Preserving Yosemite National Park through responsible tourism practices

Yosemite Sustainability

Yosemite National Park is one of the most prized natural areas not only in the United States, but the world. With beautiful forests, waterfalls, mountains, and wildlife it is a treasure for visitors today and it should be a treasure for future generations. Fifty years from now, Yosemite National Park should be preserved as a place of natural beauty for visitors as it is a popular place today and should remain so. However, general tourists must be responsible in their actions to ensure the park remains in pristine condition. Thee first step to retaining and sustaining the natural environment and resources of Yosemite National Park is to ensure that each tourist has maximum respect for what he or she is about to visit. Thus, each tourist should be grateful for the opportunity to visit Yosemite and should respect its natural aspects. Newsletters and welcome letters, signs, and park rangers should encourage the tourist to understand the wonders he or she is being permitted to visit and should encourage an attitude of respect towards nature. Visiting the park should be a privilege, and not an entitlement, and the park officials should do their best so this attitude can be shared to the general tourist. The general tourist must read these notices, follow the signs, and learn the rules of the park. But then it is up to the general tourist to follow the rules and treat the park with the respect it deserves. This means making his or her presence known as little as possible. Leave nature untouched and do not infringe on the wildlife. Do not damage nature, but have respect for it. There are actions that can be taken that will go a long way towards sustaining the environment. For example, when hiking a tourist can stay on the marked trails as going off the trail damages the natural wildlife. A tourist should not feed the wildlife either as the food may not only be bad for the wild animal, but it could break the natural cycle in which the park is trying to protect. Trash should be thrown away as if everyone left a piece of trash, the park would lose much of its natural intrigues. This is particularly pertinent for campers as campers will have a lot of trash and there are specified places to throw it away. Great care should be taken to properly dispose of garbage. Camping brings about another area of concerns as it is imposing on nature, but if a camper respects nature, then he or she will leave little effect on Yosemite. Campers should camp in designated areas, should not kill wildlife for camp fire wood, should not harm animals, should not feed animals, and should throw away trash. Most importantly, when starting camp fires, careful attention must be made that the fire is completely extinguished. If a fire is not put out properly one spark can start a big fire and thus cause great natural damage ruining much of Yosemite. Many fires of this kind would surely be a detriment to the natural resources of Yosemite for future generations. It is up to the general tourist to protect Yosemite National Park for the future. In general, a tourist can do a lot by taking small actions to ensure that the park is respected properly and nature preserved.