Natural Resource Assessment: An Approach to Science Based Planning in National Parks |
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Authors: | Carolyn G Mahan James P Vanderhorst and John A Young |
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Institution: | (1) Division of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, 209 Hawthorn Building, Altoona, PA 16601, USA;(2) West Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Elkins, WV, USA;(3) United States Geological Survey, Kearneysville, WV, USA |
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Abstract: | We conducted a natural resource assessment at two national parks, New River Gorge National River and Shenandoah National Park,
to help meet the goals of the Natural Resource Challenge—a program to help strengthen natural resource management at national
parks. We met this challenge by synthesizing and interpreting natural resource information for planning purposes and we identified
information gaps and natural significance of resources. We identified a variety of natural resources at both parks as being
globally and/or nationally significant, including large expanses of unfragmented, mixed-mesophytic forests that qualify for
wilderness protection, rare plant communities, diverse assemblages of neotropical migratory birds and salamanders, and outstanding
aquatic recreational resources. In addition, these parks function, in part, as ecological reserves for plants in and wildlife.
With these significant natural resources in mind, we also developed a suite of natural resource management recommendations
in light of increasing threats from within and outside park boundaries. We hope that our approach can provide a blueprint
for natural resource conservation at publically owned lands. |
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Keywords: | Natural resources National parks Shenandoah National Park New River Gorge National River Virginia West Virginia Geology Wildlife Vegetation management Conservation Policy Planning |
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