How should the National Park Service and its system evolve during the next century?/NPS

"€œIf Congress will but make the funds available for the construction of roads over which automobiles may travel with safety (for all the parks are now open to motors) and for trails to hunt out the hidden places of beauty and dignity, we may expect that year by year these parks will become a more precious possession of the people, holding them to the further discovery of America and making them still prouder of its resources, esthetic as well as material."€ -- Franklin K. Lane, Interior secretary, 1916

It's been nearly a century since  those words introduced the very first National Parks Portfolio in 1916. Since then the National Park System has grown from nine units to more than 400. These sites trace America'€™s history through its sweeping and majestic landscapes, its rich cultural and scientific resources, and its hallowed grounds to the fallen.

What path should the National Park Service take as it enters its second century? How can the National Park Service continue to nurture landscapes, cultures, and American history without compromising the world's best collection of parks? 

In this unique collection of papers, National Parks Traveler will recapture Stephen Mather'€™s ambition of preserving "€œthe most inspiring playgrounds and the best equipped nature schools in the world" while  reminding our political leaders of the hazards of neglecting these assets of "œincalculable value."    

The end goal of this updated Portfolio is, as Director Mather so well put it, "€œto serve to turn the busy eyes of this Nation upon its national parks long enough to bring some realization of what these pleasure gardens ought to mean, of what so easily they may be made to mean, to this people."

Opening with an introduction by Dr. Alfred Runte, author of National Parks, The American Experience, the Portfolio will present suggestions of how the National Park Service should approach interpretation, education, wildlife preservation, cultural treasures, and historic touchstones through the next 100 years.

Supporting the essays will be photographs from throughout the National Park System that capture the essence of the landscape and the natural, cultural, and historical treasures.

This project will examine how these sites have evolved through 100 years of management by the National Park Service. What role will these parks play, and how should they be managed, for the rest of this century, and beyond?

The goal, though, is not just to look at the past and into the future, but to generate within Congress an understanding of the ideal of the National Park Service Organic Act of 1916, and raise awareness of the needs of the park system to ensure it continues to meet those ideals. To that point, it will underscore Congress's responsibility to support both the concept and the park system itself. It will also, hopefully, spur a national dialog on the value and needs of the park system.

Footnoted papers of 1,500-3,000 words should address one of the following topics.  Those selected will be part of this compilation to be presented to both the National Park Service and Congress, and presented to National Parks Traveler's global audience.

Nature'€™s Capital. The national parks were not specifically intended to be economic engines. While they have come to be seen as such, they are much more valuable for their ecological contributions in preserving biological diversity. These papers should examine that natural capital, and its value to the country, and thus the need for its preservation and enhancement.

The Challenge of Changing Landscapes. Change is everywhere in the National Park System, but is it welcome change? Long term, what will be the effect of melting glaciers, altered wildlife habitats, and even animal behaviors? How might the Park Service adapt to these changes without compromising the parks in other ways? How will rising sea levels affect places such as Everglades National Park and Cape Hatteras National Seashore? Will Glacier National Park still be valued without its namesake glaciers? 

Tomorrow's Stewards. Where will tomorrow'€™s national park stewards come from? How can the park system become more attractive to minorities and young people without compromising the values of the system itself?

Maintaining the Legacy. Congress never intended the national parks to beg for maintenance, but that is exactly the situation now. What specific steps should Congress take to address the staggering maintenance backlog? 

Parks for Tomorrow and Way Beyond. How should the National Park System evolve in the second century of management by the National Park Service? Should it be a catchall for places that might better be cared for by the states, or perhaps a National Historical Service? Is there a need to shape more effective guidelines for additions to the system and, if so, what should they be? How can the National Park Service, itself, evolve for better management of the parks? 

Submission Guidelines:

* Papers should be complete with footnotes and author'€™s name, address, and phone number, and emailed to [email protected] by June 30, 2015. Accepted formats for submission are: Microsoft Word, Rich Text Format, or PDF. 

* Subject lines must clearly state which topic above the paper addresses.

* Authors must guarantee that their papers are his or her original work and in no way violate any existing copyright either in whole or in part.

* Photographers guarantee that images they submit are their own original work and in no way violate any existing copyright.

* By submitting a paper, the author grants National Park Advocates, LLC, dba National Parks Traveler, an exclusive right to publish print and all electronic versions of their papers until August 26, 2016. After August 26, 2016, authors grant National Park Advocates a non-exclusive right to publish print and all electronic versions of their papers.

* National Park Advocates, LLC, has the right to edit papers for clarity. However, every reasonable effort will be made to make available to the author the final, edited version of the paper while there is still time to make changes. In the event of a disagreement over the final form of the paper, the author reserves the right to withdraw her/his paper.

* Photographs, in the form of low-resolution images, may be submitted via email. Photographers may submit up to three images, each sent by email individually and labeled as to where in the National Park System they were taken and time of year. Photographers whose photos are chosen for inclusion will be asked at a later date to provide high-resolution images.

* By submitting photographs, photographers grant National Park Advocates, LLC, dba National Parks Traveler, an exclusive right to publish both print and all electronic versions of their images until August 26, 2016. After August 26, 2016, authors and photographers grant National Park Advocates a non-exclusive right to publish print and all electronic versions of their papers and photographs.

Submissions of papers and photographs must be received by June 30, 2015. Authors/photographers whose works are chosen for this project will be notified by September 30, 2015.