10_NPS_Inventory_and_Monitoring_Gross.pptVIP

NPS Inventory and Monitoring: Monitoring Landscape Dynamics State of the Parks Report circa 2000 80 1/3 of the “natural resource parks” had no professional natural resource manager; 1/3 had only 1 or 2 natural resource professionals. Almost all projects/studies were short-term; staff focused on “crisis of the day”. Emphasis on data collection; little analysis or reporting; data products difficult to find or use Science products mostly used by other scientists * * * * John Gross National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring Program Ft Collins, CO Landsat Science Team Mtg - January 2009 Road map … Overview of NPS IM program IM landscape dynamics monitoring Past Current Future No Time No Money No Clue National Park Service Natural Resource Challenge - 2000 Revitalize and expand the natural resource program within the park service and improve park management through greater reliance on scientific knowledge Establish inventory and monitoring as a standard practice throughout the NPS … Inventory the natural resources ... Monitor park ecosystems ... Integrate natural resource information into NPS planning, management, and decision making. Share NPS accomplishments and information with others and form partnerships to attain common goals and objectives. IM Program Goals Overall Purpose of Vital Signs Monitoring: Determine status and trends in the condition of selected park resources The intent of vital signs monitoring is to track a subset of physical, chemical, and biological elements and processes of park ecosystems that represent the overall health or condition of park resources, known or hypothesized effects of stressors, or elements with important human values. Collect, Analyze, Report The 32 park networks are an administrative tool for greater efficiency by sharing staff funding. IM serves ~ 280 park units Forest productivity, plant phenology Productivity Nutrient cycling Nutrient Dynamics Land cover and use Landscape Dynamics Fire occurrence and extent,