Preserving Nature in the National Parks

A comprehensive history of the U.S. National Park Service reveals how traditional scenery and tourism management clashed with emerging ecological principles, shaping policies from 1872 to near the present. Focusing on parks like Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Great Smoky Mountains, the study analyzes the dynamics of policy formulation and change, particularly after the Service's establishment in 1916. It examines how landscape architects, foresters, wildlife biologists, and other professionals contended for dominance, influencing the Service's culture and attitudes. The book provides an in-depth analysis of why the Service has not fully embraced recent environmental concerns, offering a fresh perspective on one of America's most admired federal bureaus.

Sellars, R. W. (2017). Preserving Nature in the National Parks. https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300143669