Biological Resource Management Division Science and Conservation in National Parks Loyal A. Mehrhoff

Biological Resource Management Division

Science and Conservation in National Parks

Loyal A. Mehrhoff


The National park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.



Guiding principles to balance use and protection:

Wise Decisions: Integrating social, economic, environmental, and ethical considerations into the decision -making process

Research and Technology: Incorporating research findings and new technologies to improve work practices, products, and services



Basics: 385 units covering 83 million acres 270 units with significant natural resources $2.6 billion dollars in funding 280 million visits per year



National Park SystemScience and Conservation in National Parks


Organization: Service-wide:

• Biology

• Air

• Water

• Geology

• Information

• Environmental Quality

Regions Parks Partners



Director, NPSFran Mainella


Natural Resource Stewardship and Science

Mike Soukup


Mike Soukup

NRInformation

Rich Gregory

NRInformation

Rich Gregory

Air

Chris Shaver

Air

Chris Shaver

Geologic

Dave Shaver

Geologic

Dave Shaver

Water

Dan Kimball

Water

Dan Kimball

Biological

Loyal Mehrhoff

Biological

Loyal Mehrhoff

EnvironmentalQuality

Jake Hoogland


Jake Hoogland

Visitor & Resource ProtectionVisitor & Resource Protection

AdministrationAdministration

Cultural ResourcesCultural Resources

Park PlanningPark Planning



Increasing Science-based Decisions Biology has been a secondary consideration Lack of basic biological knowledge in parks Loss of NPS researchers to USGS-BRD Budget and personnel shortages Increased legal challenges Refined “impairment” guidance Data Quality Act Changes at universities



The Natural Resource Challenge Increase scientific input into decisions Double natural resource funding Partnerships



The Natural Resource Challenge What’s in parks? Are parks in trouble? Fixing what’s broken. Science for Parks –

Parks for Science!



What’s in parks? 12 basic inventories Vertebrate and vascular plant surveys Improving information availability NPSpecies database



Are parks in trouble? Vital Signs monitoring Early warning of problems



Fixing what’s broken. Increase natural resource personnel $12 million annually for new projects $12 million base increases for parks $8 million for invasive plant species Partnerships:

• National Cave and Karst Research Institute

• Cooperative Conservation Initiative

• Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units



Science for Parks – Parks for Science! Increase infrastructure Changes to policies CESUs Learning Centers Funding to USGS Geologists in the Park Sabbaticals in the Park Canon Scholars (8 x $78,000) Investigators annual reports






Mike Soukup


Mike Soukup

NRInformation

Rich Gregory

NRInformation

Rich Gregory

Air

Chris Shaver

Air

Chris Shaver

Geologic

Dave Shaver

Geologic

Dave Shaver

Water

Dan Kimball

Water

Dan Kimball

Biological

Loyal Mehrhoff

Biological

Loyal Mehrhoff


Jake Hoogland


Jake Hoogland

Visitor & Resource ProtectionVisitor & Resource Protection

AdministrationAdministration

Cultural ResourcesCultural Resources

Park PlanningPark Planning



Air Resources focuses on: How air quality affects park resources How can air pollution effects be mitigated or

prevented Soundscapes

Image representative of clearest days at Grand Canyon Image representative of haziest days at Grand Canyon



Water Resources focuses on: National water quality monitoring Water Rights Protection Contaminants Projects to protect and restore water quality Technical assistance: Is this a good place to build?



Geologic Resource focuses on: Why do we care about rocks? More than just rock - dynamic

processes & resultant features Critical information for

understanding natural systems 100s of mine operations 798,000 disturbed acres



NR Information focuses on: Inventory and Monitoring Information Management Public information



Environmental Quality focuses on: Policy Guidance and Direct Technical

Assistance NEPA compliance training and assistance



Biological Resources focuses on: Invasive species management Wildlife management and health Endangered species Integrated pest management Ecosystem restoration



Invasive Species Program

16 Exotic Plant Management Teams (EPMT’s) Modeled after rapid response

fire teams; serve 219 parks Expanding to alien animals





Endangered Species Program

Status Species

Endangered 265

Threatened 106

Experimental 8

Proposed 5

Candidates 65Candidate Conservation Agreements

8

Total 449

Group Species

Plants 195

Invertebrates 62

Fish 50

Amphibians 9

Reptiles 20

Birds 62

Mammals 50



Endangered Species Program

Prevent extinctions Restore extirpated species Track species status 400 Management Summaries



Maintain sustainable populations

Track hunting in parks

Manage wildlife diseases

Wildlife Program



Service-wide NPS Strategy

Restoration Initiative

Natural processes

Minimize species efforts

Ecosystem Restoration



Recovery Funding: 1999

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Recovery Funding• Grizzly $925,000

• Island fox $586,000

• Piping plover $569,000

• Desert tortoise $567,000

• Gray wolf $449,000

• N. spotted owl $432,000

• California condor $367,000

• Loggerhead sea turtle $342,000

• Mission blue butterfly $280,000

• Hawksbill sea turtle $276,000


Recovery Funding: Taxa

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Mammals Birds Herps Inverts Plants

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Getting More Science


Changing Processes to Emphasize Science:• Planning for Desired Future Conditions• Impairment analyses• GPRA – Strategic Performance Results

CESU Expertise to Fill the Gaps• Statistics• Social Sciences/Human Dimensions• Testing/analyses• Database support• Rare “ologists”


Future Directions Invasive species:

• Fuels reduction• Invasive animal control program

Restoration:• Desired Future Conditions• Ecological processes (e.g., fire)• Species that have been lost from parks• Globally rare species and communities

Decision Support Landscape partnerships for:

• Biodiversity; migratory, invasive species• Work with State and private parks




Contacts: http://www.nature.nps.gov/

Research: http://www.nature.nps.gov/scienceresearch/research.htm

CESUs: http://www.cesu.org/cesu/

Learning Centers: under development

Geologists in the Park: http://www2.nature.nps.gov/geology/gip/

Cave and Karst: http://www2.nature.nps.gov/geology/caves/

Canon Scholars: http://www.nature.nps.gov/canonscholarships/

Sabbaticals in the Park: http://www.nature.nps.gov/Sabbaticals

Inventory and Monitoring: http://www1.nature.nps.gov/protectingrestoring/im/inventoryandmonitoring.htm



Documents

Biological Resource Management Division Science and Conservation in National Parks Loyal A. Mehrhoff