25 National Parks Threatened By Climate Change: Photo Gallery

Glacier National Park

Climate change is a real problem, and now it’s threatening some of our most beloved spaces. The Natural Resources Defense Council and the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization released a report last week, National Parks In Peril: The Threats of Climate Disruption, identifying the 25 National Parks most threatened by climate change. The threats are not small, and the report goes so far to state that: “Human disruption of the climate is the greatest threat ever to our national parks.” The report lays out the following risks faced by these parks, all consequences of climate change:

• loss of snow and ice
  loss of water
  higher seas and stronger coastal storms
  more downpours and flooding
  loss of plant communities
  loss of wildlife
  loss of historical and cultural resources
  intolerable heat
  loss of fishing
  more air pollution

The scene is dire, as the report paints a grim picture of some of North America’s most iconic places. The report calls for national action to mitigate these risks, but citizens can do their part as well. First off, make sure you’re taking advantage of your National Parks! Nothing shows support for the wilderness like getting out and enjoying it. You can support the RMCO by going here. The National Parks Conservation Association is another excellent resource, and has an easy tool to help you find elected officials to contact in your area.

Check out our full photo gallery of the 25 parks at risk after the jump.

Photo Credits:

Acadia National Park, Maine [leeco, Flick]

Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland and Virginia  [mikeraybourne, Flickr]

Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico [douglaspperkins, Flickr]/2940812407/

Biscayne National Park, [Florida NPS Photo by John Brooks]

Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina [Outer Banks Real Estate, Flickr]

Colonial National Historical Park, Virginia [ktylerconk, Flickr]

Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska [redneck, Flickr]

Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida [ricsae, Flickr]

Ellis Island National Monument, New York Harbor [jmd41280, Flickr]

Everglades National Park, Florida [sivaprakash, Flickr]

Glacier National Park, Montana [annabrones, Flickr]

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee [scmikeburton, Flickr]

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indiana [rayb777, Flickr]

Joshua Tree National Park, California [jewing, Flickr]

Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada [kenlund, Flickr]

Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado [mulsanne, Flickr]

Mount Rainier National Park, Washington [vladeb, Flickr]

Padre Island National Seashore, Texas [davidw, Flickr]

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado [miguelvieira, Flickr]

Saguaro National Park, Arizona [kenlund, Flickr]

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota [mepeters, Flickr]

Virgin Islands National Park, U.S. Virgin Islands [tomsaint, Flickr]

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming [alaskan dude, Flickr]

Yosemite National Park, California [isuisse, Flickr]

Zion National Park, Utah [subactive, Flickr]