Park purpose statements are based on national park legislation, legislative history, and National Park Service policies. The statements reaffirm the reasons for which the park was set aside as a unit of the national park system and they provide the foundation for national park management and use.

According to the Final General Management Plan Revision/Environmental Impact Statement (May 2004) the purpose of Petrified Forest National Park is to:

• preserve and protect Petrified Forest, its outstanding paleontologic sites and specimens, its associated ecosystems, cultural and historic resources, and scenic and wilderness values for present and future generations;
• provide opportunities to experience, understand, and enjoy the Petrified Forest and surrounding area in a manner that is compatible with the preservation of park resources and wilderness character;
• facilitate orderly, regulated, and continuing research; and
• promote understanding and stewardship of resources and park values by providing educational opportunities for students, scientific groups, and the public.

Park Significance Statements