Il Parco Nazionale di Yosemite colpito da incendi ha problemi di personale in estate
In California's heart, Yosemite National Park - one of the oldest and most popular parks in the United States - is facing challenges this summer. Known for its unique granite formations, waterfalls, hiking, and rock climbing, the park is grappling with staffing shortages and rising visitation, a situation exacerbated by the Trump administration's personnel cuts.
According to reports from National Public Radio, some seasonal staff worked for as long as six weeks without pay this summer, as park managers struggled to get paperwork approved in Washington amid rising visitation. This is just one of the many pressures the park has faced in recent years.
The National Park Service (NPS), the main federal agency responsible for managing Yosemite, reduced its permanent staff by at least 40 employees during the Trump administration as part of broader personnel cuts of about 24%. This reduction, combined with buyouts and early retirement offers, has led to a significant staffing shortage in the park.
Yosemite's unique situation is further complicated by the fact that jobs running the park's water treatment and electrical systems are particularly challenging to fill in the remote region. The park declined to comment on its current vacancy rate, but two people familiar with Yosemite's staffing said it usually hovers around 30%.
The park's staffing struggles have been a bipartisan concern. Lawmakers from both parties have fretted about how skyrocketing housing costs around parks hurt recruitment and retention efforts. The Inflation Reduction Act enacted during the Biden administration approved $500 million for a hiring effort, but Republicans eliminated what remained of that money with the passage of President Donald Trump's tax and spending law.
Despite these challenges, many rangers are working long hours and trying to keep a cheerful demeanor for visitors. Some staffers are happy to be in their jobs despite recent pressures, but this year's upheaval has some considering an exit.
The park has also faced controversy this year. In February, a group of Yosemite rangers hung an upside-down American flag on El Capitan to protest the firing of hundreds of newly hired park staff. The incident was later reversed by a court. In May, some rangers helped hang a transgender pride flag on the cliff face in response to NPS moves to scrub official websites of mentions of transgender people. Yosemite later fired one of the park rangers involved and referred an NPS investigation of the incident to federal prosecutors.
As the park struggles to cope with these challenges, it has defended its ability to respond to backcountry emergencies. The park prioritizes resources to respond rapidly to Yosemite Valley and front country incidents, where visitation is highest, while maintaining the capability to quickly and effectively assist visitors through a variety of means, including helicopter, in all areas of the park.
Officials expect visitation this year to surpass 4.1 million, the highest number since the pandemic. With such high numbers, it is crucial for the park to address its staffing issues to ensure the safety and well-being of its visitors and the preservation of this national treasure.
Yosemite is located three hours from San Francisco and is home to roughly 400 permanent staff and about 330 seasonal employees this summer. Recently, employees at Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon national parks voted to unionize, a move that may help address some of the park's staffing and operational challenges in the future.
Leggi anche:
- La riduzione della popolazione animale nei Paesi Bassi può favorire l'espansione dell'industria lattiero-casearia ibrida
- Le osservazioni del senatore RFK Jr. mostrano la sua incapacità di ripristinare la razionalità delle preoccupazioni per la salute pubblica.
- Intervista a Markus Söder durante l'estate: esaminato il suo parere sui fondi dei cittadini e sull'aviazione
- Costco proibisce agli iraniani di fare acquisti durante la riunione delle Nazioni Unite
