Journal of Sustainable Development; Vol. 9, No.

1; 2016
ISSN 1913-9063 E-ISSN 1913-9071
Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education

Environmental Role of National Parks

Molla Mekonnen Alemu1
1
United Nations Development Programme, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Correspondence: Molla Mekonnen Alemu, Wilkinson 55, Freetown, Sierra Leone. Tel: 232-7906-1001. E-mail:
mollamekonnen@gmail.com

Received: August 6, 2015 Accepted: October 19, 2015 Online Published: December 4, 2015
doi:10.5539/jsd.v9n1p1 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jsd.v9n1p1

Abstract
The natural ecosystems are endangered due to human behavior; the razing of forests is diminishing the world’s
oxygen supply and potentially irreplaceable natural resources. Wetlands are being drained, eliminating breeding
environments for millions of birds and reproducing grounds for fish; cherished fauna and flora species are being
endangered from extinction. Clean water, clean air, access to food sources, buffers of weather events, cultural
and spiritual values, and raw materials for consumers, are some of the ecosystem services that ensure the
well-being of humanity. Well-managed protected areas are a proven mechanism in the protection and
conservation of healthy ecosystems and the services they provide. National Parks are essentially planned to
shelter the lasting "wilderness" of a given country and have principally dedicated on the maintenance of
extraordinary areas or emblematic species. This paper is aimed at exploring the environmental role of national
parks by having an extensive literature review and come up with recommendations which can help the
conservation of national parks.
Keywords: parks, environment, forests
1. Introduction and Background
The degradation of environmental can impede developmental efforts in two ways. Firstly, it diminishes the
wellbeing of a community by draining the natural resources and decreasing the value of the environment in
various ways. Secondly, it decreases longer term productivity and thereby the forthcoming earnings of a given
society. This seems a vicious circle in that; as humans use natural resources beyond the replenishment capacity
of the system and deplete its productivity; for compensation of the shortage of production; further degradation of
natural resources will continue. This overuse of natural resources aggravates the degradation of the environment
and declining of productivity which continues to keep poverty increasing (World Development Report, 1992).
Publicly or communally owned natural resources such as parks, natural forests, wetlands are important natural
resources as they have useful effects on ecological balances and also for they are the meanses for the livelihood
of many local people worldwide; especially in the developing countries. However, due to increased population
growth, lower productivity of agriculture and fast expansion of farmlands in most developing countries many
environmentally important areas such as parks are highly degraded. The main reason behind such environmental
resource mismanagement, among other things is poverty. Poverty may force people to use available resources to
the limit and beyond the limit of the capacity of natural resources because people frequently encroaches
environmentally conserved areas in search of their livelihood (Anemut, 2006; Inglis, 2008).
Effectively managed and maintained ecosystems also play a pivotal role for human health that goes beyond the
deleterious effects of environmental pollutants. For instance, natural disasters have adverse impacts on the
physical as well as mental health of mankind; biodiversity can also have a negative effect on health as a result of
exposure to diseases or toxin substances; and biodiversity and integrated ecosystem services can have a positive
effect on health related issues through changes in the aesthetic, cultural and recreational attributes of the natural
ecosystems. In the language of ecosystem services, negative health effects are a result of ecosystems failure to
control natural disasters and diseases to a certain extent; while positive effects of health are resulted since
ecosystems provide a range of cultural services that are imperative for the well-being and henceforth health
(Alderman, K. et al., 2012; Keesing, F. et al., 2010; Lee & Maheswaran, 2011).
The contribution of protected areas to the economy of many countries is also significant by contributing a lot for
the livelihoods and well-being of the nation through income and employment generation. Therefore, so as to

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attain biodiversity conservation and its contribution for poverty reduction, protected areas management should
be considered as an integral part and parcel of the wider sustainable agenda of development for a nation (Lea et
al., 2004; Lisa et al., 2008).
Clean water, clean air, access to food sources, buffers of weather events, cultural and spiritual values, and raw
materials for consumers, are some of the ecosystem services that ensure the well-being of humankind.
Well-managed protected areas are a proven mechanism in the protection, conservation and maintenance of
healthy ecosystems and the services they provide (Lisa et al., 2008). According to David (2012) National Parks
are also planned to shelter the lasting "wilderness" of a given country and have principally dedicated on the
maintenance of extraordinary areas or emblematic plant and animal species. National parks have many roles
among which "preserving nature" has become a matter of considerable social, political, economic and scientific
concern, an integrative whole system approach.
The natural ecosystems are endangered due to human behavior; the razing forests is reducing the world’s oxygen
supply and potentially irreplaceable natural capitals. Acid rain is spoiling the air and many of those trees left.
Wetlands are being drained, eliminating breeding grounds for millions of birds and spawning grounds for fish;
valuable plant and animal species are being threatened with extinction. Simple human greed is destroying
virtually overnight a natural wealth which has taken millennia to amass (IUCN/UNEP/WWF, 1991).
2. Objectives
Explore the environmental importance of parks; and forward recommendations to facilitate the development and
sustainable utilization of park ecology.
3. Methods
The formulation of the article required from finding and evaluating appropriate materials to synthesizing the
information from numerous sources by critical thinking and evaluation. A set of summaries were drawn in the
form of critical analysis and discussion. A range of awareness and divergent arguments, theories and approaches
were critically reviewed and analyzed by being directed as per the research objective.
The article endeavored to rationalize the role of national parks to the environment by interpreting a number of
facts as per the objectives. The article also compared and contrasted the diverse understandings and issues of the
environmental role of parks on the environment with a major emphasis on the woody vegetation.
4. Result and Discussion
4.1 Types of Natural Resources
There are two types of natural resources. These are natural resources which are deple or non-renewable and those
which are renewable. Deple natural resources are those natural resources where their potential reserves can be
exhausted, and on the contrary renewable resources are distinguished from deple resources mainly as they can be
replenished at a non-negligible rate. However, for some renewable resources their sustained availability mainly
depends on human intervention.
The efficient utilization of renewables possesses a different challenge from the management of deple resources,
even though both resources are similarly important.
The issue with the deple resources is the efficient utilization of the stock without compromising the benefits of
the future generation (Titenberg, 2003). On the other hand, the challenge for managing renewable resources
involves the maintenance of an efficient sustainable flow.
4.2 The Idea of Parks
The word ‘Park’ comes from the Medieval Latin parricus, which means ‘enclosure’. ‘Reserve’ also originates
from the Latin reservare, meaning ‘save’. Indeed, ‘preservation’, ‘protection’, and ‘conservation’ essentially
imply that certain areas or natural aspects are kept away from the present demand. Similarly, ‘establishment’
denotes a legal event of bringing into existence and ‘management’ implies certain techniques of supervising the
area, frequently involving a whole range of new institutions, professionals and methods. It is clear that the areas
included in parks and reserves retain such resources like grazing land for wild animals, forest, water, wildlife,
and grasses. Parks may also represent many cultural, aesthetic and spiritual values locally. Important decisions in
relation to the sustained utilization and protection of certain natural resources have been made throughout human
history, at times provoking long lasting conflicts (Ghimire and Pimbert; 1997). A common reasoning has been
that parks and reserves are for the ‘common good’, established and managed through ‘impartial’ state institutions.
The prime objective establishing parks is for the protection and sustenance of biological diversity. However, in
the actual and present setting this may not be seen being practiced in many parks (Western and Giochoi, 1993).
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4.3 Role of Parks’ on Environment

The prime objective of national parks is conservation. The forests-vegetation-parks provide many important
benefits to the environment: providing shelter for all species living on land, through carbon sequestration forests
also serve to combat global warming and climate change. Forests also contribute a lot in moderating local and
regional rainfall distribution and intensity. In addition to this, forests have medicinal, aesthetic and recreational
values apart from serving as source of food, clean water, etc. benefits for millions of people.
4.3.1 Role in Climate Change
Forest plants and soils are the storehouse of carbon, and hence play a pivotal role in balancing weather and
climate at local and regional levels by carbon sequestration through photosynthesis and discharging it over
respiration.
However, it is a sad fact that, in many parts of the world forests are being cleared for different livelihood
activities like timber, fuel wood, farming, fiber, etc. and when forests are burned or cleared from the surface,
they will release carbon back to the atmosphere as their role to store carbon is being altered by human activities.
Tropical deforestation is responsible for approximately 20% of total human-caused carbon dioxide emissions
each year, and is a primary driver of extinction of forest species (see graph below) (Schimel, D.S. et al., 2001).

According to Shivastava (2002) forests influence humidity, solar radiation, temperature and wind. Forested areas
are cooler during summer and warmer in winter than are open areas, due to dense canopy. This holds true in the
daily fluctuations. Thus, forests has a moderating influence on temperature. In the night forest canopy prevents
reradiation of heat gained during the day. With in a forest the air is more moist than on the outside as the forests
provide obstraction to wind. Rain bearing winds are deflected further up in to the atmosphere if a mountain range
is forest covered; thus causing the air to become cooler and providing more precipitation.
4.3.2 Control of Runoff/Water Loss
The tree leaves and branches intercept the rain, causing the moisture to drip rather than reach the earth with a
force. The ground litter and humus absorbs the water and reduce runoff. Organic matter keeps the soil porous
and permeable, allowing seepage and storage of water in to the substratum (Bryan et al., 2005).
4.3.3 Reduction of Wind Erosion
Wind in the treeless areas increase evaporation, dry the soil, remove fertile top soil, and blow sand over fertile
lands. Trees act as windbreaks and shelterbelts. Wind speed is highly reduced (Bryan et al., 2005).
4.3.4 Environment for Fish
Forest vegetation prevents excessive stream temperature by shading the water courses which is congenial for fish
life. Removal of trees from creeks and streams in USA resulted in water that was undesirable for the existence of
trout fish. Forests also help to produce clear streams most desirable for fish life.
4.3.5 Wild Habitat
Forests provide food and shelter to many kinds of wild life. When forest trees are removed, some kinds of wild

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life disappear. With the restoration of tree habitat, other kinds of wild life dependent on shrubs, weeds and young
trees may occupy the area. When trees and other forest vegetation are destroyed, all wild life will disappear for a
long time.
4.3.6 Pollution Control
Trees intake pollutants from the air during their normal gas exchange. Small amounts of sulfur dioxide is taken
and used in metabolism of the trees. Also trees take up various soil and water pollutants through the roots and aid
in cleaning soil and water.
4.3.7 Noise Abatement
Noise can be abated by proper use of trees and plants. If placed between the source of noise and people, even a
few trees can be effective. Deciduous trees are not much effective in winters. To be effective trees should be
close to the source of the noise.
4.3.8 Serves as a Buffer Zone
The integrated ecological roles of forest trees, shrubs, forbs, grasses, water bodies, soils, etc. is a vital element of
a healthy ecosystem services and functions. As ecosystem functions are highly dependent on the existence of a
network of these different resources which has different roles and functions in creating a health environment, the
combined effort of these resources will help in the creation of a healthy ecosystem such as to filter water
resources, serving as sink for carbon, facilitating the existence of health ecosystem for different microorganisms,
shelter and feed for wild animals, improved habitats for fish, etc.
5. Discussion
A complex mix and interlocking problems are reaching crisis levels nowadays on the beautiful planet earth, which
is the only home for us and a rich diversity of other life forms. Each year more of the world’s forest, grass lands and
wetlands disappear, and deserts grow in size as more people increase their use of the earth’s surface and its
resources. Vital top soil is washed or blown way from farmland and cleared forests and then clogs streams, lakes,
and reservoirs with sediments. Every hour, as many as six of the earth’s wild species are driven to permanent
extinction by human activities (Miller, 1992).
The ecological benefits of forests have been well recognised since history began and were recorded in the
writings of the ancient Greeks and Romans:
"There were large forests in the mountains whose traces are still visible today. If, in these mountains, some only
nourish bees, not so long ago trees were cut for large construction needs… The soil provided infinite foraging
possibilities for livestock and also collected Zeus’ annual rainwater, which did not run over bare soil into the sea
as it does today. Since the earth was still thick and received water which it stored in impermeable clay, it let
water it had absorbed in the heights run down into the valleys, providing abundant springs and large rivers
everywhere. (Plato, Critias, III)." (quoted in European Parliament 1997 in Bill, 2003).
Trees are the major constituent of a forest ecosystem and therefore playing a major role in backing the very
existence of many fauna and flora species. Likewise, trees also exhibit ecological and economic significance
even in areas that are not categorized as forests by being source of shade, fixing nitrogen, source of edible fruits,
etc. As trees normally live for ages, they will experience the changing environmental conditions which enable
them to have a continued adaptation and coping mechanisms which best suits their ecological conditions
(Koskela et al., Undated).
A forest, produces oxygen, filters clean air and water, stores carbon, moderates climate, and protects against soil
erosion. It is also a biodiversity reservoir with an abundance of plant, animal and other species that in many
cases are unique to this area. To maintain these environmental benefits, the biodiversity of the various species
and ecosystems must be protected (NRC, 2007). The inappropriate utilization of natural resources will result in
the creation of unhealthy ecosystems, global warming and climate change (Breman, 1992).
Forest products such as timber and wood are among the renewable natural resources. The sustained production
and utilization of wood do have a positive impact on the environment which we live (Bill, 2003).
Forested areas absorb much of the sunlight reaching the earth’s surface for photosynthesis and only 12 – 15% of
the light is reflected back to the atmosphere.
The largest quantity of energy absorbed by forests acts as a stimulate current in air which further enhances the
formation of rainfall.
Contrary to this, degraded and deforested areas reflect back around 20% of the incoming sunlight. As a result of

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this, deforested areas will be further dry and thereof escalating the risk of desertification and climate change.
During photosynthesis, trees do absorb carbon dioxide hence contributing in the fight against the greenhouse
effect and climate change. Deforestation takes away a potential sink for the carbon dioxide we are pumping into
the atmosphere. In addition, if forests are removed by burning, a lot of extra carbon dioxide locked up in tree
wood is returned to the atmosphere (Bill, 2003).
Presently, climate change is posing the prime environmental, social and economic challenges to mankind. During
the last century, the Earth's average surface temperature rose by 0.6°C. Environmentalists assert with a proof that
the global warming that has occurred during the last 50 years is mainly caused by human interference activities
in to the natural environment. In its Third Assessment Report (TAR), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) (http://www.ipcc.ch/) projects that global average surface temperatures will rise by a further 1.4
to 5.8°C by the end of this century (Roper, 2001, cited in BM, 2006).
This rise in temperature and global warming is resulting various and frequent disasters to humanity and different
forms of life, including the sea level rise, flood, drought, disease outbreaks, etc. The main human interferences
which contributed the lion’s share of the change in climate among others is attributed to the burning of fossil
fuels and deforestation which causes emission of carbon dioxide (CO2), the main gas responsible for climate
change, as well as other 'greenhouse' gases (BM, 2006).
Therefore, conservation of forests in protected areas and forest rehabilitation initiatives are generally renowned as
a means of potential greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation measures. Hence, protecting and maintaining the natural
ecology of national parks in particular and protected areas in general broaden the capacity of the terrestrial carbon
sink and sustenance of a healthy environment.
6. Conclusion and Recommendations
National Parks are the shelters for wild animals and plants that would otherwise extinct by the hands of humans.
They also provide protection to numerous endangered and defenseless species, protect dwindling habitats, and
avail protected breeding sanctuaries in which threatened species can recover. With everyone's care and positive
attitude, these essential ecosystems can be protected for the benefit of the future generations.
Degradation of natural resources is a serious threat to sustainable development worldwide. The impact of natural
resources degradation is more severe in the developing countries as a significant percentage of the population in
these countries is dependent on natural resources for their livelihood. Mounting population pressure forces those
households in these countries to over exploit natural resources leading to increased poverty.
Motivation of the households to toil for the protection of National Parks is negatively as well as significantly
related to expected losses. This means those households who loss from apiculture, loss of income from livestock
(grazing), the loss because of wildlife attack, cost of thatching grass, cost of firewood, cost of house construction
poles, cost of woody agricultural implements less the gains directly or indirectly from the parks as it is conserved.
Thus, success in conserving the parks depends on fair interplay of factors that would contribute to loss and
benefits.
Therefore, the following specific interventions could be suggested. Strengthening and development of
ecotourism undertakings; utilization of tourism revenue for the local development; implementing initiatives
which could lessen the reliance of the indigenous community on the natural resources of the park resources as
for instance expansion of modern or energy saving cooking and heating appliances, replacing woody agricultural
farm tools with iron made implements, and developing tree nursery sites on individual or community base for
forest production aimed at the production of fuel wood and construction materials, etc.
Above all on top of these, raising the level of awareness of local communities on the ecological and economical
role of parks has a paramount importance for the conservation of parks.
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