Acadia Is Changing, So Are We

Acadia National Park is measurably different than it was at its founding more than 100 years ago. While its beauty endures, its forests, lakes and coasts are being altered by people through land uses, pollution, tourism, invasive species, and climate change. These types of changes are likely to continue and accelerate, with dramatic impacts on the park.

Acting now to address these human-caused changes is our greatest chance to protect the things we love most about Acadia. We can act together now to help ensure that our park remains a treasure for generations to enjoy. You can help us measure the long-term impact of this work, and the effects of climate change on Acadia, by documenting plants, animals, fungi, and lichen you encounter while visiting the park.

 

Duration:

3 minutes, 16 seconds

The park and its partners are currently exploring a new approach for managing park ecosystems. We call it R.A.D. for short.

 

R.A.D. guides us to choose when and where to

• Resist environmental change— preserve habitats at all costs as they currently exist;
• Accept environment change— allow species to vanish as the environment changes rapidly; or
• Direct it— adapt habitats and species through anticipated radical change

Check out how Acadia park staff and partners are implementing this strategy throughout the park.

 

Science at the Summit

Learn about the ways climate change is challenging researchers to rethink how they manage Acadia's fragile mountain summits.

Great Meadow Wetland

Learn about this expansive wetland ecosystem and the steps scientists are taking to restore its health in the face of change.

Bass Harbor Marsh

Learn more about beautiful Bass Harbor Marsh and efforts by researchers and volunteers to stem the tide of invasive species.

 

 

Federal Funding for Great Meadow Wetland and Bass Harbor Marsh

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is the largest investment in American history devoted to the restoration and protection of the environment and infrastructure. It is providing much needed funding to rebuild the country’s roads and bridges and tackle the climate crisis.

Acadia National Park is benefiting from this law as it will allow the park to continue climate-smart restoration of the Great Meadow Wetland and Bass Harbor Marsh.

 

Acadia's Partners

With the support of its partners, Acadia National Park is a leader in the National Park System’s new approach to managing parks in the face of environmental change. This process would not be possible without their support.

 

Friends of Acadia

Friends of Acadia is the official philanthropic partner working in collaboration to protect, preserve, and promote stewardship of the park.

Schoodic Institute

Schoodic Institutes supports science and learning in Acadia National Park.