I am calling on you to block the proposed Yosemite National Park land swap that would provide acreage from Yosemite National Park to a private real estate developer in exchange for another parcel of land of equivalent financial value in California.
If this proposal before the National Park Service is not stopped, land that was safeguarded for the park and wildlife habitat will be severed and permanently lost from Yosemite—and a precedent will be set to exchange or sell lands from any or all of our national parks to private developers. The potential impact on wildlife that make their homes in our national parks is immense.
In the more than 100-year history of the National Park System, the Park Service, Congress, and citizens all across our country have looked for opportunities to add parcels of land to existing parks. We should not be opening the door to reducing the size of national parks for any reason.
Yosemite National Park is a last haven for rare and endangered wildlife in California, and efforts at the federal level should be focused on maintaining safeguards for its lands and waters, along with all national parks—and even adding lands and waters to expand our national parks.
Please block the Yosemite land swap proposal that is currently being considered by the National Park Service and encourage your colleagues in Congress to join with you to stop it. Thank you.
[COMMENT]
Sincerely,
[First Name] [Last Name]
[City] [State] [Zip]
