Where are people of color in the national parks?

The national park system is often called "Best Ideas", but a new report, it is still terra incognita for many in color.

Posted on Wednesday, "The National Survey Comprehensive Park System of the American Public," conducted by the Wyoming Survey and Analysis Center at the University of Wyoming, is monitoring a widely quoted report on race / ethnicity, between park visitors out in 2000.

Taken together, both surveys show that while the American public has grown increasingly diverse over the last decade, black and Hispanic Americans remain underrepresented in visits to 394 of the National Park Service (NPS) properties.

"Despite efforts by the National Park Service and its partners to underserved populations," the researchers wrote, "visit differences by race / ethnicity does not seem to have changed much over the past ten years."

Conducted by telephone in 2009, the survey asked respondents in the U.S. 4103 The results showed that non-Hispanic whites made up 78 percent of park visitors in the period 2008-2009. In comparison, Hispanics accounted for 9 percent of the visitors, while blacks were 7 percent of the visitors.

In contrast, the U.S. population in 2010 was 64 percent of whites, 16 percent Hispanic, 13 percent African-Americans and 5 percent Asian, American Indians, Alaska Natives and Pacific Islanders accounting for less than 1 percent each.

"National parks represent the history of the United States, and there are groups of people who do not identify with that," said Carolyn Finney, assistant professor in the School of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley. "For some people, there is a sense that the parks are very white."

Numbers of visitors are inclined when the visits even more concerned that showcase parks and wilderness outdoor recreation. For example, in Yosemite National Park in California, a 2009 survey showed that African visit was only 1 percent of the visitors, compared with 77 percent white and 11 percent each for Hispanics and Asians.

The reasons that could easily fill a book – Finney, in fact, is currently completing a so called "Black Faces, White Spaces: African Americans and the outdoors" – but the end result is that national parks are at risk of losing their connection with the American public.

To Peterman, all that changed in his first stop, Acadia National Park in Maine: "I was so overwhelmed by the beauty that was transformation. It was like living in a mansion, but had only seen the kitchen. Now I found myself in the indictments. "

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Peterman as he says in his book of 2009, "The Legacy of the Earth: A Black couple discover our national heritage and tells why all Americans should Care," one thing that surprised you most spectacular scenery:

"Where was the black people? Where were the Asian-Americans? Eight weeks, 14 national parks from coast to coast and in that time we have seen less than a handful of people of color."

Slideshow: National spectacles (on this page)

Clearly some things have changed since then. Although still insufficient compared to the general population, blacks represent 7 percent of park visitors in 2008-2009 compared to 4 percent in 2000. But for many, both inside and outside the Park Service, the problem still persists.

Part of the reason is simple lack of experience – "You can not make people like something they have not tried before," said Bill Gwaltney, assistant regional director of the National Park region of Intermountain – but the disparity is also refers to what he calls "shadow answers."

"People say, 'I do not know anyone there, I do not know the tenor of the opinion, the law,''' said Gwaltney." Am I going to have to worry about driving while black or brown drive? "

A change in U.S. population In about 40 years, U.S. Census Bureau projects that non-white minorities constitute at least half the U.S. population, compared with about one third in 2008.

And as the numbers of the repeated new report, most tend to participate less imminent national parks existing in a number of reasons, ranging from the obvious – such as cost and accessibility – even subtle dealing with images, identity and what constitutes "proper" way to experience the parks.

One problem, Gwaltney suggests, is that ignorance creates fear: "If someone says, 'We're going to Yosemite," the answer becomes: "Well, where is that? I do not know anyone who has been there. We're going to visit her grandmother in South Carolina in their place. "

The challenge is ultimately a double – to make people of color to get to the parks and ensure that invite, once they do. Regarding the former, the new study suggests that the biggest impediment to visitors was not that I did not know much about the national park system (60 percent).

"Much of this depends on how you have been exposed to the weather," said Sid Wilson, the owner of a privately Inc. Guide, Denver, who attributes his own love of the outdoors to fishing trips with his father as a child in Brooklyn. "After starting to do, you begin to find others like yourself."

The other part of the problem – people feel welcome – can be even more difficult. When asked if "the units of nuclear power sources are unpleasant places to me," only 5 percent of whites agreed. In comparison, 9 percent of blacks and 23 percent of Hispanics did.

"Basically, we need to get caught doing good in a public place," said Gwaltney. "We must welcome everyone and let them know that we are aware of the many stories of different groups of people."

Visitors to the park = park supporters to Shelton Johnson, a park ranger in Yosemite who grew up in downtown Detroit, one such story encapsulates the whole question. As Johnson points out, between 1899 and 1904, the so-called Buffalo Soldiers – African-American members of two regiments of U.S. Army – Served as some of the park rangers first.

"This puts African Americans at the beginning of national history park, however, African Americans make up only 1 percent of park visitors," said Johnson. "If you do not know they have cultural roots in the parks, then we will not have a sense of ownership over them."

In fact, given the changing demographics of the nation, the true meaning of the property has less to do with the past of the parks with their future. Equal opportunities is not only a good thing, it is also the key to survival of the parks.

"What is the Park Service will do in 2050 if the curators of potential (eg, legislators and people who vote into power) have no sense of ownership or connection to the national parks," said Johnson.

Or, as Peterman said, "Even if all the white population was engaged in protecting the environment, it will not work if the other half of the population is not involved."

The good news is that efforts to widen participation, and therefore the property are underway, both inside and outside the National Park Service.

In California, the Park Service has partnered with WildLink Yosemite Institute, a program that introduces high school students in Oakland, Stockton and other cities outward travel through the desert for five days.

In Colorado, the Denver Hispanic families are getting their first camping experience through Project Moreno Campo in Rocky Mountain National Park. The project is named for long outdoor recreation facilities defender Roberto Lopez Moreno, who got his introduction 50 years ago when his parents decided to go camping in Yosemite (after seeing an outdoor Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz film).

What is lacking, observers say, is a national program that will expand these efforts to a wider audience, the audience will ultimately determine funding, and therefore the fate of their own parks.

"The message is not going to be the first and will not be the last," Gwaltney said. "Whenever we do these things, it creates a larger base of people for whom this is normal."

Rob is a frequent contributor Lovitt to msnbc.com. If you'd like to respond to one of His columns or Suggest a story idea, drop him an e-mail.

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