時差N小時:美國國家公園管理處

National parks have been called "the best ideaAmerica ever had." But the idea of preserving landran contrary to the prevailing national moodduring the 19th century, which saw nature assomething to be subdued and conquered.

國家公園被認(rèn)為是“美國歷史上最棒的概念”。然而在19世紀(jì)，這種保護(hù)土地的想法卻有悖于當(dāng)時盛行的國民情緒，那時人們視自然為被征服或制服的對象。

The first national park, Yellowstone, was reserved by Congress in 1872, and 5 other parks wereadded over the next 40 years. In addition to offering environmental protection, the parks alsostimulated tourism and economic expansion in the West. By 1916, the Interior Departmentwas responsible for 14 national parks and 21 national monuments.

國會于1872年建立了第一個國家公園，黃石公園。在接下來的40年里，又陸續(xù)建立了其它五個公園。國家公園除了保護(hù)自然環(huán)境外，還能刺激西部的旅游業(yè)和經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展。至1916年，內(nèi)政部門總共負(fù)責(zé)管理14個國家公園和21個國家級博物館。

With meager funding, they had to use army personnel and civilians to tend to many parksand monuments. A wealthy and concerned Chicago businessman named Stephen T. Matherhad joined the Department of Interior in 1915 and used his private funds to publicize theplight of the national parks. Congress responded, and on August 25, 1916, President WoodrowWilson approved legislation that created the National Park Service.

因為微薄的資金投入，他們不得不借用軍隊人員和平民來照管公園和博物館。一位富有的芝加哥商人 StephenT. Mather 對此很關(guān)心，他于1915年加入內(nèi)政部，自費(fèi)宣傳國家公園所面臨的困境。國會做出響應(yīng)，且伍德魯·威爾遜總統(tǒng)也于1916年8月25日通過立法成立了國家公園管理局。

The many roles of the Park Service have expanded over the years, as has the number of areasunder its jurisdiction. In 1980 Congress added 47 million acres of unspoiled wilderness inAlaska, more than doubling the size of the Park System. Controversy still remains aboutwhether or not they should be used to drill for oil, and how best to allow public access to theparks without destroying their integrity.

過去幾年，隨著管轄區(qū)域數(shù)量增加，國家公園管理局所扮演的角色擴(kuò)大了。1980年國會又將阿拉斯加的四百七十萬公頃未開發(fā)的荒野納入國家公園管理局管轄范圍，這比自然公園系統(tǒng)的兩倍還多。但關(guān)于是否應(yīng)該在這片土地上鉆井開發(fā)石油、以及如何讓公眾進(jìn)出公園時不損害其完整性的問題上仍存在爭議。