February 6, 2004
I have been involved in a project for our family's website that has brought me into contact with personnel at parks, refuges, and sanctuaries in Canada and the United States via postal letter, e-mail, and telephone. It has been a learning experience about which I would like to share some feelings. Although this website pertains to the Blue Ridge Parkway, my thoughts go beyond here to cover the two countries. I gained an appreciation for those people who were planners, constructors, and current and past operators -- some having had to work at times under less than ideal conditions.
There have been good feelings. Most of the personnel have been very cooperative and friendly, even going beyond my expectations in taking time to prepare and send materials. They are dedicated people doing all that they can to help to preserve the plants, animals, and geology of their specific areas and providing education and pleasant surroundings for their guests. Much goes on behind the scenes that tourists will never see. I have been particularly pleased with learning the number of species, especially birds, that appear in these areas. Numerous places also have very interesting historical backgrounds.
There have been some disappointing feelings. Several parks did not provide any response to my communication, not even to say that they are unable to provide the data. Some jurisdictions do not have lists of plants and animals. Part of the reason is beyond the control of the local personel because of cutbacks in staff and finances. Some visitors like to take souvenirs illegally out of the restricted areas. One stone or other object may appear to be insignificant. However, when that one is multiplied by the number of visitors doing this over a season, the effect can become significant. Such volunteer groups as Friends of the Park play an important role in publicity, education, and other activities. However, on occasion I found that basic historical facts of the park were not known.
How do my experiences apply to Blue Ridge Parkway and other areas? Consider what it would be like without them -- no birds, no wild animals, dying vegetation, no bodies of water. Is that too extreme to come to pass? There are accounts of endangered and extinct species -- greater numbers than many people seem to realize. Where there are assessments of species being carried out, the situation can be addressed. This is where governments, industries, businesses, biologists, park staff, and volunteers can participate.
Public relations and education are important. There needs to be a good rapport between permanant staff of the parks and the general public. I found that the staffs are performing very well. One suggestion would be for a few to respond to requests from correspondents, even if time be limited and if there be no specific information available.
Government leaders should give non-partisan support in any way that they can to the parks and the staffs.
Probably the greatest responsibility goes to the visiting public. The rules of the area should be strictly obeyed. These would include -- among other things -- proper use of vehicles, leaving trash in the designated areas, paying proper attention to campfires and fire hazard warnings, not straying from the assigned roads and trails when walking, not feeding or antagonizing wildlife, and not removing plants and geological objects. These are simple rules, but ones that are violated too often. Following them protects not only the park or refuge, but the visitors themselves. Before contacting for information, make sure that your answer cannot be found on the website.
I have learned how much our family missed in our visits over the years. Even when the main interest of visitors is recreation, there is so much to learn in these places. Have a little knowledge before visiting, and leave with much more. We all need to be good citizens so that these places will continue to be lasting places of enjoyment and education.
I would like to thank park, refuge, and sanctuary staffs -- past and present -- and anyone else who has been involved with these places of preservation for the experiences of my family and me.
Courtesy -- Duane Duff
Surrey, BC, Canada
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