US National Parks Get $100M Boost for Ecosystem Protection
The National Park Foundation (NPF) is set to receive a $100 million donation from the Lilly Endowment, marking the largest philanthropic gift in its history. This funding is designated to protect the most fragile ecosystems within the national parks.
While some parks, like Glacier and Canyonlands, safeguard vast landscapes, others, such as Biscayne Bay and Channel Islands, focus on smaller, highly vulnerable ecosystems. The $100 million from Lilly Endowment will be directed toward these at-risk areas.
Will Shafroth, President and CEO of the NPF, mentioned that the funds will also support the over 400 sites managed by the National Park Service beyond the 63 major parks. Recent NPF projects include restoring coral reefs in Biscayne Bay and wild trout habitats in western parks. Shafroth expects the first grants from the Lilly donation to continue this work.
Despite the Great American Outdoors Act, which aims to generate $9.5 billion over five years for conservation, the National Park Service still faces a $24 billion backlog in deferred maintenance. To address this gap, the NPF has launched a fundraising campaign, with Lilly Endowment leading the way. According to the NPF, such contributions are vital for tackling urgent conservation projects while federal budget negotiations continue.
“For over 50 years, private philanthropy has been crucial in bridging the gap between park needs and available funding. This grant will significantly boost our efforts to preserve our national parks for future generations,” Shafroth said.