Post by Owen on Sept 23, 2020 0:56:23 GMT
1 ~~~ How will America’s state parks survive 2020? ~ NatGeo ~~~
www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/2020/09/state-parks-face-budget-cuts-wildfires-coronavirus/ ~ 18 September 2020 ~
In an unprecedented year of pandemic and natural disasters, cash-strapped state parks now face funding cutbacks.
The closure of Yosemite National Park due to heavy smoke from the wildfires in California sparked national attention. But another story is smoldering in the state: 34 of its 300 state parks have had to shut down due to the fires, which have brought additional pressure on public spaces already straining under a surge of pandemic crowds.
California is experiencing its worst fire season ever, as firefighters continue to battle more than two dozen major fires that have killed 25 people and left scores more displaced. So far, this unprecedented year for wildfires has seen 3.3 million acres ravaged across the Golden State—a record-breaking 26 times more than the acreage lost to fire last year.
www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/2020/09/state-parks-face-budget-cuts-wildfires-coronavirus/ ~ 18 September 2020 ~