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Contact: Jack Oelfke, North Cascades NPSC, 360 854-7310 Contact: Patti Wold, Mt. Rainier NP, 360 569-2211 ext 3327 Contact: Barb Maynes, Olympic NP, 360 565-3005
February Kicks Off Climate Friendly Partnerships in Washington’s Three National Parks Workshops to Include Local Government, Scientists, Park Staff and Others in Climate Discussions Washington’s three national parks, Mount Rainier, North Cascades and Olympic National Parks will host diverse groups of community leaders, scientists and business people at three Climate Friendly Park workshops to be held this month. Two-day workshops will be held in each park, and are designed to involve community members in helping parks become more climate friendly. Together with the community, park staff will develop specific strategies for tracking and reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. "From the mountains to the coast, the parks of the Pacific West have committed to being carbon neutral by 2016, the centennial of the National Park Service," said NPS Pacific West Regional Director Jon Jarvis. "We can only achieve that goal by working closely with our neighbors, visitors and local communities." Each workshop will begin with presentations about local impacts of climate change, as well as talks by community leaders about ongoing climate friendly programs in each park area. Workshop participants will then develop strategies for the parks to track their greenhouse gas emissions, educate park staff and the public about climate change and plan ways to adapt to a changing climate. The Climate Friendly Parks (CFP) Program is a collaboration of the National Park Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that provides national parks with management tools and resources to address climate change. The program is made possible in part by funding from the National Parks Conservation Association. Since 2003, the CFP program has assisted more than 60 national parks to develop emission inventories, create park-specific action plans, and reduce their carbon footprints. More information about Climate Friendly Parks is available online at www.nps.gov/climatefriendlyparks. |
Last updated: February 28, 2015