--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But private lands development around the…" description: "\"But private lands development around the periphery of the parks - Grand Teton and Yellowstone - is a crucial issue because if those private lands are t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be4/david-quammen-9256_able_but-private-lands-development-around-the_2283263.jpg" --- # But private lands development around the periphery of the… ![“But private lands development around the periphery of the parks - Grand Teton and Yellowstone - is a crucial issue because if those private lands are transformed from open pastures, meadow, forest land to suburbs, to little ranchettes, to shopping malls, to roads, to Starbucks - if those places…” quote by David Quammen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be4/david-quammen-9256_able_but-private-lands-development-around-the_2283263.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be4/david-quammen-9256_able_but-private-lands-development-around-the_2283263.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be4/david-quammen-9256_able_but-private-lands-development-around-the_2283263.jpg) > “But private lands development around the periphery of the parks - Grand Teton and Yellowstone - is a crucial issue because if those private lands are transformed from open pastures, meadow, forest land to suburbs, to little ranchettes, to shopping malls, to roads, to Starbucks - if those places are all settled for the benefit of humans, then the elk are not going to be able to migrate in and out of Yellowstone Park anymore. And if the elk can't migrate into the park, then that creates problems for the wolves, for the grizzlies, for a lot of other creatures.” [David Quammen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-quammen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Habitat fragmentation around national parks blocks elk migration, disrupting predator‑prey dynamics and ecosystem health. **In simple terms:** Development blocks elk movement, harming wildlife. Key Takeaway Protect corridors to keep ecosystems balanced. Themes conservation ecosystem wildlife habitat migration Mood concerned urgent Type policy environmental When to use this quote - park management - urban planning - environmental policy - community outreach Key Concepts ecology land‑use planning trophic cascades Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance human growth with wildlife corridors? - What policies could limit suburban sprawl near parks? A Different Perspective Human demand for development often outweighs ecological needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elk/) [Forests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forests/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Malls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/malls/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Shopping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shopping/) [Suburbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suburbs/) [Yellowstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yellowstone/) ## Related quotes > [The elk are the most abundant large herbivores in the Yellowstone ecosystem. There are thousands and thousands of them. They migrate in and out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-quammen/the-elk-are-the-most-abundant-large-herbivores-in-the-yellowstone/) [David Quammen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-quammen/) > [Avoid the traffic by using one of the park's shuttle buses and view the elk rut with a park ranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/avoid-the-traffic-by-using-one-of-the-park-s-shuttle-buses-and-view/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Call me crazy - I love elk meat!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-saldana/call-me-crazy-i-love-elk-meat/) [Zoe Saldana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-saldana/) > [There is growing awareness of the beauty of country ... a sincere desire to keep some of it for all time. People are beginning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaus-murie/there-is-growing-awareness-of-the-beauty-of-country-a-sincere-desire/) Olaus Murie > [The elks, on the other hand live up in the hills, and in the spring they come down for their annual convention. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morrie-ryskind/the-elks-on-the-other-hand-live-up-in-the-hills-and-in-the-spring/) [Morrie Ryskind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morrie-ryskind/) > [It's true: Every time you kill an elk, you're saving some cow's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/it-s-true-every-time-you-kill-an-elk-you-re-saving-some-cow-s-life/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [“Gaylord — Where Nature Dances with Joy In Gaylord, nature dances with joy; each lake sings in shimmering waves, each tree invites with blossoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha-m-d/gaylord-where-nature-dances-with-joy-in-gaylord-nature-dances-with/) [Debasish Mridha M.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha-m-d/) > [“The elk that you glimpse in the summer, those at the forest edge, are survivors of winter, only the strongest. 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