I may never understand why it’s even up for debate that we NEED clean air, clean water, and to preserve the natural spaces we have left for future generations. Doesn’t everyone want this?! 🤷🏼♀️
Yet, despite how critical these spaces are to our well-being, our National Parks and public lands are facing major challenges. Over 1,000 National Park Service (NPS) employees and 3,400 U.S. Forest Service workers were laid off (and counting)—a devastating blow to those working tirelessly to maintain our parks, forests, and wild spaces. With fewer rangers and staff, we’re looking at less maintenance, longer wait times, and increased risks to these beautiful places.
Now, more than ever, we need to step up as individuals to protect our public lands. Here’s how you can make a difference.
1. Follow Leave No Trace Principles
If we want to keep our parks and forests clean and thriving, it starts with personal responsibility. Follow these simple but essential Leave No Trace (LNT) principles every time you venture outdoors:
✅ Pack out all trash – If you bring it in, take it out. Even biodegradable items like banana peels can harm ecosystems.
✅ Stay on trails & campsites – Straying off-trail damages fragile ecosystems and can cause long-term erosion.
✅ Respect wildlife—don’t feed them – Feeding animals makes them dependent on human food, which is harmful and dangerous for them (and us).
✅ Minimize campfire impact – Follow fire regulations, use existing fire rings, and fully extinguish all fires before leaving.
✅ Be considerate of other visitors – Keep noise levels down, yield the trail when necessary, and respect designated quiet hours.
✅ Research BEFORE you go – Is it bear country? What are the local rules and regulations? Know before you go to avoid harmful mistakes.
2. Advocate for Public Lands
Preserving nature isn’t just about personal responsibility—it’s also about making our voices heard. With severe budget cuts and layoffs affecting the stewards of our public lands, we need to advocate for better policies, increased funding, and stronger protections.
Vote for Policies That Protect Public Lands
One of the most impactful ways to support public lands is by voting for policies and leaders who prioritize environmental conservation. Public lands depend on government funding for maintenance, restoration, and staffing, and policy decisions directly shape their future.
To make a difference:
- Stay informed about legislation related to conservation, public land funding, and climate action.
- Research candidates and their positions on environmental issues before elections.
- Vote for policies that protect national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges from budget cuts, deforestation, and pollution.
- Engage with your representatives—call, email, or attend town halls to express support for conservation efforts.
TIP: Another great resource is 5 Calls, which helps you quickly find your representatives and provides scripts for calling them about important environmental and public land issues. 📞🌎
Support Conservation Organizations
Many nonprofit organizations work tirelessly to protect public lands. Consider donating to or becoming a member of groups like:
- The National Park Foundation
- The Wilderness Society
- Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
- Local conservation groups
Your contributions help fund projects that maintain trails, protect wildlife, and keep public lands accessible for everyone.
By voting, speaking up, and supporting conservation efforts, we can ensure that public lands remain protected for future generations.
3. Volunteer for Cleanup & Conservation Efforts
With staffing shortages, public lands need volunteers more than ever. Consider joining:
- Park and trail cleanup days
- Habitat restoration projects
- Citizen science initiatives that track wildlife and environmental changes
Even if there aren’t any organized events near you, bring a bag on your next hike and pick up trash along the way—it all adds up. If picking up litter, remember to track it through the TrashBlitz app to hold corporate polluters accountable too.
4. Reduce Your Environmental Impact
Beyond just what we do inside national parks, we also need to consider how our everyday choices impact public lands.
- Choose sustainable gear – Use reusable water bottles, eco-friendly sunscreen, and plastic-free or secondhand camping gear.
- Travel responsibly – Carpool, take public transport, or offset your carbon footprint when visiting outdoor spaces.
- Respect fire bans & fragile environments – Wildfires caused by human carelessness destroy thousands of acres of public lands every year.
5. Donate or Buy an Annual Parks Pass
Did you know that park entry fees directly support conservation and maintenance efforts? By purchasing an America the Beautiful Pass, you not only get access to hundreds of national parks, but you also help fund:
- Trail restoration
- Wildlife protection
- Visitor education programs
If you don’t visit often, consider donating to conservation groups or purchasing a membership to an organization that works to protect these lands.
Our Parks and Our Planet Need Us
With staffing cuts, increasing visitor numbers, and environmental threats, our public lands are at risk. They rely on us—not just park rangers, but every single person who steps foot on a trail, camps under the stars, or enjoys the fresh air these beautiful landscapes provide.
So let’s do our part. 🌎 Protect these places. Speak up. Take action. Because once they’re gone, we don’t get them back.
What’s one thing you do to protect public lands? Drop your thoughts in the comments! 👇🏽
