National Parks Traveler Episode 149: A Conservation Conversation With Kristine Tompkins

By Kurt Repanshek - December 19th, 2021

Nature seems to be running out of space. As the global human population continues to increase, as sprawl continues to wash over natural areas, the amount of space needed for flora and fauna to thrive and, even, in some cases, survive, is steadily being squeezed by the human footprint.

Concern for nature is not new, but it seems to be accelerating. E.O. Wilson and his Half Earth Project are working to conserve half globe’s the land and sea to safeguard the bulk of biodiversity, while here in the United States the Biden Administration has its 30 by 30 initiative with hopes of preserving a third of the country’s land and water for nature by 2030.

How successful can these initiatives be? What is being done to move the needle, as it were, to see those goals met? Today we’re visiting with Kristine Tompkins, who knows a little about protecting landscapes for nature. She and her late husband, Doug Tompkins, donated more than 2 million acres in Chile and Argentina to those two countries, which in turn were able to create 13 new national parks.

:02 National Parks Traveler introduction
:12 Episode Introduction with Kurt Repanshek
1:22 Almost Home - Randy Petersen - The Sounds of the Great Smoky Mountains
1:28 Interior Federal Credit Union
1:58 Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
2:18 Washington’s National Park Fund
2:53 Yosemite Conservancy
3:18 Kristine Tompkins and Kurt Repanshek have a conversation about conservation.
20:36 Flamingo - Tim Heintz - The Sounds of the Everglades
20:52 Potrero Group
21:19 North Cascades Institute
21:35 Grand Teton National Park Foundation
22:05 Nova Scotia Tourism
22:33 Friends of Acadia
23:04 Kristine's conversation with Kurt about conservation continues.
48:12 Episode Closing
48:55 Orange Tree Productions
49:27 Splitbeard Productions
49:39 National Parks Traveler footer

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The Essential RVing Guide

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.

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