Putting Science to Work

War in the Pacific National Historical Park is working to protect Guam’s biodiversity by managing invasive species like brown tree snakes and little fire ants while safeguarding native wildlife, including the endangered Guam tree snail. A recent study assessed the park’s Guam tree snail population, providing essential data to inform conservation efforts aimed at restoring the island’s fragile ecosystem.

The Columbia Sensitive Resource Zone in Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a case study in trying to find a sustainable balance between resource conservation and recreation. Learn more about the sensitive resource zone and how park visitors can engage in shared stewardship.

The Inventory and Monitoring Division funded a project to study wetland habitats in Dinosaur National Monument, exploring their locations, conditions, and ecological roles. Data from this project will inform park management decisions and future updates to water rights.

Researchers undertook a major effort to document plant communities in Death Valley National Park, producing its most detailed vegetation map to date. This map enhances understanding of the landscape and aids conservation efforts.

Volunteer Student Intern (non-paid) in Natural Resource Management at Valley Forge National Historical Park and Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site with up to 2 positions available.

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts has acquired ten 100% American chestnut trees to assist in its restoration efforts after nearly going extinct in the 1940s.

At Cuyahoga Valley National Park, an inventory of streams and their inhabitants is helping park managers understand and protect these vital waterways. The study revealed that most streams in the park are in good condition with minimal habitat damage. For the few streams facing challenges, conservation and restoration initiatives will help restore them to high ecological quality.

At Cuyahoga Valley National Park (NP), a rare plant inventory funded by the Inventory & Monitoring Division is helping park managers understand and protect the park’s hidden ecological gems. Researchers identified 98 rare plant species during this inventory.

Pollinators play a crucial role in national park ecosystems and beyond. In the national parks, species inventories help managers know which pollinators are present, and in what abundance, to better understand the state of park ecosystems and make decisions about how to manage them. From 2024 to 2026, 17 parks across the country will be surveyed for bees and butterflies.

At national parks across the nation, the Inventory & Monitoring Program is dedicated to providing managers with the information they need to make sound, science-based decisions that will help support the National Park Service mission of preserving the resources of America’s most special and treasured places for future generations.