrinking of glaciers and snowpacks, warming temperatures that displace native wildlife, and increases in the populations of invasive species. These trends demonstrate why we must protect more lands and waters to address the climate crisis and increase access to the outdoors.

In response, Sierra Club Our Wild America campaign director Chris Hill released the following statement:

“National Park Week is an opportunity to celebrate national parks, but we must also recognize the threats facing them and other public lands. 

“Climate change is altering the landscapes of the parks, destroying habitats and displacing wildlife, and even threatening the very existence of some lands and waters.

“From its ability to mitigate the worst effects of climate change to its profound positive effects on physical and mental wellbeing, we need nature and nature needs us. We must work together to safeguard the lands, air, and water on which our communities depend, so future generations can celebrate the outdoors, as we do this week.”