With many of Australia’s national parks facing severe funding problems, perhaps it’s time to think outside the box to ensure that sufficient cash is available to ensure proper maintenance, infrastructure improvements, and environmental protection initiatives are put in place.
That certainly seems to be the order of the day in the United States where the fundraising body of its most iconic park has launched an ‘Inheritance Pass’ scheme.
Now celebrating its 150th anniversary, Yellowstone national park is offering an annual pass to those willing to make a whopping US$1500 donation!
The twist is that the annual pass is valid for park entry in the year 2172.
The idea is that the ‘Inheritance Passes’ will be used by the donor’s descendants. Yellowstone Forever, the park’s fundraising arm, says it will use the money to support park projects such as trail improvements, education, native fish conservation and scientific studies.
And the money raised from the extra donations will be spent immediately
The idea was dreamed up by the Havas Chicago design firm, which provided the concept free of charge.
“To celebrate Yellowstone’s 150th anniversary, rather than look back, we thought it would be the perfect time to look ahead and think about how we can preserve the park for future generations,” the company’s Bailey Doyle said in an email. “The Inheritance Pass is an idea that does just that, putting the next 150 years of Yellowstone in the hands of people today.”
Yellowstone has been grappling with a host of challenges in recent years, including the climate crisis and the pressures of surging visitation.
Terms of the inheritance pass will be similar to those of the park’s own US$70 annual pass, which allows unlimited entries for a private (non-commercial) vehicle and several occupants.
While it is an innovative way to raise funds for the parks’ current needs, there is of course no guarantees what state any park will be in in 150 years’ time. And, whether soaring inflation will make US$1500 a bargain for an annual pass that your great, great, great, great grandchildren will enjoy.
Only time will tell.
Their wont be any national parks, green tree’s, water, wildlife, by 2172, so what’s the point of paying for that. It is too late to save the planet, Temps, will be upwards of 4 C by 2050. I just feel sorry for my grandkids, not being able to live like we have, in a reasonably safe planet, where their is drinkable water, and breathable air..
Unfortunately I agree with you, I feel my legacy to my grandchildren will be “at least grandma cared enough about us and nature to try and make a difference”.
Don’t look up at the Sky either Ric..as you might think its falling too..!
Cheer up..!
…all things are a bit more resilient then you may think..!
You may think this makes me biased, but I have a degree in Environmental Science, and the air quality tests I have conducted, in my local in the past, from 20 years ago until today, indicates, the lack of clean breathable in the last 20 years, is down by 17%. It has not gotten better, over the 16 sites that I am testing in The New England. This is up mainly in the mountains, where you would expect fresh air, but it is not there..
with all the doomsday’s out there we might as well just roll over now always look on the bright side of things science or the woke crowd will either fix it or we will be back living in caves
I boycott National Parks now because I oppose their use of the inhumane poison 1080 to kill Dingos. It also kills other native marsupials like quolls and wedge tail eagles. If they stopped poisoning the Dingos, the Dingos would take care of the foxes and feral cats.