The ongoing Gulf of Mexico oil spill poses an historic challenge to the national parks in the Gulf region and beyond. The National Park Foundation, official charity of America’s national parks, launched the National Parks Disaster Recovery Fund. The public outreach and fundraising campaign will support the National Park Service’s response to the Gulf oil spill, and will also serve to create lasting capacity to help national parks recover from future natural and man-made disasters. No funds raised will be used to mitigate the liability of any responsible parties for the injuries caused by the oil spill.
“The federal government’s unprecedented response to the environmental disaster in the Gulf is matched only by the desire of the American people to help,” said Tom Strickland, assistant secretary for fish and wildlife and parks of the U.S. Department of the Interior. “Thanks to this effort by the National Park Foundation, those who wish to help us protect national parks threatened by the oil spill can do so.”
“While donated funds will be available to affected parks for immediate needs throughout the disaster as well as long-term monitoring of the health of the damaged ecosystems, donated funds will not reduce the financial obligation of those responsible for the spill.”
“This is a defining moment in the history of our national parks,” said Neil Mulholland, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation. “The public is eager to support their national parks and the National Parks Disaster Recovery Fund is an important way to take action. With an increasing number of natural disasters like flooding, fires and hurricanes, combined with man-made catastrophes like the Gulf oil spill, it is time that we move strategically to make sure that our national parks have the resources they need to recover.”
To support this effort, visit www.nationalparks.org or text “PARKS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Funds raised between now and July 1, 2010, will go directly to the impacted parks in the Gulf and support critical and immediate needs as well as sustained scientific study of maintenance of impacted ecosystems.
Source: National Park Foundation
