North Zealand National Park vs. U.S. National Parks

  


     In visiting Denmark's National Park in North Zealand, it was a very different experience than an American National Park. In the United States, National Parks were created hundreds of years ago and have been rooted in the country and recognized at a worldwide level. Not only does the United States have national parks, but wildlife refuge areas, national monuments, as well as wild and scenic river conservation, among many others. However, Denmark is not nearly as large and diverse of a country in terms of topography and natural wonder as the United States. Yet, it is still important for the country to recognize the significance of conserving an area and turning into a national park where it can remain untouched. In the United States, a National Park is an area in which no automobiles are allowed, no logging, and no hunting is permitted. Albeit, U.S. Parks are huge tourist attractions such as Yosemite and Yellowstone (probably the most well known worldwide). 
     

    In fact, many complain that national parks have become too touristy and have been made into a commodity with all of the lodging and tours that go on in the park. In Denmark it is very nice that the national parks are much more low key and have not fallen into the tourist trap as in the United States. One big factor that I noticed was very different when visiting the park in North Zealand this week was that the park participates in logging on the land which is something that would never occur in a United Stated National Park. Additionally, the park's management has decided to temper with the ecology of the park, for what seems like good reason, however tempering with the park's ecology in most U.S. National Parks is generally not something that happens (beside reintroduction of species).