Critical Issues
Overview
The Natural Resource Challenge highlighted that the National Park Service (NPS) has been charged with the trust of preserving park resources since its creation in 1916. For most of the 20th century, we have practiced a curious combination of active management and passive acceptance of natural systems and processes, while becoming a superb visitor services agency.
In the 21st century that management style clearly will be insufficient to save our natural resources. Parks are becoming increasingly crowded remnants of primitive America in a fragmented landscape, threatened by invasions of nonnative species, pollution from near and far, and incompatible uses of resources in and around parks. In addition our mandate is seen as contradictory to some.
Read more about some of the critical issues and what the NPS is doing to address those issues.