Without adequate resources for protection, parks face impacts that cannot be reversed. The Park Protection Fund will equip and empower NPCA to protect parks from permanent loss of critical wildlife habitat, degradation of air and water quality, irreversible damage to cultural resources, inappropriate development at park boundaries, and reduced visitor experiences due to staffing shortages.

The Park Protection Fund will strengthen our capacity to defend national parks. We will focus NPCA’s resources on four key areas that we anticipate will face the greatest threats and challenges, and where we believe we can have the greatest impact.

Our Focus

Protecting Park Lands and Monuments

Devils Tower - first monument with Antiquities Act

Devils Tower in Wyoming was the first national monument created through the 1906 Antiquities Act.

 camera icon Matt Pcion/Dreamstime

Parks embody our nation’s commitment to preserving our most extraordinary places for all Americans, present and future. National parks belong to all of us, and their preservation is our shared responsibility. NPCA is working with Congress, the Administration, and on-the-ground partners to invest in safeguarding our nation’s most important cultural and historic places and assets, and the stories they tell, so they are preserved for generations of park visitors to learn from and enjoy.

Safeguarding Wildlife and Habitats

Pronghorn grazing in Yellowstone

Pronghorn grazing in Yellowstone National Park.

 camera icon © Cherylramalho | Dreamstime.com

Our national parks provide some of the best, and sadly some of the last, remaining habitats for countless species. Wildlife populations that depend on national parks require connectivity to habitat beyond park boundaries to thrive. NPCA will work with our members and conservation partners to push back against efforts to weaken the Endangered Species Act (ESA), a key conservation law that protects species and their habitats.

Supporting Park Operations

Front of DOI

United States Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C.

 camera icon Ismael Gama, NPCA

It takes thousands of people to protect our over 400 national park sites. Park staff work every day to maintain our nation’s most precious natural and historic places, educate visitors and keep them safe, and preserve what makes our country special. Parks wouldn’t be parks without the people of the National Park Service – and those people are under attack. Devastating staffing cuts will leave parks understaffed, facing tough decisions about operating hours, public safety and resource protection.

Encouraging Balanced Energy Development

Dinosaur National Monument

Dinosaur National Monument.

 camera icon Photo © Zrphoto/Dreamstime.

Millions of acres of public land are already leased to oil and gas companies for fossil fuel extraction, with over 12 million acres currently under active oil and gas drilling out of 24 million acres under lease. Sites such as Dinosaur, Hovenweep, and Natural Bridges National Monuments could face renewed risk of industrial fossil fuel development. If we lose these places to oil and gas development, we forfeit a century-old legacy that we will not pass on to our grandchildren. We can’t let that happen on our watch.

For more information, or to discuss how you can support NPCA’s Park Protection Fund, please contact Mary O’Connor, Senior Vice President of Development, at moconnor@npca.org or at (202) 590-7344.

HELP PROTECT OUR NATIONAL PARKS Donate to NPCA’s Park Protection Fund

The effectiveness of park protection often comes down to having the right experts in the right places at the right time. NPCA’s strategic deployment of resources makes the difference between preservation and permanent loss. With your investment in the Park Protection Fund, NPCA can work nimbly and strategically to address threats to national parks regardless of the political climate.

Our Strategy

  • Expert Staff Deployment

    NPCA’s team of legal specialists, policy and subject matter experts, field and regional staff, and communications professionals stand ready to act, working in tandem for an effective, multi-pronged approach.

  • Research and Analysis

    Strong park protection requires solid evidence. NPCA uses environmental impact studies, policy analysis, legal research, and policy impact monitoring to inform and drive effective advocacy.

  • Coalition Building

    Parks belong to all Americans, and their protection requires diverse support. Our coalition-building strategy creates powerful alliances with gateway communities, Tribal groups, business leaders and other environmental and historic preservation groups.

  • Public Education and Advocacy

    When parks face threats, public awareness and engagement often make the difference. Our comprehensive communications strategy includes the creation of educational materials, timely media outreach and public awareness campaigns.

  • Rapid Response Capability

    Parks cannot wait for lengthy fundraising campaigns when threats emerge. NPCA works quickly as challenges arise to file legal challenges, deploy experts, launch rapid response communications campaigns, mobilize local and national supporters, and engage specialized consultants when needed.

  • Long-term Relationship Building

    To ensure that parks remain protected and preserved long beyond immediate challenges, we’re building lasting relationships with Park Service staff, Congressional staff from both parties, Department of Interior leadership, local elected officials, Tribal leaders and local businesses.


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This is a pivotal moment for America’s national parks. When you support NPCA’s Park Protection Fund, you become part of a distinguished legacy of park protection stretching back more than a century. Your gift ensures that the places that have inspired generations of Americans – from the towering cliffs of Yosemite to the deep canyons of the Southwest and the pristine waters of Acadia – remain protected for future generations.

Make a tax-deductible gift today to provide a brighter future for our national parks and the millions of Americans who enjoy them.

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