The capacity for wonder: preserving national parks

Abstract

In this work on the preservation of national parks, the author compares the US National Park Service (NPS) and Canadian Parks Service (CPS) and reveals that, although similar in many regards, they have changed their relative priorities in recent years. Lowry shows how increasing conflicts over agency goals and decreasing institutional suport have made the NPS vulnerable and extremely responsive to political pressures. As a result, he argues, American national parks are now managed mainly to serve political purposes. In contrast, CPS has clarified its goals, increased institutional support, and has been able to decentralize its structure and empower its trail-level employees. Canadian parks are thus increasingly managed with preservation as the highest priority. Lowry provides a variety of supporting data, including nearly 100 interviews with park personnel, agency officials, politicians and interested observers in both countries. The book also describes recent challenges - such as rising crime, the pressures of tourism and overcrowding, pollution, eroding funding for environmental research, and the debate over preservation versus utilization - and the abilities of the agencies to deal with them.