Abstract
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: (10 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”.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Brown, W. 1990. Planning beyond park boundaries.Courier 35(8):5–7.
Conservation Foundation. 1972. National parks for the future. Washington, DC.
Doherty, J., and J. Dibello 1990. Related lands—a regional director's perspective.Courier 35(8):18–21.
Foresta, R. A. 1984. America's national parks and their keepers. Johns Hopkins University Press for Resources for the Future, Baltimore, Maryland.
Hartzog, G. B., Jr 1988. Battling for the national parks. Moyer Bell Limited, Mt. Kisco, New York.
Hocker, J 1990. Land trusts and the quiet revolution.Courier 35(8):8–11.
International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). 1980. World conservation strategy: Living resource conservation for sustainable development. IUCN, UNEP, WWF, UN, New York, 55 pp.
Ise, J. 1961. Our national park policy: A critical history. Johns Hopkins University Press for Resources for the Future, Baltimore, Maryland.
Machlis, G. E., and D. L. Tichnell 1987. Economic development and threats to national parks: A preliminary analysis.Environmental Conservation 14(2):151–156.
Probst, L., and M. Mantell 1990. State and local action to protect park resources,Courier 35(8):13–15.
Ridenour, J. M. 1990. The directors report: Working with our neighbors,Courier 35(8):1
Schonewald-Cox C. M. 1988. Boundaries in the protection of nature reserves.BioScience 38:480–486.
Schonewald-Cox, C. M., and J. W. Bayless 1986. The boundary model: A geographic analysis of design and conservation of nature reserves.Biological Conservation 38(4):305–322.
Schonewald-Cox, C., M. Buechner, R. Sauvajot, and B. Wilcox 1992. Cross-boundary management between national parks and surrounding lands: A review and discussion.Environmental Management 16(2):273–282.
Shands, W. E. 1979. Federal resource lands and their neighbors. The Conservation Foundation, Washington, DC.
Shankland, R. 1951. Steve Mather of the national parks. Knopf, New York.
Simon, D. J., and J. L. Sax 1988. Our common lands: Defending the national parks. National Parks and Conservation Association, Covelo, California.
Udall, S. L. 1963. The quiet crisis. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Buechner, M., Schonewald-Cox, C., Sauvajot, R. et al. Cross-boundary issues for national parks: What works “on the ground”. Environmental Management 16, 799–809 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02645670
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02645670