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Virgin Islands National Park
Center for the State of the Parks: Park Assessments
Published March 2008
This report by NPCA's Center for State of the Parks describes Virgin Islands National Park's and Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument's diverse natural and cultural resources, summarizes current conditions of those resources, illuminates resource threats, and describes some of the ways resource managers are working to improve resource conditions. According to this assessment, the natural resources of Virgin Islands National Park and Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument are in fair condition, scoring an overall 73 out of 100 points. The report cites concerns about the effects of global climate change on sensitive coral reefs, and warns that development within park boundaries is causing the proliferation of damaging, non-native species, as well as wildlife habitat fragmentation. The new assessment rated the park's cultural resources in “poor” condition, scoring an overall 55 out of 100 points. Historic structures and archaeological sites from the plantation era and other significant periods of human occupation are at risk of deterioration, vandalism, and poaching because the park does not have sufficient funds or staff to locate, document, protect and properly maintain all of them.
