The Importance of National Parks

Margaret Chase Smith Library 2026 Essay Contest

Authors

  • Oran Saar Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53558/9cmh5z17

Keywords:

National Park Service, funding, federal land

Abstract

Each year the Margaret Chase Smith Library sponsors an essay contest for high school seniors. The essay prompt for 2026 asked students to explain what governmental service or program is essential and needs to be protected? Keep in mind the governmental
role of providing order and security, offering public or civic amenities, and protecting individual rights.

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References

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Banasiak, Adam, Linda J. Bilmes, and John Loomis. 2015. “Carbon Sequestration in the U.S. National Parks: A Value beyond Visitation.” HKS Facility Research Working Paper, Series. https://www.hks.harvard.edu/publications/carbon-sequestration-us-national-parks-value-beyond-visitation.

CWP (Center for Western Priorities). 2025. “Statement on Sen. Mike Lee Proposal to Allow Selling off National Parks.” News release, December 17. https://westernpriorities.org/2025/12/statement-on-sen-mike-lee-proposal-to-allow-selling-off-national-parks/.

Fischler, Jacob. 2025. “U.S. House Spending Panel Indicates It Will Boost Interior Funding above Trump Request.” News from the States, May 20. https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-spending-panel-indicates-it-will-boost-interior-funding-above-trump-request.

Frommer, Pauline. 2025. “The U.S. National Parks Bring in Much More Money than They Take from Federal Funding.” Frommers, March 7. https://www.frommers.com/trip-ideas/national-park/national-parks-make-more-money-than-they-take-in-taxes/.

Karlamangla, Soumya, and Angus Morton. 2026. “At Yosemite, Rangers Are Scarce and Visitors Have Gone Wild.” The New York Times, January 19. F6.

Kelleher, Suzanne Rowan. 2025. “National Park Service to Be Hit With 1,500 Additional Layoffs And Deep Budget Cuts, Reports Say.” Forbes, May 8. https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2025/05/08/national-park-service-layoffs-budget-cuts/.

Kolankiewicz, Leon. 2022. “America’s Wildlands and Open Space Continue to Vanish at Alarming Rates.” Rewilding, 30 May. https://rewilding.org/americas-wildlands-and-open-space-continue-to-vanish-at-alarming-rates/.

Lanning, Zach. 2025. “Acadia National Park Generates $745M in Economic Output for Gateway Communities in 2024.” Mount Desert Islander, October 1. https://www.mdislander.com/news/business/acadia-national-park-generates-745m-in-economic-output-for-gateway-communities-in-2024/article_4beb2bf4-8101-4780-8fba-ac64e6708bfe.html.

Liu, Jiajia, Maxwell Wilson, Guang Hu, Linliang Liu, Jianguo Wu, and Mignjian Yu. 2018.“How Does Habitat Fragmentation Affect the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning Relationship?” Landscape Ecology 33(3): 341–352. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-018-0620-5.

Muir, John. 1897. “John Muir’s 1897 Case for Saving America’s Forests.” The Atlantic (August). https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1897/08/the-american-forests/305017/.

NPCA (National Parks Conservation Association). 2026. “Senate Rejects Devastating National Park Funding and Staffing Cuts but Leaves Door Open to Future Threats.” News release, January 5. https://www.npca.org/articles/11276-senate-rejects-devastating-national-park-funding-and-staffing-cuts-but.

NPCA (National Parks Conservation Association). 2019 WIN-Win: The Endangered Species Act and Our National Parks. NPCA and Defenders of Wildlife. https://www.npca.org/resources/3291-win-win-the-endangered-species-act-and-our-national-parks.

Okudan, Bilal, Ozkan Isik, Rifat Yagmur Cana Bastik Salkim, Laurentiu-Gabriel Talaghir, and Teodora Mihaela Iconomescu. 2025. “Nature-Based Activities and Mental Well-Being in Adults: A Study on Perceived Health Outcomes.” Frontiers in Public Health 13: 1611830. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1611830.

Stein, Bruce A., Lynn S. Kutner, and Jonathan S. Adams, eds. 2000. Precious Heritage: The Status of Biodiversity in the United States. New York: Oxford University Press.

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Published

2026-09-10

How to Cite

Saar, Oran. 2026. “The Importance of National Parks: Margaret Chase Smith Library 2026 Essay Contest”. Maine Policy Review 35 (1). https://doi.org/10.53558/9cmh5z17.