A reef in Biscayne Bay National Park – credit National Park Service
The Good News Network gives us our good news story today.
US National Parks Are Receiving Record-High Gift of $100 Million to Protect and Restore Fragile Ecosystems
The official non-profit organization representing America’s National Parks has received notice that it is set to receive the most significant philanthropic gift of its history.
$100 million has been set aside from the Lilly Endowment for the National Parks Foundation (NPF) to protect the fragile ecosystems in our parks.
Some national parks like Glacier or Canyonlands are enshrined to protect whole tracts of pristine landscape, while others are established to protect very small tracts of very vulnerable ecosystems, like Biscayne Bay and Channel Islands.
To that end, Lilly Endowment Inc. has stated that the $100 million is for protecting ecosystems at immediate risk of degradation.
AP reported that the money will be used to address the needs in sites beyond the 63 national parks, said Will Shafroth, president and CEO of the NPF, of which over 400 are managed by the National Park Service.
Restoring coral reefs in Biscayne Bay National Park and other reef-bearing parks, restoring wild trout species in western parks, and protecting the most delicate ecosystems have all been among the NPF’s recent work, and Shafroth expects the first round of grants stemming from the Lilly gift to be within these areas.
Over much of the 21st century, a backlog of deferred maintenance in the national parks grew until it amounted to around $7 billion in needed work. The Great American Outdoors Act, passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Trump, attempted to address this by permanently reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This mechanism diverts 50% of all the money from energy sales (coal, oil, natural gas) on federally-owned land to conservation grants.
Congress estimated this would generate $9.5 billion for the national parks over five years. However, a recent re-examination of the NPS’s maintenance needs places the needed funding at around $24 billion.
In light of this, the NPF has launched a fund drive looking for private donors to make up part of the difference. Lilly is the first to have contributed.
Philanthropic gifts like the one from Lilly are crucial as they allow the NPS to act immediately to address time-sensitive and critical projects while they, like all the other federal agencies, jockey over budget negotiations and allocation, the NPF said.
“For over 50 years, private philanthropy has played a vital role in bridging the gap between park needs and available funding. This grant will allow us to supercharge our efforts to ensure our national parks are for everyone, for generations to come,” President Shafroth said in a statement.
The good news in this article is that private funding will perhaps offset the financing deficit needed for park repair. Today’s JohnKu talks about private donations to help the parks.
Donate by John W. Howell © 2024
Thankful for big checks,
But even the smallest gift. . .
Will help with repairs.
Fiction Favorites 
Worthy cause, John. Thanks for the reminder.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Grant.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I always enjoy good news Friday. It’s good to know philanthropists are still out there.
LikeLike
It is good t know. Thanks, Craig
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our oceans are in terrible shape. This is a wonderful gift from Lilly
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree, GP.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We are fortunate to have an outstanding national park system – and cheers to all the donors who support it. Special thanks to the big-buck givers! Well done in your JohnKu!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Frank.
LikeLike
I hadn’t heard about the Great American Outdoors Act, which is a shame. The mainstream news should devote more time to positive topics, like you do on Fridays. That act, in addition to the $100 million gift, is wonderful. National Parks are meant to protect the land. And I’m glad they’re receiving more money to do that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The media has a tough time with positive news. Thanks, Dave.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love “Good News Friday!” 🌼☀️ Thank you for bringing this information to the light.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always a pleasure, Kymber.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this news.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The other side of Big Pharma and oil that you never hear about. Thanks, Charles.
LikeLike
Wonderful news, John. Thank you for sharing this hopeful sign. As I’ve said before, I always look forward to your Friday post. Thank you! 🌞
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad to share any good news, Gwen. This is a positive story of Big Pharma and oil that will never be covered in the mainstream media.Glad you enjoy Fridays. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
A very worthwhile project!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would say so too. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s wonderful, John! The National Parks are fantastic, and it’s great that an organization like Lilly Endowment contributed to help them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree, Tim. That was a nice boost.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is wonderful. Unlike our idiot governor who planned pickleball and golf courses in our state parks here in FL. When word got out and protests started, he quickly threw his underlings under the bus and said he had approved nothing and this should not have been sent out to the press.
Let’s help our ecosystems. Those do need our help! Thanks for this good news, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
One rule of politics is deny you did something if folks don’t like it. Thanks, Lois.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a great project and wonderful gift!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think so too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is great news, John. It’s sad that such a large amount of money is necessary, but it’s good that someone stepped up to make a start. You’re right though, every little bit helps.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When you go eight years (Obama’s watch) without funding repairs, things go south.
LikeLike
Wow, that’s such great news! Thanks for providing such good news. We hope it helps protect the most vulnerable places and nudges other organizations to step up to help our weary planet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, our weary planet needs help.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a beautiful story this one is!
Excellent JohnKu!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Dale. Was a good one to report. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, indeed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent, I’m all for helping preserve mother nature xx ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too. It takes a lot though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is heartwarming!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is. Thank you, Annette. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is such a good example of how people with tons of money should use it! Thanks, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree. Thanks, Jan
LikeLike
Fri-Yayyy for sure.. this is a wonderful example of everyone pitching in! “private philanthropy has played a vital role in bridging the gap between park needs and available funding. This grant will allow us to supercharge our efforts to ensure our national parks are for everyone, for generations to come,””👏👏
LikeLike
I agree, Cindy. I think it is up to everyone to be concerned about our parks.
LikeLike
What a fantastic project! Makes me glad to have worked for Big Pharma (and a tad ashamed that my fellow journalists didn’t find this worth reporting). On a personal note, please accept my condolences on Kizzy. I felt rather as if I knew her, and I hope she’s found our other dogs who’ve crossed the Bridge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I also worked for Big Pharma and I think the state of journalism today is sorry indeed. Thank you so much for your kind words about Kizzy. We were all shocked by her passing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here’s hoping the very generous donation by Lilly inspires others to give whatever they can to a much needed cause.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The top ten Billionaires in the us have a worth of over a trillion dollars. You would think they could come up with a giving program that would solve this forever
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmmmm. Seems too simple a thing, huh?
LikeLike
Indeed, a feel-good story. Thank you for sharing! $9.5 billion to 24 billion is quite a difference. Maintenance is expensive and not always accounted for, it seems.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah and put off for eight or so years.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. 😞
P.S. I am sorry about your loss. Hope you all are doing ok.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for your kind words, Michele. Yes we are taking it one day at a time. To have a dog collapse and be gone is something we never experienced so it is taking some time for us to continue to run the check list to see what we could have done to prevent it. We know there isn’t anything but it is hard to move on. Move on we will in time. Thank you again, Michele. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome and yes, it takes time. 😢 So hard to lose a precious pup. 🌈🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Michele.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is great news.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is. Thank you, Jacqui
LikeLiked by 1 person
Any money put towards helping our oceans is well spent. Thanks for sharing a hopeful post, John!
LikeLike
I agree, Teri. Thank you.
LikeLike
We are working our way out of a pickle of our own making.
This is a cool bit of good news. Your JohnKu tells it like it is.
Thanks John!
🪙💸 🪙💸 🪙💸
LikeLiked by 1 person
There has been neglect for years. Obama’s administration let 8 years accumulate. Trump was the one to get big oil revenues from Federal land applied to repair.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sigh!
OX
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sigh indeed. 🐂
LikeLike
This is great news. When I buy a lottery ticket I dream of philanthropy, and how wonderful it would be to do good things like this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it would.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would do the same if I could, dear John. Earth is our home, our common deal. I’m very sad to learn about Kizzy. Pets’ passing is a hard trial.😢
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind words about Kizzy. It was a shock. She was only four years old and my daughter’s constant companion. She is missed very much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can imagine! This is a hard trial. One point is when you already realize that the end is coming, the other thing is when it happens suddenly. Send your daughter my deepest words of support. Be strong, my friends! This is a leap year.😪
LikeLike
Good to see philanthropy alive and well where it’s needed. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree, Debby. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person