ABSTRACT
In 1970, Roderick Nash described the idea of national parks as an ‘American Invention’. As he argued, ‘the concept of a national park reflects some of the central values and experiences in American culture’ (Nash 1970: 726). Not only had the US conceived of the idea, it had also taken the lead in promoting and exporting the concept around the world (Nash 1970: 726). Nash’s sentiment would be echoed by Alfred Runte, who would declare that ‘the United States, recognized for its Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, has also bequeathed to the world its most stunning example of landscape democracy – the national park idea’ (1984: 5).
