Helpless Giants? The National Park Service’s Ability to Influence and Manage External Threats to Redwood National and State Parks

This Essay analyzes the interactions between federal, state, and private landowners regarding Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP) to determine what power the National Park Service (NPS) has to stop the destruction of its trees resulting from externalities. Part I briefly discusses the historical development of RNSP, focusing on how its boundaries impact inner scenic resources. Part II argues that California state efforts have traditionally hampered redwood protection in RNSP, and Part III examines the limited resources the NPS possesses to protect redwoods. Ultimately, the NPS has few effective tools at its disposal to protect redwoods against external threats, except nuisance litigation.

If the NPS cannot successfully influence external forces, national parks—and redwoods themselves—will truly become “helpless giants.”