[…] flawed. First, why 30 percent? It’s hard to make the case that 30 percent is anything other than an arbitrary goal. Look no farther than the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Seventy percent of the land that comprises the ecosystem is in federal ownership. Yet conserving Yellowstone’s vital elk, mule deer, and pronghorn migration corridors will […]
[…] Paris, Rome, and the like. All of that changed with westward expansion. Beginning with Jefferson’s Lewis and Clark expedition in 1804 and continuing through the establishment of Yellowstone as the world’s first national park in 1872, our nation entered a distinct age of European-American discovery and settlement. The wonders of the natural world familiar […]
Starting January 1, 2026, overseas visitors who pull up to the gates of 11 of the most popular U.S. national parks (including destinations like Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon) will pay a $100 surcharge on top of the base entrance fee. The price of non-resident “America the Beautiful” annual passes will also rise, […]
[…] Department of the Interior: “This is a big win for everyone who loves America’s national parks. A $100 international visitor surcharge could generate $55 million annually at Yellowstone National Park alone, more than quadrupling that park’s revenue to address deteriorating trails, failing wastewater systems, and crumbling bridges. PERC has long led an effort to […]
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