Browsing by Subject "National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA)"

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    A NATURAL RESOURCE ASSESSMENT OF THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK AND VIRGIN ISLANDS CORAL REEF NATIONAL MONUMENT
    (2007) Collini, Kimberly; O’Rourke, Kelly
    The National Parks Conservation Association’s (NPCA) State of the Parks Program was developed to identify natural and cultural resources in jeopardy across the United States National Parks System. This natural resources assessment has been prepared on behalf of NPCA and in accordance with the guidelines outlined in NPCA’s Natural Resources Assessment and Ratings Methodology (NPCA 2006). It is intended to provide an ecosystem-level evaluation of the health of natural resources at Virgin Islands National Park and Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument. These protected areas are unique units within the National Parks System because of the diversity and complexity of habitats and organisms they contain, but outside pressures are threatening the integrity of some of the most critical systems within both the park and monument. Existing data from the National Park Service, other federal and territorial agencies, academic research studies, and peer-reviewed journals were used in conjunction with interviews of park staff and site visits to evaluate the health of the natural resources. The results of the assessment indicate that park and monument resources are vulnerable due to a combination of natural and anthropogenic stressors, including hurricanes, development, grazing of non-native animals, and visitor damage to sensitive systems such as coral reefs. Park staff have implemented numerous management initiatives to protect resources and mitigate threats to sensitive resources; however, the park and monument do not have sufficient funding or staff to enforce existing rules or to implement new programs that could help improve the state of vulnerable resources. This assessment concludes with management recommendations that would allow park managers to improve conditions and help ensure that the park’s resources are present and healthy for future generations.
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    National Parks Conservation Association Natural Resource Assessment for Fort Pulaski National Monument
    (2007-05) DiMatteo, Andrew
    As a national monument, much of the focus at this park is on cultural heritage rather than natural resources. However, this park is home to 5,000 acres of near pristine wetland as well several hundred more acres of upland and aquatic habitat. Using the methodology laid out by the National Parks Conservation Association Center for the State of the Parks, a qualitative assessment of the natural resources at this park was performed. This was accomplished by performing an extensive literature review at the park, with state and federal data providers, and with National Park Service Regional Inventory and Monitoring offices. Interviews with park staff and, to a limited extent, on-site inspections occurred. These data were used to assign scores of 0-3 (0 being irreparably damaged, 3 being pristine) to various natural resource categories. The sum of these categories was then used as an overall indicator of park health. The park was found to be in vulnerable condition overall.