National Park managers are tasked with managing park lands based on the NPS mission to preserve “unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations,” but as climate change, population growth and coastal development continue to occur at a rapid rate, managers are facing greater difficulty.
Along the North Atlantic Coast, the intense population size and development continues to threaten park resources. Issues common to our parks include air and water pollution, watershed degradation, shoreline impacts from infrastructure, invasive species and recreational overuse. In addition the impacts of climate change, such as accelerated sea-level rise, increased occurrence and intensity of storms, ocean warming and acidification are all taking their toll on park resources. Visit our Ocean and Coastal Resource Branch website for additional information about all coastal parks.
Last updated: December 15, 2021