National Parks Need More Money, Say Tennessee Members of New Coalition

2/27/2002

From: Andrea Keller of Americans for National Parks, 202-454-3332 Charles Maynard of Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 865-579-5407 Representative Bob Clement (Washington office), 202-225-4311

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- At a press conference today, the new coalition of Americans for National Parks, including several organizations from Tennessee, called for an additional $280 million in the National Park Service's fiscal year 2003 operating budget to protect national parks across the country.

"Preserving and protecting our national parks is of utmost value for historical and ecological purposes," said Representative Bob Clement (D-5-TN). "I commend this group of concerned citizens in its concerted effort toward ensuring our precious lands are preserved including natural treasures in Tennessee, such as Shiloh National Military Park, Fort Donelson National Battlefield, Andrew Johnson National Historic Site and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Thanks to the concern of groups like Americans for National Parks, our parks and historic sites will be protected for the enjoyment and education of future generations of Americans."

Research has shown that on average, the national parks receive only two-thirds of the funding needed to fulfill their mission. For example, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most popular national parks in the country (9.4 million visits in 2001), but the Park Service has insufficient staff to protect and educate visitors. The Civil War battlefield protected by Shiloh National Military Park is often subject to poaching, vandalism, and relic hunting because of a shortage of law enforcement officers to adequately patrol and protect the 4,000-acre park. And the Natchez Trace Parkway, which follows the trail used by Native Americans and early settlers between Nashville, Tenn., and Natchez, Miss., has more than 400 archaeological sites in danger of degradation.

"The FY03 operating increase for Great Smoky Mountains National Park is only one percent, and when you consider the mandatory cost of living increase, the park is starting out with a $250,000 shortfall," said Charles Maynard, speaking at the press conference on behalf of Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. "The needs at Great Smoky Mountains are echoed across the system. We have to work together to support these parks."

An Americans for National Parks Steering Committee Member, Maynard was in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday for the 2002 Conference of Americans for National Parks and lobbied Congress to increase funding for Great Smoky Mountains and all national parks.

Other local members of Americans for National Parks include Great Smoky Mountains Institute, the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce, Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning, the Tennessee Environmental Council, and the Foundation for Global Sustainability are also members.

The coalition is building public demand for park protection. In shops and restaurants across Knoxville, for example, Americans for National Parks has distributed 200,000 postcards in support of increased park funding addressed to the president that individuals can simply sign and mail.

"We need everyone's support," said Americans for National Parks Campaign Director Jennifer Coken, "because there's just too much to lose."

------ Americans for National Parks is a growing coalition of nonprofit organizations, businesses, trade associations, individuals, and other nonpartisan supporters of the national parks, working to encourage Congress and the administration to address the full needs of the National Park System. Campaign information is available at www.americansfornationalparks.org.