How US led the protection movement

The artist George Catlin (1796-1872) is usually credited with inventing the concept of national parks. During a trip to Dakota in 1832, he became concerned about the impact of westward expansion on Native Americans and their civilization, wildlife and the wilderness.

Yellowstone National Park, the first in the United States, was established in 1872. It was followed by Yosemite National Park, the Grand Canyon National Park, and the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. However, it wasn't until 1916 that the National Park Service was created to manage them.

"The basic mission of the National Park Service is to preserve and protect the cultural and natural resources within a park for current and future generations and also to provide enjoyment for the many visitors who come to these parks," said James E. Miculka, adjunct professor at the department of recreation, park and tourism sciences at Texas A&M University.