Federal Lands Need the Public’s Help

Walt Dabney. (Photo by Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)

(North Dakota Monitor) – Public lands advocate Walt Dabney joined a group of North Dakota conservationists in the Badlands to see how federal funding cuts are affecting public lands in the state — and how members of the public are stepping up in the government’s place.

Dabney, a former National Park Service ranger, is in North Dakota this week to deliver a series of talks about the importance of public lands and conservation.

His career included stints at Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Yosemite, Grand Teton, Everglades and Mount Rainier, eventually serving as superintendent and chief ranger of the National Park Service. He had never been hiking in the North Dakota Badlands.

Dabney, 79, retired from the U.S. National Park Service in 2010 after 43 years of service. He now spends his time advocating for the National Park System.