Blue Ridge Country March/April 2022 - 66

LEADERS BY NATURE: THE MOUNTAIN Q & A
EMILY JONES:
Parks Protector
Emily Jones, regional director of National Parks Conservation
Association's Southeast Region, loves exploring the outdoors
at Great Smokies and Cumberland Gap national parks, and
the 469-mile-long Blue Ridge Parkway. Passionate about
the NPCA, she believes her work is " advocating for God's
creation. " She lives with her husband, Eric Vreeland, and Lucy
and Ethel-who " don't know they are dogs. "
Interview by MARY LEIDIG | Photo courtesy EMILY JONES
Tell us a little about how you came to NPCA and
your current role.
I grew up in a home in Knoxville with a view of Mount
LeConte. Every morning my mother would open the
curtains and say, " What a glorious day the Lord has
made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. " She grew up
spending summers in a cabin outside the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park, and my great grandfather attended
the Park's dedication in the 1930s. Their love of
the Smokies was passed on to me and my siblings.
I came to NPCA in 2003, and as regional director it is
my honor to ensure our staff has the resources to protect
national parks and bring attention to underrepresented
history in the Southeast Region.
Our programs range from developing safe passage
for wildlife across highways in and near the Smokies,
to protecting the headwaters of Big South Fork and the
Obed Wild and Scenic River. We're also working to help
protect the scenic experience at the Blue Ridge Parkway.
We continually work to improve air quality across
our eight-state region as states develop plans to reduce
air pollutants. Historically, we've worked to protect
Cumberland Gap National Historic Park's Fern Lake Watershed
from strip-mining. As always, we work alongside
local advocates and communities.
You are passionate about NPCA's mission to protect
parks for present and future generations. How does
NPCA protect national parks?
The best way to protect parks is to fund them. We work
with Congress to pass bipartisan legislation so parks can
thrive. National parks are where our greatest natural resources
are protected and our stories are told.
66 BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
Parks are like cities with buildings and roads to maintain,
along with sewer, electrical systems, campgrounds,
visitors' centers, trails and more.
NPCA supports advocates in speaking up when a park
is threatened. Our work to defend the Great Smokies
from the " Road to Nowhere " is a great example.
Park overcrowding is exacerbated by COVID. We're
addressing this through pilot programs and reservation
systems.
Share with us a prominent ongoing project.
" Safe Passage " is a multi-organizational effort near Great
Smoky Mountains National Park. The goal is to design
passes so wildlife can cross the interstate by going over
or under it.Our team has documented wildlife mortality
hot spots in the Pigeon River Gorge. The ongoing
scheduled bridge repair at Harmon Den is our first opportunity
to see this in action!
What recent accomplishment has made the biggest
difference?
I'm proudest of our work with park champions like U.S.
Sen. Lamar Alexander to make the historic Great American
Outdoors Act a reality. This Act is the result of years
of relationship-building with communities and
coalitions, and it means decades of maintenance and infrastructure
will be addressed!
What might surprise people about NPCA?
NPCA is 102 years old! It was organized by the first director
of the National Park Service to be the people's voice
for our national parks. We have 1.5 million members
and supporters.
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Blue Ridge Country March/April 2022

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