Our national parks, precious and irreplaceable sources of natural beauty, are in grave danger. As someone deeply affected by this issue, I find that a new secretarial order (SO 3418) is putting our shared heritage at risk. This order is quietly preparing a fast track for mining and oil drilling companies to exploit our national monuments and public lands—our parks and forests could be destroyed for the sake of profit.

After drastically cutting funding to our National Park Service, our government now aims to prioritize wealth over wildlife, dollars over diversity, and short-term gain over long-term sustainability. This directly threatens the health of the ecosystems that are vitally important to the survival of various species, including ourselves.

National parks have been treasured by millions of people over the years for the escape they offer from the modern world, the natural beauty they preserve, and the cultural history they protect. They are home to countless species of plants and animals and are crucial in the fight against climate change due to the massive amounts of carbon that forests and oceans sequester.

The economic impact of national parks should also not be overlooked. They contribute over $36 billion annually to the United States' economy and sustain hundreds of thousands of jobs.

It is our duty as citizens and stewards of this earth to protest against the exploitation of these spaces. We must strongly oppose SO 3418 and any other legislation or action that puts our national parks at risk. It's essential not just for us, but for the future generations who deserve to witness the wonder of these untouched wild spaces.

Please give voice to your opposition by signing this petition and demanding the preservation and increased funding for our National Parks against damaging activities. Stand with us to protect and treasure our parks, just as they have protected and been a treasure for us.