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Jameson Kirkland Loreen Bessire English 2010-068 12 September 2013 My Time in Yellowstone National Park When people talk about wildlife conservation and protecting our national forests such as Yellowstone National Park, I always make sure to hear both sides of the debate. Whether to extract natural resources or expand our over populated cities, there are valid reasons we much acknowledge as a community that make expansion a priority. Sometimes it seems we have no choice. But also, wildlife depends on conservation for survival. There is a balance that needs to be maintained. For example, the Yellowstone Committee has a Buffalo Field Campaign that legally enforces zones that will be protected for bison to roam. This is to keep better care and environmental conditions at optimal conditions. Some political leaders debate that it takes precious tax payers dollars to maintain these programs and is too costly. The focal point is that there are priceless human experiences that can be lost if we trump expansion over conservation and it is important to consider both sides of the debate. My personal story may give insight into the true cost of expansion over conservation. As I lounged in the candy filled back seat of my grandparents GMC Envoy I looked up over my head and noticed the mountains majestically passing by outside the car window like a reel of an old film. My grandfather is a very thin man. He always wears khaki slacks with a brown or black braided leather belt and some variation of a plaid printed dress shirt. My grandmothers hair is always perfectly in place and her impeccably pressed blouse is its usual shade of blinding white. My grandfathers focus gleamed towards my grandmother. Mavis, I

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know what Im doing! If youre so worried then why didnt you drive? he said to her in an exasperated tone. My grandmother responded, Paul, you never let me drive anyway so how would I be able to? You dont pay close enough attention! My grandparents always have some kind of mild disagreement. In some way it is endearing to watch them bicker. The hours passed and as we drove I looked out the window and notice how the environment began to change. The mountains become sparser, and the open fields seem to get larger and larger. This is all something I had not seen before. The country scenery is alien to me as a kid that grew up in New York City. I had no concept of what Yellowstone National Park would be like, but I was already beginning to feel the peaceful feeling of being out in open space with nature. I dozed off for what seemed like minutes and suddenly we had made the trip from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park. The sun seemed foreign like somehow it was radiating a different light. The sun was so bright I immediately dug for my sunglasses and sluggishly propped myself up to look out the window. Immediately, I am struck with complete disbelief. The mountains were higher than any mountain I had ever seen, the flowers and foliage were impossibly lush and the air felt lighter and heavenly. I immediately asked to get out of the car. I couldnt be contained in this prison on wheels! As I jump out of the car I felt a surreal and overwhelming shift of perception. Although I did doubt the significance of the trip, within seconds it became one of the most significant moments in my life. I never had fully appreciated natures beauty until that day. Seeing Yellowstone created a newfound sense of humility, peace of mind, and harmony that has stuck with me throughout my life. Im not the only person that could benefit from an experience like this. Yellowstone is a beautifully preserved park and its beauty is proof of the importance of preservation.

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We continued our adventure and after several pit stops made our way to a large river. It was flowing so peacefully and from a distance we began to notice a dark object that seemed like a log moving and rising out of the water. Upon further observation we realized it was a Bison. An entire heard began to cross the river and slowly climb up the hill to cross the road. There were two babies following four adult sized bison. Being that close to the animal I began to realize how much they depended on this park to survive. These creatures are strong but also fragile. They need these environmental conditions to survive. My grandparents and I spent the next day exploring every corner of the Park. It was the first time we had ever been on a trip alone together. My newfound spirit had me see my grandparents in a different light. My grandmothers laugh became infectious, and my grandfathers glance felt particularly filled with love and warmth. We shared a special experience together during that trip. This memory will always be vivid and significant. While conservation is critical for the animals, it also is critical for humans to feel a part of nature and be responsible for our actions on the environment. The Population Reference Bureau states, The human population will reach 9 billion people by 2050. This fact is a warning that we need to me careful about how human population growth affects wildlife and the environment. One day human kind may look back and wish we had done more to preserve our world. How important is a new ski-lift, or road? Can we ourselves conserve in order to preserve? Conservation should be a priority. We can lose things in nature that are irreversible and human beings should be aware of the importance of conservation.

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Works Cited Population Conservation Facts. African Conservancy Organization. 2013. Web. PDF. Sept. 2013 Zones for Bison. Buffalo Field Campaign. 2013. Web. Sept. 2013.