Yosemite to partner with national park in Ireland: ‘Exciting opportunities’
YOSEMITE, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Yosemite National Park has signed an agreement with Wild Nephin National Park in Ireland as part of a five-year knowledge exchange.
The agreement was signed on Friday, which marked the start of the Sister Park arrangement between the two parks. Officials say the agreement enables international cooperation between Yosemite and Wild Nephin National Park, which is located to the northwest of Ireland around 70 miles north of Galway and 165 miles west of Dublin.
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“This Sister Park agreement presents exciting opportunities for both parks,” said Irish Minister for Nature Malcolm Noonan TD. “While they may differ in size and geographical features, the challenges they face in Wild Nephin and Yosemite are really very similar.”
Noonan cited balancing nature conservation with visitor impact, preserving ecological and cultural heritage, controlling invasive species, and educating new generations as areas the two parks could cooperate with.
“I am thrilled to celebrate a new sister parks agreement between Wild Nephin National Park and Yosemite National Park, especially in the 100th year of U.S.-Ireland diplomatic relations,” said United States Ambassador to Ireland Claire D. Cronin. “These two parks are treasures of natural beauty and biodiversity.”
Wild Nephin National Park in northwest Mayo was designated Ireland’s sixth national park in 1998. The park is home to the Owenduff Bog, one of the largest intact and active blanket bog systems in Western Europe.
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