A national park, according to the precedent set by the USA, is an area of land protected from human exploitation and occupation. In the state of Arizona there are 22 National Parks, in which had roughly 9,979,972 visitors to in 2012. Supporting the preservation of these parks and monuments is costly, so the National Parks Service relies on the benefit from tourism as well as federal grants from various projects and volunteers. In 2011 tourism in national parks in Arizona generated $737,000,000. This amount of yearly economic benefit coupled with the $157,914,953 in grants since 1965 make the National Parks Service a self-sustaining conservation and preservation program.

The goal of the preservation of these parks is to maintain the habitat as much as possible without altering its natural state. The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) has statutes of conduct in place to ensure preservation is consistent and respectful. The statutes state that state agencies control ownership of historic properties and assume responsibility of ensuring these properties are not altered or destroyed, and if altered or destroyed proper documentation is required. It also states that if any alterations are to be made it must be approved first to ensure any alterations to properties are in compliance with historic preservation statutes.

The 'American model' strives to balance the values of protecting natural ecosystems against the survival needs of populations on the verge of modernization. This convergence of natural preservation, cultural preservation, and rural development presents a dilemma unique to our time.