Proposed rule ignores National Park Service obligations to protect wildlife by allowing bear baiting in Denali and Wrangell-St. Elias National Preserves ANCHORAGE – Wildlife and national parks advocates decried new proposed wildlife regulations released by the Department of Interior today, covering 22 million acres of national parklands in Alaska. The proposed rule ignores the Park Service’s obligation
National Conservation Organizations Urge Mariposa County to Reject Development Near Yosemite
March 5, 2026 Mariposa County Planning Department PO Box 2039 Mariposa, CA 95338 Submitted via email to pl**********@************ty.gov Dear Mariposa County Planning Department, On behalf of National Parks Conservation Association, Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks and National Wildlife Federation, we submit the following comments regarding Camp Yosemite LLC’s Formal Housing Development Project Application
Former National Park Service Scientist Urges Maryland to Phase Out Lead Ammunition to Protect Wildlife and Public Health
Testimony MD SB 1067 – Hunting – Phase-Out of Lead Ammunition February 27, 2026 Delegate Marc Korman, Chairman House Environment & Transportation Committee 250 Taylor Office Building Annapolis, MD 21401 Re: HB 1067 – Hunting – Phase-Out of Lead Ammunition – FAVORABLE Dear Chairman Korman and Vice Chair Guyton: I am Dr. F. Elaine Leslie, an
Backdoor procedures undermine Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and all public lands
Backdoor procedures undermine Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and all public lands Yesterday, Utah Republicans furthered their efforts to upend the plan that protects Grand Staircase-Escalante’ National Monument. The previous addition to the congressional record of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) opinion stating that Congress can overturn Monument Management Plans opened the door to this action.
Member Op-Ed: Don’t desecrate Big Bend National Park with a border wall we don’t need
As the former superintendent of Big Bend National Park, I spent the capstone years of my career working to protect this remarkable desert landscape. I am appalled that the Department of Homeland Security is now planning to build a completely unnecessary massive border wall through the spectacular river frontage that gives Big Bend its name
Member Op-Ed: Yosemite had a reservation system for good reasons, all of which are still valid
Letters: Yosemite had a reservation system for good reasons, all of which are still valid By Don Neubacher Feb 27, 2026 Regarding “Exclusive: How Yosemite superintendent plans to manage crowds without reservation system” (Outdoors, SFChronicle.com, Feb. 21): New Yosemite Superintendent Ray McPadden justified the decision end the day-use reservation system, claiming that traffic congestion affects the
Coalition Urges Public Review and Historic Preservation Safeguards for Proposed White House Ballroom Expansion
ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION – NO HARD COPY TO FOLLOW February 27, 2026 National Capital Planning Commission Subject: White House Modernization Project The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition) represents nearly 5,000 members with more than 50,000 years of national park management and stewardship experience. The Coalition studies, educates, speaks, and acts for the preservation of
Timed entry is out at Arches. Locals and conservationists wonder what’s next
For the first time in four years, Arches National Park won’t require visitors to have a timed-entry reservation. The pilot program began in 2022 in response to overcrowding at the southeast Utah park. Arches’ annual visitation jumped by 73.6% in the previous decade to peak at just over 1.8 million people. A National Park Service
Conservation Groups Submit Comments on Cumberland Island Visitor Plan
Comments Submitted on Cumberland Island Visitor Use Plan The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), on behalf of 15 conservation organizations, has submitted formal comments on the National Park Service’s proposed Visitor Use Management Plan (VUMP) for Cumberland Island National Seashore. While supporting the Park Service’s goal of providing thoughtful public access, the coalition raises serious
Member Op-Ed: An imminent threat to Virginia’s hallowed ground
Guest Column: An imminent threat to Virginia’s hallowed ground By Cheryl Schreier Feb 19, 2026 America’s national parks and public lands represent the very best of this nation. Unrivaled in their natural beauty and significance, these vast and glorious spaces of refuge, recreation, and reflection define our history. During my 40 years with the National
Reservation Systems Protect National Parks for the Future
Reservation Systems Protect National Parks for the Future Today, on Wednesday, February 18, the Trump Administration announced that it would roll back reservation systems at Arches, Glacier, and Yosemite National Parks. These reservation systems have helped to manage visitation during peak seasons, as national park visitation continues to grow every year, hitting a record high
Coalition Urges Careful Review of White House Modernization Plans to Protect Historic Integrity
ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION – NO HARD COPY TO FOLLOW February 18, 2026 U.S. Commission of Fine Arts Subject: White House Modernization Project(s) The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition) represents nearly 5,000 members with more than 45,000 years of national park management experience. The Coalition studies, educates, speaks, and acts for the preservation of America’s
Coalition Files Lawsuit to Challenge Censorship, Erasure of American History and Science at National Parks
Groups Unite to Protect “America’s Largest Classroom” From Unlawful Removal of History and Science from Park Displays BOSTON – A coalition of organizations committed to protecting America’s national parks, preserving and sharing history, promoting scientific literacy and access, and providing high-quality interpretive materials united today to challenge a new U.S. Department of the Interior policy that
National Park Service Director Must Champion Parks
National Park Service Director Must Champion Parks Yesterday, President Donald Trump nominated Mr. Scott Socha, a hotel and food management executive, as the next director of the National Park Service. In response, Emily Thompson, executive director of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, released the following statement: “Over the last year, the National Park
Urge BLM to Defer August 2026 Oil & Gas Leasing Near Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Maah Daah Hey Trail
On February 12, 2026, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, the National Parks Conservation Association, and the Badlands Conservation Alliance filed scoping comments urging the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to defer key oil and gas lease parcels proposed for the Montana–Dakotas Q3 (August) 2026 lease sale (DOI-BLM-MT-0000-2026-0001-EA). The groups recommend that BLM designate
One Year After the Valentine’s Day Firings, America’s National Parks Remain in Crisis
MEMO To: Interested Parties Fr: Emily Thompson, Coalition To Protect America’s National Parks Re: One year after the Valentine’s Day firings, what we’re seeing at National Parks Dt: February 2026 __________________________________________________________ One year after the Valentine’s Day firings that gutted the National Park Service, our national parks remain on a perilous path and in a
More history exhibits pulled from national parks, including Grand Canyon
A new wave of takedown orders from Trump officials targets signs about climate and Native Americans at several national parks, including Big Bend and Glacier. January 27, 2026 By Jake Spring The Washington Post Trump officials have ordered national parks to remove dozens of signs and displays related to climate change, environmental protection and settlers’
Coalition To Protect America’s National Parks: “Erasing History Doesn’t Make It Go Away, It Just Makes It More Likely To Repeat Itself”
For Immediate Release: Friday, January 23, 2026 Contact: Doug Gordon | do**@***************es.com Coalition To Protect America’s National Parks: “Erasing History Doesn’t Make It Go Away, It Just Makes It More Likely To Repeat Itself” Emily Thompson, Executive Director of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, released the following statement on the Administration’s ongoing effort
International visitors now have to pay more at America’s most visited national parks
JAN 16, 2026 International visitors now have to pay more at America’s most visited national parks Advocates for the policy say the additional revenue could help the parks, while other park supporters worry the price increase will have knock-on effects. Click here to read the full article.
Preservation Groups Urge Caution on Proposed Rifle Range Near Appomattox Courthouse Battlefield
Appomattox County Board of Supervisors 333 Court St. Appomattox, VA 24522 Chair Hinkle, Vice-Chair Jones, and members of the Appomattox County Board of Supervisors, We, the below undersigned organizations, write to you today regarding CUP250870, Rifleman’s Resort. We are a collection of national park and battlefield preservation non-profits dedicated to protecting and preserving our
Oil & Gas Leasing Threatens Old Spanish National Historic Trail in Utah
A coalition of conservation and public lands organizations is urging the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to withdraw portions of its proposed Utah 2026 Second Quarter oil and gas lease sale, warning that dozens of lease parcels would harm the Old Spanish National Historic Trail (OSNHT)—a congressionally designated national historic trail protected under federal law.
Conservation Groups Urge BLM to Halt Utah Oil & Gas Lease Sale
NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION COALITION TO PROTECT AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARK ROCKY MOUNTAIN WILD SOUTHERN UTAH WILDERNESS ALLIANCE THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY A coalition of conservation organizations is calling on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to stop the Utah 2026 Quarter 2 oil and gas lease sale, warning it would open more than 54,000 acres across
National Park Service Veterans Urge Colorado to Move Forward on Historic Wolverine Reintroduction
1/9/2026 Dear Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commissioners, I am writing on behalf of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition), which represents over 4,700 current, former, and retired employees and volunteers of the National Park Service. Collectively, our membership represents over 50,000 years of national park management and stewardship experience. Our members include former
Conservation Groups File Amicus Brief to Stop Massive Data Center Planned on Manassas Battlefield
LEADING CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS PUNCH BACK AGAINST WORLD’S LARGEST DATA CENTER COMPLEX, FILE AMICUS BRIEF Groups say the Prince William Digital Gateway threatens irreparable harm to historic, natural and cultural resources (Manassas, Virginia) — Today, six leading national and regional conservation organizations, collectively representing more than one million members and supporters, spoke out for America’s battlefields
NPT: 5th Annual Threatened And Endangered Parks | A Rundown National Park Service
5th Annual Threatened And Endangered Parks A Rundown National Park Service The long-held notion that working in the National Park Service was a promising, even noble, career has been shaken to its core in less than one year. That promise under the Trump administration has been thrown into question, raising uncertainty over the durability of