Tuolumne Meadow: Conservation of Yosemite's Meadows through Recreational and Educational Planning

Abstract

Alpine meadows are delicate ecosystems that are being damaged and declining. In Yosemite only 3% of the park is considered meadow habitat. Through this thesis I am exploring the question; how can we conserve these alpine meadows? To discover this I will research and collect data to understand these underlying questions. What is the major cause of alpine meadow decline? What are the aspects of a healthy alpine meadow? Can there be human interaction with alpine meadows without further destruction, and if so how? These questions cumulatively help show what is needed to restore an alpine meadow, and what is the best way to go about conserving. Then once a meadow is restored it will show how human interaction can be promoted without damage to the alpine environment. This thesis will help to allow for a more efficient educational and recreational conservation design of these alpine meadow natural landscapes, and a future amplification of conservation.