National Park Service Report Reviews Natural Resource Preservation Issues

For Immediate Release: July 05, 2002

The National Park Service (NPS) announced the release today of Natural Resource Year in Review - 2001. The full-color report features nearly 80 informative and analytical articles, providing insights into natural resource preservation issues and stewardship strategies in the National Park System. The 84-page report has approximately 125 illustrations and is available on-line at http://www.nature.nps.gov/pubs/yir/yir2001.

A portrait of the calendar year, the Year in Review summarizes and analyzes significant natural resource preservation issues and stewardship strategies in the National Park System. Applied science and resource management developments are reviewed with the objective of increasing interest in, understanding of, and support for the natural resource stewardship and science role of the National Park Service.

Mike Soukup, NPS Associate Director for Natural Resource Stewardship and Science, said “We enjoyed very productive dialogue with Congress in 2001 and its continued support of the Natural Resource Challenge.” He added, “Many of the articles in the Year in Review reflect the importance of this initiative and its positive effect on our ability to conduct aggressive inventories and to move ahead as a credible authority on the issues that challenge the long-term preservation of our national parks. We also digest the National Park System Advisory Board’s report, which calls for increased marine resource protection and greater public involvement in the natural heritage of the national parks. Along these lines, we are proud to report that with the completion of the Dry Tortugas Management Plan in 2001, the National Park Service established the largest fully protected marine reserve in the United States. Altogether, the Year in Review paints a picture of substantial progress in managing parks based on a growing body of scientific information.”

The Year in Review is organized in eight chapters that address various challenges, strategies, accomplishments, and advancements related to natural resource stewardship in the National Park System. Examples of articles are:

·         Eradication of rats from Anacapa Island, Channel Islands National Park (CA)

·         A stronghold for rare crustaceans in Rock Creek Park (Washington, D.C.)

·         Preserving endangered night skies in the Mojave Desert (CA) parks and beyond

·         Assessing potential social consequences of deer management in Cuyahoga Valley National Park (OH)

·         Information benefits of Lynx surveys in the Rocky Mountains, and plant inventories at Devils Postpile National Monument (CA) and Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site (NC)

·         Restoring yellow-legged frogs in Kings Canyon National Park (CA), California condors in Grand Canyon National Park (AZ), wolves in Yellowstone National Park (WY, MT, ID), and wetlands in Redwood National Park (CA)

·         Discovery of new life forms in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (TN/NC)

·         Emerging strengths of a developing national network of parks and partners to facilitate resource monitoring

·         Scientific contributions of the U.S. Geological Survey and other partners to park management

·         Inauguration of an Internet-based system for national park research applicants

·         Also, articles about public participation, managing risks, and the future of natural resource management in the National Park System

The Year in Review begins with a calendar of noteworthy resource management happenings, followed by a foreword by NPS Director Fran Mainella, and an introduction by Associate Director Soukup. Throughout, readers will also find award-winner profiles of researchers and NPS resource managers who are working to improve our understanding and preservation of park natural resources.

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Editor’s Note: A limited number of printed copies of the Year in Review are available to the media. Contact the Chief, Natural Resource Information Division, by e-mail (rich_gregory@nps.gov) or write: Rich Gregory; National Park Service; NRID --Suite 200; 1201 Oak Ridge Dr.; Ft. Collins, CO 80525-5596.

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link to on-line report

Contact Information
Rich Gregory | 970-225-3557