Your Yosemite: A Threatened Public Treasure

Tragedy of the Commons - Yosemite

Everyone comes to the Sierra Nevada with their own set of expectations. The political, recreation, resource extraction, economic, concession and social perspectives continually collide and overlap. Everyone has their own sense of place and historical perspective(s). All are incomplete. As a field ranger and superintendent's staff assistant I was able to serve the inside perspective. Bob Binnewies writes from a holistic perspective. While I may have lived and worked the experience, I never had complete understanding. Bob provides a detailed accounting. The title is "Your" Yosemite. We all feel entitled to ownership, but few understand the nuances of a complex park with a long history. There are always other demands and we end up with "tragedy of the commons" where everyone drives benefits, but no individual has complete responsibility - except the superintendent. Bob has done an outstanding effort of putting things together. Read more