Group names endangered national parks

One of the most beautiful places in the world, Joshua Tree National Park, is on the list of the top 10 endangered national parks, says the National Parks Conservation Association. Some of the stressors: off-road enthusiasts, rock climbers, and nearby development. This 28 Oct 02 L.A. Times article lays it out pretty well.

It's another paradox. Love a place for its desolation, silence and pristine beauty. But if you visit too often, or tell your friends, then increased traffic puts it at risk. As for nearby development, the fact is that people love living in the desert, so much so they've turned Los Angeles and its environs, and ditto Phoenix, into horrible wastelands of sprawl. So they have to find the next nice place, and hey, look what's just down interstate 10 -- Palm Springs, near the southern border of J.T. Nat'l Park. The area's remoteness is the only thing that's saved it up to now. But L.A. sprawl has reached 80 miles east and is now most of the way to Palm Springs. Yechh, as they used to say in MAD Magazine.