6 Best Reasons Why National Parks Are Important

Why National Parks Are Important? As a kid, I used to love summers spent going to national parks throughout the surrounding states where I grew up.

There was something amazing about being out in nature, learning new things, discovering the world, and exploring the cultural heritage that many of the parks protected.

Today, I try to instill that love of nature and preservation in my kids, but it isn’t always easy.

Josh, my youngest, groaned when I announced that we would be going to see three nearby national parks during their coming summer holidays.

When I asked him what was wrong, he simply rolled his eyes and huffed, “I don’t know why national parks are all that important, mom!”

Realizing that he wouldn’t go for the usual “because I say so,” I decided to write this article.

 

Why National Parks Are Important

National parks matter and have a valuable role to play in our societies. They protect and preserve the natural environment, offering safe spaces to endangered animal and plant species, and they educate people about the natural world. By visiting a natural park, you learn about ancient people who lived in that area through cave art, crafts, and cultural villages that are recreated to share knowledge. Being a green lung to society, national parks help reduce carbon emissions, produce oxygen, and sustain natural water cycles.

 

The 6 Most Important Reasons Why National Parks Are Important

My son would want further information, and since I love his curious mind, I prepared my research carefully to help him understand just why we had to have and preserve national parks. These are my top reasons for going to national parks and protecting them:

 

1. Biodiversity

In a fast-changing world, we tend to build first and think last. We disrupt nature, breaking vital ecological chains and destroying biodiversity—all in the name of progress.

Having a place that is set aside to let nature be nature, without human interference, is a way to encourage biodiversity and natural order.

When we protect nature, we are amazed by the incredible interconnectedness between plants and animals, bacteria and microorganisms, and soil and water.

This is unique and beautiful, which is why biodiversity is such a powerful attraction point for eco-tourism.

 

2. Education

National parks are like giant outdoor schools. Except, these are schools where you learn through seeing, experiencing, and thinking—not by doing homework.

At national parks, you can learn about the world around you. My son loves animals, and I encourage him to find a new and strange animal each trip we take. Of course, he doesn’t catch the animal by hand but uses a camera instead.

By learning about nature and how things fit together, it helps us realize our role in the world and how we also fit into our societies.

Being aware of interconnectedness is a vital skill that builds to networking as an adult, and I am not surprised that the foundations of this skill start during visits to national parks.

 

3. Preservative Function

When we honor our past, we succeed in our future. National parks are giant time capsules, and while they protect nature and the environment, they also protect our past.

Many national parks have museums and exhibits that teach visitors about everything from mining and railway lines to native cultures and historic battles.

Without national parks, that history would soon be swept away and only exist in photos.

 

4. Reduction of Carbon Emissions and Oxygen Production

National parks are green zones, where nature can continue without interruption. This means it is plant-rich, and these plants all function as giant oxygen producers.

They absorb carbon dioxide as part of their photosynthesis process, and we get the benefit of the oxygen they make.

Without plants, we wouldn’t be able to breathe! Countries with large natural areas where there are a lot of plants have a lower carbon footprint due to these plants absorbing the carbon emitted by vehicles, factories, and other industries.

 

5. Places of Recreation

My family loves hiking, and there is no better place to do it than a national park. Many parks have campsites where you can park your RV or pitch a tent and experience nature in all its splendor.

There is something about walking in a giant forest of redwood trees that is just good for the soul.

Other parks have river rafting or rock climbing as activities too, and these all provide release and relaxation to the park visitors.

 

6. Scientific Discovery

National parks are not only great for recreational visitors or school tour groups, they are also excellent testing and learning grounds for scientists. Many science projects and research studies are conducted in national parks.

These parks help scientists test theories about the natural world. By exploring the local plant and animal life, discoveries are made and knowledge earned.

Who knows, the next miracle cure for headaches or the common cold may yet be discovered by one of these scientific teams in our national forests.

 

Why Are National Parks Important FAQs

 

What is special about national parks?

National parks matter because of more than just their preservation of plants and animals, but also because they educate visitors, ensure biodiversity, and help scientists learn about the natural world.

 

What are the disadvantages of national parks?

When an area is declared a national park, there may be people still living there. The property values and living costs in such areas become very expensive, causing the local people to feel forced to move. National parks also take up a large portion of land, and this may lead to poverty of the local people when they can’t find work outside of tourism industries.

 

Are there benefits to national parks?

National parks help to regulate the natural environment, and they may limit flooding, reduce erosion, and prevent landslides.

Conclusion On Why National Parks Are Important

National Parks are important because they:

1. protect and preserve the natural environment
2. offer safe spaces to endangered animal and plant species
3. educate people about nature and society
4. help reduce carbon emissions, produce oxygen, and sustain natural water cycles.