This essay provides a perspective on the current state of biodiversity conservation; suggests that the only viable solution to accelerated rates of extinction is to increase the area of protected, inviolable habitat to a safe level; and discusses how national parks, biodiversity, and education are inextricably linked as part of the solution. It was presented at the Berkeley summit “Science for Parks, Parks for Science” on 26 March 2015. Many of the ideas are further developed in the accompanying transcript of a moderated discussion on conservation and the role of parks that followed its presentation.