The Coronavirus's Impact on our Parks and the Environment

Many have flocked to the outdoors during the pandemic
Source: 303magazine.com

The Coronavirus is affecting everything.  This statement is one I am getting a bit tired of reading in the news, but it is unfortunately true.  Mankind has expanded to the scale that our reach affects every corner of the globe; thus this new virus that is affect all of us will also be affecting the entire planet.  You have no doubt read countless articles speculating on the impacts on the economy, the education system, the health care system, and government.  But what about the natural environment and places like parks and reserves?  How will they fare amongst this global pandemic?

Simple logic may lead you to infer that parks and other natural places will do quite well.  Without all the people mucking about, it would make sense that these ecosystems would thrive.  But people are also the protectors of landscapes, whether they be rangers, scientists, wardens, or volunteers.  Just as many of them have been sidelined by the creeping virus.  This makes the answer more complicated than a simple "good" or "bad", and in reality we can only really speculate.  Like most everything else, we will have to wait until time has passed to know how things are going to end up.  Yet even with all of this uncertainty, it is safe to say that the parks and the like are under threat under the coronavirus pandemic.

From many parks' points of view, especially the National Parks, the Coronavirus is similar to the recent government shutdown, the effects of which I also wrote an article piece about.  Skeleton crews are manning the parks, while initial federal policy was to keep everything open to the public in the interest giving people a way to get outside.  The Department of the Interior waived entrance fees, resulting in a wave of bored visitors flocking to take advantage of a cheap vacation.  Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt stated, "I directed all of our public lands units in March to waive entrance fees.  This action is a recognition that we are not providing a full-service experience and an important means to limit contact between visitors and our employees at the entrances of our different locations."

In a response similar to that of the government shutdown, park employees are complaining that they do not have the resources to protect the parks from the influx of visitors, or even to protect themselves.  In a closed to the public Facebook page, a number of Federal Park employees complained about the lack of protection.  Andre S. said people shouldn't visit, "especially since visitors don't always practice basic hygiene, even prior to COVID.  And now, our concessioner seems to be running low on soap and towels.  Even though I'm always been meticulous about hygiene doesn't mean those around me including fellow NPS and visitors will.  And there have been multiple instances in the past where people have invaded my personal zone, coming definitely closer than the six foot radius."  Later, the Department of the Interior gave Park Superintendents the power to close the park if they felt it was in everyone's best interest, which resulted in Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Glacier to close, among others.  Yet, some large attractions like the Grand Canyon remain open.

The long term effects will be similar to those explored during the government shutdown.  The waiver of entrance fees will eat into a huge source of revenue for the Park Service.  Much of the operations and day-to-day activities of parks are funded on entrance and use fees.  Thus parks will be underbudget when they return to full capacity and the larger danger of the virus has passed.  This may result in a limited ability of the Park Service to provide services or maintenance.  Also, park staffing whittled down to a minimum, the areas are more susceptible to damage from visitors.  Rangers and other staff will be concentrated on keeping up with the crowds, meaning that maintenance, law enforcement in backcountry areas, and restoration efforts will be sidelined.  

Crowds like this are to be expected when admission is free
Source: theactivetimes.com

This threat to natural lands is not limited to the United States, and is even more pronounced in countries that do not have the wealth or infrastructure of America.  African natural lands and parks are particularly at risk because the majority of the conservation efforts on the continent are funded by the $40 billion wildlife-tourism industry.  As most tourists to these parks are foreign, the industry has effectively ground to a halt, and gone with it are the salaries for security guards, tour guides, and conservation workers who staff the parks.  Nearly 36% of jobs in Africa are within the wildlife tourism industry.

With workers either laid off or furloughed, the areas themselves will surely suffer.  Poachers will grow bold without deterrents and locals may look to the parks for food and other resources in desperation.  As Kaddu Sebunya of the African Wildlife Foundation says, "People reliant on tourism have lost income in a very short space of time and need to find ways to feed their families.  Many are rangers, guides, and experts who know wildlife and where it is.  The temptation to poach will be extreme, and that includes endangered species."

Worldwide, wildlife and nature tourism supports 21.8 million jobs and is the source of an economic contribution of $343.6 billion.  Coronavirus has put this industry on hold and thus threatened the natural lands themselves, as about 50% of park services on the globe rely primarily on tourism to fund their efforts.  The longer the crisis goes on, the more damage that can be wrought.  Yet authorities are in a quagmire, as no one wants to subject workers to the crowds that tourism needs to flourish.

Many local and indigenous people depend on Safari Lodges for their livelihood
Source: victoriafalls24.com

Not all is doom and gloom.  Coronavirus has hit the pause and reset buttons on conservation, and some are hoping the industries can make some improvements in the process.  As one activist noted, "Destinations and tourism operators everywhere have an unique chance to restart a tourism industry that will be better planned, better managed, and that will be sustainable with stronger policies."  For now, only time will tell the outcome, but perhaps good can be made of the current crisis.

Sources:

Bernhardt, D. (2020, April 17). Interior Secretary David Bernhardt: Coronavirus impacts national parks and other public lands [Text.Article]. Fox News; Fox News. https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/interior-secretary-david-bernhardt-coronavirus-impacts-national-parks-and-other-public-lands

Clark, N. (n.d.). How big a threat does coronavirus pose to wildlife in Africa? Retrieved May 24, 2020, from https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/big-threat-coronavirus-pose-wildlife-africa-200514061925346.html

Coronavirus Impacts Reaching National Parks. (n.d.). Retrieved May 17, 2020, from https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2020/03/updated-coronavirus-impacts-reaching-national-parks-raising-concerns

D’Angelo, C. (400 C.E., 42:35). National Parks Are Finally Taking Coronavirus Seriously. HuffPost. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/national-parks-coronavirus_n_5e71196ac5b60fb69ddf5fe1

Kvinta, P. (2020, April 1). A Halt in Tourism Might Be Good for Animals—But Not for Long. Outside Online. https://www.outsideonline.com/2411075/coronavirus-wildlife-conservation-impact

Siler, W. (2020, April 1). The 2019 Shutdown Was a Mess for Parks. This Is Just as Bad. Outside Online. https://www.outsideonline.com/2411239/coronavirus-national-parks-impact

The Coronavirus Lockdown Is a Threat for Many Animals, Not a Blessing. (n.d.). Wired. Retrieved May 24, 2020, from https://www.wired.com/story/coronavirus-lockdown-conservation/

The coronavirus threat to wildlife tourism and conservation. (n.d.). UNDP. Retrieved May 18, 2020, from https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/blog/2020/the-coronavirus-threat-to-wildlife-tourism-and-conservation.html