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- The National Natural Landmarks Program was established
in 1962, and it's administered by the National Park Service.
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This program identifies and recognizes sites
that contain some of the best examples of biological
and geological features in our country.
A unique feature
of the National Natural Landmarks designation is
that it occurs on lands of any ownership.
So both public and private.
Landmark sites are owned by private organizations
and individuals, state agencies, federal, county, tribal.
There are currently 599 NNL sites across the country
and just over 20 of them occur
within units of the National Park system.
So the bulk of these sites are owned
by other individuals or organizations.
Partnerships forms a really big piece
of this program and the designation.
- Through our partnership, we have access
to some great educational resources
and who doesn't need (laughing) some additional help
from their friends.
- Oftentimes people wonder
whether they can visit National Natural Landmark sites,
and there are a whole bunch of sites
that are open to the public, and visitation is welcome,
however, there are sites that are entirely privately owned
and visitation is not something that they are interested in.
So it's important to be sure to check ahead of time,
to look at a site and see if it is open to the public.
National Natural Landmarks sites are designated
by the Secretary of the Interior
after thorough scientific evaluation.
Designation provides recognition for a site,
but what that does is it can help increase awareness.
It's make people aware of the fact
that these sites exist and that these unique
and significant resources are present at these sites.
- We do have people come here specifically
to see the site because they've heard
of it being a National Natural Landmark.
It remind us that we have a responsibility
to take care of the site.
And that it is an important site in the history of life.
- It points out that this is a very spot.
I think it is beneficial, you know,
both to the people who live here locally
and it's beneficial to the people of America.
- The park service does not dictate management
to land owners, what designation does do,
is it provides an opportunity for the National Park Service
to partner with all of these various land owners
to encourage and where possible,
and where interest is with the landowners,
we can actually then provide various types
of support for conservation.
Conservation at these sites occurs
because of the voluntary efforts
of these various land owners.
- We are standing
in the Charles C. Steirly National Natural Landmark.
It was the core conservation piece
that we were able to build the rest
of the natural area preserve around so,
the National Natural Landmark designation,
was kind of the seed for the pearl that grew out of it.
- National Natural Landmark sites represent,
the broad diversity of natural features across the country.
And each site tells a small piece of the story
of the natural history or the heritage of our country.
When looked at all together,
it describes the great tapestry of natural features
that are in our beautiful country.
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