In this episode of Mama Earth Talk, host Mariska shares her transformative experience hiking through Yellowstone National Park, emphasizing the beauty and importance of national parks for conservation, mental health, and cultural heritage. She discusses the challenges these parks face, including poaching and budget cuts, and highlights the need for protection and expansion of these vital spaces for future generations.

Timestamps to relevant points within the episode, use this format:

[00:00] Exploring the Beauty of Nature

[01:48] The Importance of National Parks

[08:51] Challenges Facing National Parks

[13:49] Why We Must Protect National Parks

Links from the episodes:

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone’s national park’s 150th year anniversary with Kevin Costner

Wildland Trekking

5 Day hiking tour that we took

Bob Brown Foundation

Black Mamba's

Key Takeaways:

• The beauty of untouched landscapes is transformative.
• National parks are crucial for our mental and physical health.
• Conservation and biodiversity are key reasons to protect parks.
• National parks play a vital role in climate resilience.
• Cultural and historical preservation is essential in national parks.
• Spending time in nature can lower cortisol levels and reduce anxiety.
• Budget cuts can lead to trail despair and increased poaching.
• Education programs in parks are vital for awareness and protection.
• Corporate encroachment poses a risk to national parks.
• We must value and protect our national parks for future generations.

In our next episode, we’ll be talking worms, looking at some amazing ways they are playing their part.