A Wild Livelihoods Survey Report Wild Livelihoods is a coalition of Montana businesses in the Greater Yellowstone whose livelihoods depend upon wild places. We share a common interest in protecting open spaces, clean air and water, rich soil and native plants, and vibrant wildlife populations for all. We are guides, restaurants, lodges, gas stations, […]
America’s national parks are more popular than ever. From Yellowstone to Zion, record visitation has put new pressure on park budgets, infrastructure, and staff—challenges that can’t be solved by appropriations alone. To ensure our parks remain both accessible and exceptional, the National Park Service should embrace creative, market-based tools that make every dollar go […]
[…] bear populations as though they still needed federal life support. In January, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service denied requests from Montana and Wyoming to delist Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide grizzlies—two distinct populations that have met recovery goals for years. The reasoning? That these bear populations have actually recovered too much; the […]
[…] local leadership—not just more money—are key to solving our parks’ most persistent challenges. His essay outlines five principles for modernizing park stewardship. Kat Dwyer zooms in on Yellowstone—the park that started it all but now faces unprecedented pressures. Her essay explores how targeted entrance fees and smarter funding models can help Yellowstone endure record […]
[…] long advocated by PERC. The setting to receive this big news could not have been more perfect, or appropriate. The cabin’s back deck has a view into Yellowstone National Park, the world’s first national park. And it provides a view of a historic campsite integral to the creation of the national parks. In 1871, […]
Examples from around the world of creative conservation in action
Time to stop fighting and get smart about national parks
[…] its upkeep. It’s a model of how creative thinking, and a willingness to innovate within historical constraints, can generate new resources and improve long-term sustainability. Rapid-Response Creativity: Yellowstone Floods In 2022, historic late-spring flooding forced the closure of Yellowstone’s northern entrances. Faced with a summer of potentially unmanageable congestion and strain on park resources, […]
[…] something radical. It set aside two million acres of geothermal wonderland and sweeping mountain vistas nestled in the heart of what today is known as the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The monumental achievement established a new precedent for conserving America’s natural heritage and laid the foundation for the National Park System. Yellowstone National Park became […]
Private efforts to save our heritage are also saving our ecosystems