Monitoring projects are designed to collect information about resources over time. The resources monitored by the NPS Inventory & Monitoring program, termed ‘vital signs,’ are typically a subset of resources selected to represent the overall health or condition of park ecosystems that park managers are tasked with preserving “unimpaired for future generations.” Monitoring provides valuable information on long term trends in resource condition, the natural variability of resources and warns when abnormal conditions arise. Such information allows managers to make better-informed decisions and to work more effectively with other agencies and individuals for the benefit of park resources.
Last updated: September 9, 2015