Americaâs National Parks in a New, Hotter World
For decades, the core mission of the National Park Service was absolute conservation. Now, ecologists are being forced to decide what to safeguard and what to let slip away.
May 19, 2021Updated 1:17 p.m. ET
Weâre also covering the sources of
plastic pollution and
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Restoration plots in Acadia National Park, Maine, where ecologists are trying to preserve native plant species.Credit.John Tully for The New York Times
By Zoë Schlanger
For generations, the core mission of the National Park Service has been absolute conservation. Instructions to preserve iconic landscapes unchanged are inscribed in the founding documents of many parks. But what happens when climate change makes that impossible?
Grand Canyon Hike Organizer Violated Covid-19 Restrictions, Officials Say
Prosecutors said at least 150 people showed up, astounding rangers and overwhelming visitors who struggled to steer clear of the hikers, many of whom were not wearing masks or social distancing.
At least 100 people from 12 different states had signed up on Facebook for a one-day hike in October that was organized in violation of pandemic restrictions, officials said.Credit.Adriana Zehbrauskas for The New York Times
May 8, 2021Updated 1:17 p.m. ET
The organizer of a Grand Canyon adventure described it as a chance to trek along the South Rim, “one of the greatest hikes in the planet.”