Inventories

Natural resource inventories are extensive point-in-time surveys to document the presence/absence, location, or condition of resources (e.g. animals, plants, air, water, soil) in the parks. They are often conducted by NPS Inventory & Monitoring programs and may involve both the compilation of existing information and the acquisition of new information. Inventories allow comparison of existing resource conditions to natural or desired conditions and establish a baseline for making scientifically sound management decisions and long-term monitoring plans to ensure the future health of the parks.