Cross-boundary issues for national parks: What works on the ground''

Journal Article · · Environmental Management; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02645670· OSTI ID:6944300

Buechner, M; Schonewald-Cox, C; Sauvajot, R ^[1]; Wilcox, B A ^[2]

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1. Univ. of California, Davis (United States)
2. Institute for Sustainable Development, Menlo Park, CA (United States)

In recent years, cross-boundary management has become an essential part of park management. In this article we compare the perspectives of managers of several US national parks to the advice on this issue presented in the published literature. Data were obtained from interviews of the superintendents, assistant superintendents and resources managers of five major western national parks and from a survey of participants in a NPS workshop attended by park superintendents, scientists, and resource managers; law enforcement personnel; and interpreters. Three themes related to boundary management were consistently stressed by park managers; (1) a lack of sufficient funds and personnel within the parks; (2) the need for reliable information on both political and natural processes; and (3) the importance of personal interactions between park staff and individuals from the surrounding area. Basic data collection, the documentation of trends, cooperative groups and personal contacts, educational programs, and land acquisition were the most useful strategies. A lack of funds and information, ineffective communication, enforcement problems, and a lack of motivation for parties to reach a negotiated agreement were the most serious obstacles. A wide range of valuable institutional knowledge concerning boundary management exists within the National Park Service; however, there appears to be a gap between published strategies and the approaches that work on the ground.

• OSTI ID: 6944300
• Journal Information: Environmental Management; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Management; (United States) Vol. 16:6; ISSN EMNGDC; ISSN 0364-152X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540250* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (1990-)
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990100 -- Management
COOPERATION
LAND OWNERSHIP
LAND USE
MANAGEMENT
NATURE RESERVES
OWNERSHIP
PLANNING
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
PUBLIC LANDS
PUBLIC OPINION
PUBLIC RELATIONS
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
REGIONAL COOPERATION
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
RESOURCES