""This passionate, well-researched book makes a compelling case for a paradigm shift in conservation practice. It explores new policies and practices, which offer alternatives to exclusionary, uninhabited national parks and wilderness areas and make possible new kinds of protected areas that recognize Indigenous peoples' rights and benefit from their knowledge and conservation contributions"--Provided by publisher"--

This book describes the state of the art of tourism planning and management in national parks and protected areas. It also provides guidelines for best practice in tourism operations. Other objectives are to: Describe case studies and guidelines that contribute to conservation of biological diversity; consider the role of local communities within or near these areas; outline the development of tourism infrastructure and services; discuss visitor management; provide guidelines to enhance the quality of the tourism experience. The focus is global and the book will appeal to both academics and practitioners.

National parks and protected areas offer a wealth of ecological and social contributions or services to humans and life on earth. This book describes the strengths of national parks and protected areas in different parts of Europe and North America and the challenges to the full realization of their goals. It shows that they are useful not only in conserving rare species and biodiversity, but also in protecting water supply and other resources necessary to tourism and to economic and social development generally. Ideas and information on useful planning, management and decision-making arrangements are presented, and research needs are identified.

This book describes the state of the art of tourism planning and management in national parks and protected areas. It also provides guidelines for best practice in tourism operations.

Papers from a summit, "Science for Parks, Parks for Science: the next century," organized by University of California, Berkeley, in partnership with the National Geographic Society and the National Park Service and held 25-27 March 2015 at the University of California, Berkeley.

This book provides the first comprehensive economic valuation of U.S. National Parks (including monuments, seashores, lakeshores, recreation areas, and historic sites) and National Park Service (NPS) programs. The book develops a comprehensive framework to calculate the economic value of protected areas, with particular application to the U.S. National Park Service. The framework covers many benefits provided by NPS units and programs, including on-site visitation, carbon sequestration, and intellectual property such as in education curricula and filming of movies/ TV shows, with case studies of each included. Examples are drawn from studies in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Everglades National Park, and Chesapeake Bay. The editors conclude with a chapter on innovative approaches for sustainable funding of the NPS in its second century. The framework serves as a blueprint of methodologies for conservationists, government agencies, land trusts, economists, and others to value public lands, historical sites, and related programs, such as education. The methodologies are relevant to local and state parks, wildlife refuges, and protected areas in developed and developing countries as well as to national parks around the world. Containing a series of unique case studies, this book will be of great interest to professionals and students in environmental economics, land management, and nature conservation, as well as the more general reader interested in National Parks.

The balance of nature in any strict sense has been upset long ago…The only option we have is to create a new balance objectively determined for each area in accordance with the intended use of that area.” --Aldo Leopold, 1927, in a letter to the Superintendent of Glacier National Park The planning and management staff of state/national parks and protected areas face a complex set of management problems and an uncertain future. Today, internal and external forces are combining with changes in management philosophy (from a species to an ecosystem focus) to create a new direction in natural resources management. National Parks and Protected Areas: Approaches for Balancing Social, Economic and Ecological Values is peerless in its unified treatment of the issues surrounding this subject. From decision-making for planning and management to the principles of ecology and economics, this text examines the analytical methods, information technologies, and planning and management problems associated with protected area planning and management. Protected area managers and students in undergraduate and graduate courses in natural resource management will appreciate this highly readable book. Features Include: A multidisciplinary, systems perspective Focus on science- and knowledge-based natural resource management Concentration on North American national parks and protected areas with information and examples from other parts of the world Clarification of methods for dealing with social, economic, and ecological uncertainty Explanations of biophysical and economic simulation models and information management technologies: GIS, remote sensing, decision support systems, computer animation, etc. Discussion of the role of local communities and joint decision making for designing and implementing management strategies Case studies which show multi-dimensional decision-making for specific management problems and issuesNatural resource policy makers, members of environmental organizations, and other stakeholders will also benefit from an enhanced understanding of the complex social, economic and ecological functions and values of national parks and protected areas facilitated by explanations of ecological and economic concepts that allow comprehension by individuals with limited background in these areas.

National Parks and Protected Areas explores the roles that national parks play in preserving and understanding biodiversity and related ecosystem processes. As the gateway to the conservation effort, parks can no longer be viewed as distinct, separate entities. They must be understood and managed in the context of their surrounding ecological and cultural landscapes. National Parks and Protected Areas outlines the reasons why ecosystem management serves as a functional paradigm for parks and protected areas, and presents the supporting historical, political, ecological and legal bases. It illustrates the role that these guiding principles of ecosystem management play in protecting landscapes of various scales--ranging from a complete system of protected areas to an individual park. The use of case examples provides background and understanding of the often contentious role natural processes play in park ecosystems. Recognizing that management of protected areas requires constant survelllance and monitoring to identify changes and trends, National Parks and Protected Areas clearly identifies the real value of maintaining pristine protected areas.

“An eclectic, enjoyable mix of literature reviews, personal experience and case studies, and practical advice from . . . leaders in their subdisciplines.” —Eleanor J. Sterling, Chief Conservation Scientist, Center for Biodiversity & Conservation, American Museum of Natural History With the US National Park Service over one hundred years old, parks and protected areas worldwide are under increasing threat from storms and fires of greater severity, plant and animal extinctions, the changing attitudes of a public that has become more urbanized, and the political pressures of narrow special interest groups. In the face of such rapid environmental and cultural changes, Science, Conservation, and National Parks gathers a group of renowned scholars—including Edward O. Wilson, Jane Lubchenco, Thomas Dietz, and Monica Turner—who address these problems and in the hope of securing a future for protected areas that will push forward the frontiers of biological, physical, and social science in and for parks. Contributors provide answers to a number of key conservation questions, such as: How should stewardship address climate change, urban encroachment and pollution, and invasive species? How can society, especially youth, become more engaged with nature and parks? What are appropriate conservation objectives for parks in the Anthropocene? Charting a course for the parks of the next century, Science, Conservation, and National Parks catalyzes the continued evolution of US park conservation policy, and serves as an inspiration for parks, conservation, and management worldwide. “Offers a refreshing holistic treatment of the linkages and mutual dependencies between parks and science. Compelling.” —William B. Monahan, USDA Forest Service and formerly of the US National Park Service “This is a testament to what can be achieved by determined conservationists.” —Biodiversity and Conservation journal

IUCN's Protected Areas Management Categories, which classify protected areas according to their management objectives, are today accepted as the benchmark for defining, recording, and classifying protected areas. They are recognized by international bodies such as the United Nations as well as many national governments. As a result, they are increasingly being incorporated into government legislation. These guidelines provide as much clarity as possible regarding the meaning and application of the Categories. They describe the definition of the Categories and discuss application in particular biomes and management approaches.