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The '''Westarctican Parks Service''' (sometimes abbreviated to '''WPS''') is an agency within the [[Government of Westarctica]] that was formally authorized on 6 October 2023. Although there | The '''Westarctican Parks Service''' (sometimes abbreviated to '''WPS''') is an agency within the [[Government of Westarctica]] that was formally authorized on 6 October 2023. Although there was considerable work done behind the scenes to get the agency up and running, no public-facing activity occurred until 20 April 2025, when [[Grand Duke Travis]] enshrined the first five protected areas. | ||
==Creation of the Westarctican Parks Service== | ==Creation of the Westarctican Parks Service== | ||
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National Monuments are sites that warrant protections, though with fewer conservation concerns than those of a national park. This can be due to lower levels of ecotourism, having a less fragile ecological or scientific significance, or the preservation primarily for historical reasons. A monument can be declared via decree by the Sovereign or via legislative process (which cannot override Sovereign veto). | National Monuments are sites that warrant protections, though with fewer conservation concerns than those of a national park. This can be due to lower levels of ecotourism, having a less fragile ecological or scientific significance, or the preservation primarily for historical reasons. A monument can be declared via decree by the Sovereign or via legislative process (which cannot override Sovereign veto). | ||
Westarctica currently has 2 National Monuments. This list is complete as of 21 April 2025. | |||
{| class="wikitable" style="width:90%; background:white; border:#4682B4 solid;" | |||
|- | |||
! Name || Date Established || Area || Description | |||
|- | |||
| <br><center>[[The Billboard|Billboard National Monument]]<br>[[File:The Billboard1 - Sarnoff mts.jpg|frameless|upright=.9]]</center><br>|| 20 April 2025 || 52,700 acres<br>(213.2 sq. km) || Protects one of Westarctica's most iconic features, as well as a portion of the surrounding [[Sarnoff Mountains]]. | |||
|- | |||
| <br><center>[[Gothic Mountains|Gothic National Monument]]<br>[[File:Gothic-Mountains.jpg|frameless|upright=.9]]</center><br> || 20 April 2025 || 3,403,000 acres<br>(13,925 sq. km) || Preserves the Westarctican portion of one of Antarctica's most geologically distinct mountain ranges, including the Westarctican Organ Pipes. | |||
|} | |||
===Conservation Zones=== | ===Conservation Zones=== | ||
Conservation Zones carry the lowest inherent protections under Westarctican Law, but can be tightened to be significantly higher than that of even a national park on a case-by-case basis. These sites also have the lowest public access interest. A conservation zone can be declared via decree by the Sovereign or via legislative process (which cannot override Sovereign veto). | Conservation Zones carry the lowest inherent protections under Westarctican Law, but can be tightened to be significantly higher than that of even a national park on a case-by-case basis. These sites also have the lowest public access interest. A conservation zone can be declared via decree by the Sovereign or via legislative process (which cannot override Sovereign veto). | ||
Westarctica currently has 3 Conservation Zones. This list is complete as of 21 April 2025. | |||
{| class="wikitable" style="width:90%; background:white; border:#4682B4 solid;" | |||
|- | |||
! Name || Date Established || Area || Description | |||
|- | |||
| <br><center>[[Boyd Glacier|Boyd Glacier Conservation Zone]]<br>[[File:Boyd Glacier Sulz.jpg|frameless|upright=.9]]</center><br> || 20 April 2025 || 401,000 acres<br>(1,622 sq. km) || Protects a significant glacial formation in Westarctica, which studies show is among the nation's more stable. | |||
|- | |||
| <br><center>[[McHenry Range|McHenry Range Conservation Zone]]<br>[[File:Mount Sidley.png|frameless|upright=.9]]</center><br> || 20 April 2025 || 40,700 acres<br>(164.7 sq. km) || The zone outlines the boundaries of the McHenry Range, which are valuable for the study of deep-earth magma activity in polar areas. | |||
|- | |||
| <br><center>[[Ross Ice Shelf|Ross Ice Shelf Conservation Zone]]<br>[[File:Ross Ice Shelf side.png|frameless|upright=.9]]</center><br> || 20 April 2025 || 7,090,000 acres<br>(31,359 sq. km) || Although only a small part of the whole, this zone preserves the Westarctican portion of the Ross Ice Shelf, which is the world's largest deposit of fresh-water ice. | |||
|} | |||
[[Category:Culture of Westarctica]] | [[Category:Culture of Westarctica]] | ||
[[Category:Government of Westarctica]] | [[Category:Government of Westarctica]] |