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On July 24, 2006, National Park
Service (NPS) Alaska Regional Director Marcia Blaszak announced
the completion and release of the “Alaska Region Science Strategy:
2006 and Beyond.” The NPS presents this science strategy to
meet the intention of the 1998 National Parks Omnibus Management
Act (NPOMA) that set the course for implementing proactive scientific
investigations. “Implementation of this strategy will help
us to better understand and effectively respond to changes affecting
Alaska’s national parks over the next few decades and beyond,”
said Blaszak.
The strategy addresses the first of five regional priority focus
areas recently identified by Alaska park managers, that being to
protect the integrity of each park’s natural and cultural resource
values. The strategy was developed cooperatively with the US Environmental
Protection Agency and with support from the National Park Foundation.
It synthesizes existing documents and input from NPS leadership
and technical staff, partner agency staff, research scientists and
other interested parties.
National parks provide the setting for many scientific and scholarly
studies with broad benefit for society. Science is also essential
for informed management of natural, cultural, subsistence and recreation
resources, resource interpretation, and educational programs. The
strategy identifies major challenges we faced in Alaska, in terms
of science, information needs and organizational structure. In the
coming months natural and cultural resource leaders in Alaska’s
national parks and regional office will review the strategy to determine
plans for implementation. “This strategy is a first for us,
in that it crosses multiple scientific disciplines,” said Regional
Science Advisor Robert Winfree. “We are committed to using
science to help identify and achieve goals for natural, cultural
and subsistence resources as well as the visitor experience in parks.”
The Alaska Region Science Strategy is organized in three parts.
Part I puts the strategy in context. Part II, the framework, details
"ends" and "ways" of achieving its goals. Part
III, the implementation plan, focuses on the strategic "means,"
to accomplish goals. This includes integrating existing assets,
encouraging more science in parks, nurturing selected partnerships
and using science more effectively. The Regional Science Strategy
contains a number of rather specific suggestions to help accomplish
these goals.
You can view a copy of the Alaska Region Science Strategy: 2006
and Beyond on-line at:
http://www.nps.gov/alaska/strategy.pdf
Alaska has 17 national park areas and is home to two-thirds of
the land in the entire National Park System. Alaska’s parklands
hold vast mountain ranges and a broad array of wildlife. They preserve
America’s history and offer visitors a variety of recreational
activities. To learn more about Alaska’s national parks visit:
http://www.nps.gov/alaska
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Author:Jane
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Last modified on: April 18, 2003
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