ABSTRACT
Activists have done much to stimulate legislative action for national parks and equivalent reserves since they were first established in the nineteenth century. Whether in the United States or in countries such as Australia, Canada or the United Kingdom, individuals who publicly come out in support of national park conservation have been essential in the development of the park concept. In the present day, such activism remains important, but it is often subsumed within the overall actions of conservation groups such as the National Parks and Conservation Association (NPCA), the Sierra Club or the Wilderness Society. Nevertheless, the actions of such individuals have important repercussions for how we see national parks in the present day and the role of tourism within them.
