National Parks: Conservation, Management, and Challenges

4 main purposes of national park

Research
Preservation
Education
Sustainable Tourism

Why is preservation important in national parks?

To maintain areas of natural beauty, ecological significance, and habitats for at-risk species.

What role does education play in national parks?

To raise public awareness of the need to preserve a country's culture, history, and biodiversity.

How does sustainable tourism development benefit national parks?

It allows for profit from tourism while minimizing the detrimental effects of overtourism.

What defines a National Park?

A scenic or historic area protected by the federal government for enjoyment, education, and wildlife preservation.

What organization groups national parks as protected areas?

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

strategies used in park management

•permit systems to control visitor access
•infrastructure hardening
•time of entry

What is the purpose of infrastructure hardening in national parks?

to manage visitor impact (ex: trails, viewing platforms, etc;)

What is the Core Zone in the Zoning Model?

An area with strict protection of resources, allowing no human contact and controlled scientific research.

What is the function of the Buffer Zone in national parks?

To surround the Core Zone and reduce human impact through low-impact tourism and conservation education.

What is the Visitor Zone designed for?

To provide facilities for tourism and visitor engagement.

What characterizes the Transition/Periphery Zone?

The area where locals live and serve as a secondary resource for the national park.

What is a significant challenge posed by overtourism in national parks?

It leads to environmental degradation.

How does insufficient funding affect national parks?

It results in poor maintenance of park facilities and resources.

What impact does climate change have on national parks?

It causes rising sea levels, wildfires, and habitat loss.

What issues arise from human-wildlife conflict in national parks?

Problems such as poaching and prioritizing economic development over environmental protection.

What are invasive species and how do they affect national parks?

Non-native plants, animals, or diseases that alter and corrupt ecosystems.

What kind of pressure do national parks face from political and development interests?

Pressure to construct near, around, or through protected areas.

challenges for national parks

•Overtourism:-leads to environmental degradation
•Insufficient funding:-poor maintenance
•Climate change:-rising sea level, wildfires, habitat loss
•Human-Wildlife Conflict:-poaching, human expansion, prioritizing economic development
•Invasive Species: -non-native plants/animals/disease
•Political and Development Pressure:-pressure to construct near protected areas

primary aim of research in national park

To protect natural areas that are unspoiled/undeveloped by humans for scientific study.