national parks

Grasslands 101: Everything You Need to Know

Grasslands 101: Everything You Need to Know

Quick Key Facts What Are ‘Grasslands’? Grasslands — also known as savannas, prairies, steppes and pampas — are ecosystems found in parts of the world that do not get sufficient consistent rainfall to support forest growth, but get enough to avoid the landscape turning into desert. Often, grasslands are a transition ecosystem between deserts and […]

Join our newsletter

The best of EcoWatch, right in your inbox. Sign up for our email newsletter!

    4 Natural Wonders of the Pacific Northwest

    4 Natural Wonders of the Pacific Northwest

    If you’re looking to go on an adventure in the great outdoors, the variety of landscapes in the Pacific Northwest — from temperate rainforest and brilliant geological formations to expansive sand dunes and stunning river-carved canyons — are awe-inspiring for even the seasoned traveler. Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park, Washington State Named for the Hoh […]

    Yosemite National Park to Require Reservations in 2024

    Yosemite National Park to Require Reservations in 2024

    The National Park Service recently announced that next year, visitors to Yosemite National Park in California will need to reserve their entry for several spring and fall visits and all peak summer visits to aid with congestion. The pilot reservation system will be similar to the “Peak Hours” reservation system used in 2022, which required […]

    Flying Over U.S. National Parks to Be Limited by New Rules

    Flying Over U.S. National Parks to Be Limited by New Rules

    New regulations in the U.S. will limit where tourist flights in planes and helicopters can fly around national parks and monuments. Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Badlands National Park will have some of the strictest rules on flying. At Mount Rushmore and Badlands, both in South Dakota, commercial air tours will be banned within a […]

    England to Get First New National Park Since 2010

    England to Get First New National Park Since 2010

    Natural England, a non-departmental adviser for the environment in the UK, is deliberating on the site of a new national park for England. The new national park will be the first one designated in the country since South Downs in 2010. The park announcement is part of a larger package of projects aimed at preserving […]

    How to Enjoy the Outdoors in Winter

    How to Enjoy the Outdoors in Winter

    During the short, cold winter days, it’s even more important to care for your mind and body by getting outside. Hiking and camping are completely possible in the winter with the right preparation, but a short walk in a park to enjoy the winter scenery is just as beneficial. Here’s how to prepare — and […]

    Nature Reserves 101: Everything You Need to Know

    Nature Reserves 101: Everything You Need to Know

    Quick Key Facts What Is a ‘Nature Reserve’? Nature reserves are large areas of land that have been set aside to protect and preserve natural habitat and ecosystems for common, rare and endangered animal and plants species and their natural processes. Designating areas to be protected from human development ensures everyone will have access to […]

    5 of the World’s Most Spectacular National Parks

    5 of the World’s Most Spectacular National Parks

    The best way to experience what our planet was like before modern humans began to dramatically change the landscape is to go where the wilderness is. There are more than 200,000 protected areas across the globe that, as of mid-2021, covered 16.64 percent of the land and 7.74 percent of oceans. These national parks exemplify […]

    Nature Livestream Camera Leads to Lost Hiker, Rescue

    Nature Livestream Camera Leads to Lost Hiker, Rescue

    A lost hiker in Alaska’s Katmai National Park was rescued after being spotted on a livestream camera that viewers were observing to catch glimpses of brown bears. Viewers were tuning into Explore.org’s Dumpling Mountain livestream, which comes from one of many of the organization’s cameras placed within the park. During this time of year, many […]