-22855 Mulholland Hwy. Calabasas, CA 91302-

Calabasas Courier Online

-22855 Mulholland Hwy. Calabasas, CA 91302-

Calabasas Courier Online

-22855 Mulholland Hwy. Calabasas, CA 91302-

Calabasas Courier Online

State government unfairly closes 67 state parks

State+government+unfairly+closes+67+state+parks

For many families, state parks provide a source of peace and natural beauty; however, California state officials recently announced the decision to close 67 state parks by the summer of 2012.  Though the California government desperately requires additional funding, state parks should not be used for budget cuts as these landmarks are essential aspects of environmental research and offer aesthetic beauty.

“California is such a beautiful state with so many different ecosystems that it is important for people to realize we have a fragile environment that needs to be preserved,” said AP Environmental Science Teacher Markie Daniel.

Most scientific research occurs in state parks, especially where uncommon plant and animal species are found.  If the parks close, scientists and researchers will no longer be authorized to conduct research and will lose crucial data.  Archeological sites can also be raided and years of maintenance and restoration projects will be destroyed.  According to www.caparks.gov, McGrath State Beach, one of the parks scheduled to close, is among the largest bird nesting areas in California.  Scientists will lose valuable data collection about important species due to the closing of McGrath State Beach.

With the human population invading natural territory, it has become increasingly important to preserve remaining wildlife.  A study by the World Resources Institute reports up to half of all plant and animal species potentially face extinction by the year 2050 due to global warming and deforestation.  With the closing of state parks, environmentalists will be unable to maintain the preservation of these areas.

park-2Many state parks rely on non-profit organizations and volunteer groups to fund their yearly needs and therefore do not expend large sums of government money.  The California state government has not been spending significant funds on state parks for decades and closing the parks will not save enough to make any noticeable impact on the financial situation.  According to the Los Angeles Times, the full extent of funding to be obtained by the project will be 22 million dollars.

Many parks have already been forced to reduce their services in order to stay within the 11 million dollars in cuts this year.  Some have even been forced to turn away visitors due to insufficient funds to maintain grounds and facilities.  The majority of the money saved by closing state parks will come from laying off their employees and eliminating their income, resulting in an increase of U.S. unemployment.

“The amount of money being removed from the state parks is a small fraction of the state’s overall budget,” said California State Parks Foundation Director of Communications Jerry Emory.

Additionally, because most state parks are hundreds of acres large, it is nearly impossible to entirely close off such large expanses of land.  The parks will still be open to hikers and campers, but will lack tourist centers, restroom facilities, rangers and protection from wildlife. This will quickly lead to larger problems for the state, as state resources will be required to assist those who are injured or to stop individuals committing crimes in the closed parks.

Nature also provides crucial aesthetic and cultural value to society.  For many American families, visiting state parks is an important tradition.  The parks must be preserved for the sake of future generations of U.S. citizens.

“People need a connection with the outdoors in order to realize that we rely on the environment for survival,” said Daniel. “If we do not see this, we can loose our connection with the fact that the earth is providing us with all the resources we need.”

In addition to critical scientific importance, many visit parks each year as a way to enter into a serene environment.  To close state parks is to close a part of California history. •

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