By now you've probably heard about the Joshua Trees that were cut down within Joshua Tree National Park during the federal government shutdown, which has left National Parks staffed with just minimal skeleton crews to enforce rules and regulations. It's since been reported that a couple of the protected plants (they're actually succulents rather than trees) were cut with chainsaws to allow for easier access for off-road vehicles. It's a particularly ironic insult following years of injury at the hands of humans that conservationists had already been trying to heal before the shutdown. Even before the shutdown and the flood of footprints and tire tracks into prohibited parts of the park, staff were struggling with the impacts of its booming popularity. Almost three million people visit each year, that's double the number of annual visitors from just four years earlier.

Source: Forbes January 11, 2019 20:37 UTC