EXPLORE THE PARKS

   The National Park Service lacks critical information about species, biological communities, ecosystems, and how best to manage the parks to conserve biodiversity. Recovery plans for some imperiled species are often incomplete and out-of-date, and, despite recent improvements, not one park has a complete inventory of its plant and animal species or a thorough monitoring system in place. 

   Even though the Park Service is critically short of funds, the problem goes beyond a lack of money. A seminal study examining the history of natural resource programs, written by a Park Service employee, pointed to a deep, ingrained lack of focus in agency natural resource programs compared to the Park Service's focus on visitor management, park development, and recreation.

   "Preserving Nature in the National Parks," written by Richard West Sellars in 1997, forced Park Service managers to look reflectively at their historical lack of concern for the preservation and protection of our nation's natural resources. Sellars stated,

 "The central dilemma of national park management has long been the question of exactly what in a park should be preserved. Is it the scenery—the resplendent landscapes of forest, streams, wildflowers, and majestic mammals? Or is it the integrity of each park's entire natural system, including not just the biological and scenic superstars, but also the vast array of less compelling species, such as grasses, lichens, and mice? Scenery has provided the primary inspiration . . . through tourism. Thus, a kind of 'façade' management became the accepted practice in parks: protecting and enhancing the scenic facade of nature for the public's enjoyment, but with scant scientific knowledge and little concern for biological consequences."

   Recognizing this critical shortcoming, then-Park Service Director Robert Stanton initiated a proactive and comprehensive initiative to address and better fund the agency's natural resource programs. Entitled "The Natural Resource Challenge," the initiative received $30 million from Congress for new and expanded programs for park natural-resource management. Funding for the program is supposed to be elevated to $100 million yearly within the next few years.

   Today, most park-based funding is still being allocated toward important visitor services such as facility development and maintenance, along with the associated infrastructure (visitor centers, contact stations, and amphitheaters). Now, however, an important cultural change within the agency has ensured that funding and a systematic focus are being implemented for the protection and preservation of park natural resources.

   The Park Service and Congress must encourage and continue to support the Challenge while also meeting fundamental park needs in the Service's operating budget.