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

Biological Resource Management Division 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. Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division 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 Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division Basics:  385 units covering 83 million acres  270 units with significant natural resources  $2.6 billion dollars in funding  280 million visits per year Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division Organization:  Service-wide: Biology Air Water Geology Information Environmental Quality  Regions  Parks  Partners Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division Director, NPS Fran Mainella Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Mike Soukup NR Information Rich Gregory Air Chris Shaver Geologic Dave Shaver Water Dan Kimball Biological Loyal Mehrhoff Environmental Quality Jake Hoogland Visitor & Resource Protection Administration Cultural Resources Park Planning Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division 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 Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division The Natural Resource Challenge  Increase scientific input into decisions  Double natural resource funding  Partnerships Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division The Natural Resource Challenge  What’s in parks?  Are parks in trouble?  Fixing what’s broken.  Science for Parks – Parks for Science! Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division What’s in parks?  12 basic inventories  Vertebrate and vascular plant surveys  Improving information availability  NPSpecies database Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division Are parks in trouble?  Vital Signs monitoring  Early warning of problems Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division 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 and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division 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 Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division Director, NPS Fran Mainella Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Mike Soukup NR Information Rich Gregory Air Chris Shaver Geologic Dave Shaver Water Dan Kimball Biological Loyal Mehrhoff Environmental Quality Jake Hoogland Visitor & Resource Protection Administration Cultural Resources Park Planning Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division 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 CanyonImage representative of haziest days at Grand Canyon Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division 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? Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division 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 Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division NR Information focuses on:  Inventory and Monitoring  Information Management  Public information Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division Environmental Quality focuses on:  Policy Guidance and Direct Technical Assistance  NEPA compliance training and assistance Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division Biological Resources focuses on:  Invasive species management  Wildlife management and health  Endangered species  Integrated pest management  Ecosystem restoration Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division Invasive Species Program  16 Exotic Plant Management Teams (EPMT’s)  Modeled after rapid response fire teams; serve 219 parks  Expanding to alien animals Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division Endangered Species Program StatusSpecies Endangered265 Threatened106 Experimental8 Proposed5 Candidates65 Candidate Conservation Agreements 8 Total449 GroupSpecies Plants195 Invertebrates62 Fish50 Amphibians9 Reptiles20 Birds62 Mammals50 Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division Endangered Species Program  Prevent extinctions  Restore extirpated species  Track species status  400 Management Summaries Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division  Maintain sustainable populations  Track hunting in parks  Manage wildlife diseases Wildlife Program Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division  Service-wide NPS Strategy  Restoration Initiative  Natural processes  Minimize species efforts Ecosystem Restoration Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division Recovery Funding: 1999 Trend Status of the Species Funding per Species ($, thousands)

Biological Resource Management Division Recovery Funding: 1999 Trend Status of the Species Funding per Species ($, thousands)

Biological Resource Management Division Recovery Funding: 2001 Trend Status of the Species Funding per Species ($, thousands)

Biological Resource Management Division Recovery Funding: 2003 Trend Status of the Species Funding per Species ($, thousands)

Biological Resource Management Division Recovery Funding: 2003 Trend Status of the Species Funding per Species ($, thousands)

Biological Resource Management Division 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

Biological Resource Management Division Recovery Funding: Taxa Trend Status of the Species Listed Speceis (%) & Funding (%)

Biological Resource Management Division Getting More Science Science and Conservation in National Parks  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”

Biological Resource Management Division 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 Science and Conservation in National Parks

Biological Resource Management Division Science and Conservation in National Parks Contacts :  Research:  CESUs:  Learning Centers: under development  Geologists in the Park:  Cave and Karst:  Canon Scholars:  Sabbaticals in the Park:  Inventory and Monitoring: ing.htm

Biological Resource Management Division Science and Conservation in National Parks