National Park Service Inventory & Monitoring

Putting the puzzle pieces together: Monitoring the status and trends of the nation’s parks

Knowing the condition of natural resources in national parks is fundamental to the National Park Service’s (NPS) mission to maintain park resources “unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” Most parks are open systems vulnerable to threats such as air and water pollution and invasive species, which originate outside of the park’s boundaries. Understanding the dynamic nature of park ecosystems and the consequences of human activities is essential for management decision-making aimed to maintain, enhance, or restore the ecological integrity of park ecosystems. A nationwide Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) program was launched to determine status and trends of indicators (or ‘vital signs’) that represent the condition of park ecosystems. Vital signs monitoring is meant to provide early warning of abnormal conditions and impairment of selected resources and data to better understand the dynamic nature and condition of park ecosystems. The I&M program will ultimately help managers make better-informed decisions and work more effectively with stakeholders who benefit from proper park stewardship. Under the program, approximately 270 park units have been organized into 32 networks to conduct long-term resource monitoring (Figure 1). Each network links parks that share similar geographic and natural resource characteristics to improve efficiency and reduce costs. The National Capital Region Network contains 11 parks having a range of natural and cultural resources (refer to table showing urban-rural gradient). The region’s urbanized landscape plays a significant role in each park’s ecology. Many of the parks were established for their cultural and recreational value yet provide numerous ecological benefits including riparian buffers that reduce watershed pollution, contribute to air quality, and protect scenic vistas. The parks also provide some of the last remaining habitats for many rare plant and animal species or communities. Invasion of exotic plant species, deer overabundance, suburban sprawl, and water pollution are some of the region’s most urgent environmental concerns.

Figure 1. More than 270 parks, linked by geography and shared natural resource characteristics, have been grouped into 32 Vital Sign Monitoring Networks. Parks within each of the 32 networks work together and share funding and professional staff to plan, design, and implement an integrated long-term monitoring program. Source: Geoff Sanders, NPS/CUE.

The NCRN parks provide habitat for a wide range of plant and animal life, such as this muskrat.
Photo: Russell Verbofsky