Yellowstone National Park: 153 Years of Conservation

Yellowstone National Park: 153 Years Of Conservation

December 23, 2025

Kamaraj IAS Academy

Prelims Plus

Subject Reference: GS Paper I (World Geography) | GS Paper III (Environment)

The Context: Established in 1872, Yellowstone is the blueprint for the "National Park" model. It sits atop a Supervolcano (Yellowstone Caldera).
Apt Topic: "Hydrothermal Ecosystems & Geopolitics of Conservation"
Geological Significance: It houses 50% of the world’s geysers (e.g., Old Faithful). For UPSC, focus on the Geothermal Gradient and how microbial life in these hot springs (extremophiles) led to the discovery of PCR technology (used in COVID testing).
Conservation Philosophy: Analyze the "Yellowstone Model" (fortress conservation) vs. India's "Community-based Conservation" approach under the Forest Rights Act.