National park

A protected natural area established by a national government to conserve landscapes, ecosystems, wildlife, or cultural heritage, often with regulated public access.

Yellowstone National Park: A U.S. national park established in 1872, known for geothermal features, wildlife, and the Yellowstone Caldera. Its creation established an enduring model for federally protected landscapes.
Protected area: A clearly defined geographic area managed for the long-term conservation of nature and associated cultural values. National parks are one category within the broader protected-area system.
George Catlin: An American painter and writer who advocated protecting Indigenous peoples, wildlife, and landscapes in the 1830s. His early proposal imagined large areas preserved for both Indigenous communities and wildlife.
National park displacement: The removal or exclusion of people from lands designated as national parks or other protected areas. Park establishment has displaced Indigenous peoples and local communities in many places.
Serengeti National Park: A Tanzanian protected area known for savanna wildlife and the annual migrations of wildebeest and other grazers. It shows how park boundaries can protect migratory wildlife and vast ecosystems.
Conservation biology: The scientific study of protecting biodiversity and managing threats to species and ecosystems. Its evidence informs the goals and methods used to manage parks.
Yosemite Grant Act: An 1864 U.S. law that granted Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove to California for public use and preservation. It was an early government action protecting a major American landscape for public enjoyment.
Land rights: The legal and customary claims people hold over land and its resources. Park boundaries can conflict with longstanding community claims and uses.
Kruger National Park: A large South African national park known for its wildlife and biodiversity. Its history illustrates the challenges of conservation across inhabited, changing landscapes.
Zoning: The division of land into areas with different permitted uses or levels of protection. Park zones can separate strict habitat protection from recreation and infrastructure.

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