On the Colorado Plateau, in the western United States, the vistas can stretch for miles, if not days. But while boundless panoramas get all the attention, one of the most remarkable assets of the region is not a point on the horizon, but the ground beneath your feet. Protecting this delicate ecosystem has become an urgent concern.
As travel returns, the upward trend in visitation at national parks is likely to continue, and with it, increased potential for bad behavior. Besides littering, last year’s crowds trespassed and even vandalized structures. But not all transgressions have to be as blatant to cause lasting environmental consequences...