Rick Smith argues that effective park stewardship often hinges less on ecological science than on understanding and navigating human—and especially political—realities. Drawing on Everglades National Park's history, he distills five \"non-ecological\" principles: (1) every park's creation rests on explicit and implicit promises to secure support, with newer parks bearing more complex deals; (2) stakeholders will only agree to modify those deals when they see their own interests served, not simply because it benefits the resources; (3) decisions still can—and sometimes must—be driven by philosophical or political considerations rather than pure science (though this demands transparency, readiness for challenge, and ideally a strong research program); (4) ostensibly \"settled\" environmental issues can erupt into political battlegrounds, requiring the park's political allies to engage; and (5) no elected official can long resist overwhelming public sentiment, so advocacy must be grounded in genuine resource concerns, not partisan agendas. Throughout, he reminds rangers that in these \"sanctuaries,\" they serve not just as caretakers but as \"ministers\" who must shepherd both the land and its politics.
","language":"eng","license":{"name":"","short_name":"","text":null,"url":""},"keywords":[],"section":"Article","is_remote":false,"remote_url":null,"frozenauthors":[{"first_name":"Rick","middle_name":"","last_name":"Smith","name_suffix":"","institution":"","department":""}],"date_submitted":null,"date_accepted":null,"date_published":"1983-09-01T22:00:00+04:00","render_galley":null,"galleys":[{"label":"PDF","type":"pdf","path":"https://journalpub.escholarship.org/gwf/article/62342/galley/48181/download/"}]},{"pk":62341,"title":"Rationalizing Management of Natural Areas in National Parks","subtitle":null,"abstract":"David M. Graber argues that national_park management policies must evolve as ecological science advances and societal values change, tracing this shift from the Yellowstone Act of 1872 through the Leopold Report of 1963 to contemporary fire and wildlife strategies. He shows how early \"spectacle\" era practices—protecting scenic features and accommodating tourism—gave way to resource management informed by systematic study, such as the Leopold Committee's call to restore \"primitive America\" scenes via population controls, exotic_species removal, and prescribed fire. Graber critiques the scene_management paradigm for its anthropogenic artifacts and proposes instead an \"ecological reserve\" principle: parks' natural areas should prioritize unhindered interactions among native processes (like fire, succession, and predatorÐprey cycles) and structural elements (plants, animals, soils) except when intervention is required to reverse human impacts, protect key resources, or safeguard human life and property. By framing parks as indispensable living laboratories—where baseline ecosystem functions can be studied and monitored—he calls on the Park Service to embrace a management ethic that maximizes scientific value and preserves dynamic natural processes for future generations.","language":"eng","license":{"name":"","short_name":"","text":null,"url":""},"keywords":[],"section":"Article","is_remote":false,"remote_url":null,"frozenauthors":[{"first_name":"","middle_name":"","last_name":"","name_suffix":"","institution":"","department":""}],"date_submitted":null,"date_accepted":null,"date_published":"1983-09-01T22:00:00+04:00","render_galley":null,"galleys":[{"label":"PDF","type":"pdf","path":"https://journalpub.escholarship.org/gwf/article/62341/galley/48180/download/"}]},{"pk":62366,"title":"Rationalizing Management of Natural Areas in National Parks","subtitle":null,"abstract":"David M. Graber argues that national-park management policies must evolve as ecological science advances and societal values change, tracing this shift from the Yellowstone Act of 1872 through the Leopold Report of 1963 to contemporary fire and wildlife strategies. He shows how early \"spectacle\" era practices—protecting scenic features and accommodating tourism—gave way to resource management informed by systematic study, such as the Leopold Committee's call to restore \"primitive America\" scenes via population controls, exotic-species removal, and prescribed fire. Graber critiques the scene-management paradigm for its anthropogenic artifacts and proposes instead an \"ecological reserve\" principle: parks' natural areas should prioritize unhindered interactions among native processes (like fire, succession, and predator–prey cycles) and structural elements (plants, animals, soils) except when intervention is required to reverse human impacts, protect key resources, or safeguard human life and property. By framing parks as indispensable living laboratories—where baseline ecosystem functions can be studied and monitored—he calls on the Park Service to embrace a management ethic that maximizes scientific value and preserves dynamic natural processes for future generations.","language":"eng","license":{"name":"","short_name":"","text":null,"url":""},"keywords":[],"section":"Article","is_remote":true,"remote_url":"https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1xp9508r","frozenauthors":[{"first_name":"David","middle_name":"M.","last_name":"Graber","name_suffix":"","institution":"","department":""}],"date_submitted":null,"date_accepted":null,"date_published":"1983-09-01T22:00:00+04:00","render_galley":null,"galleys":[{"label":"PDF","type":"pdf","path":"https://journalpub.escholarship.org/gwf/article/62366/galley/48202/download/"}]},{"pk":62349,"title":"Rationalizing Management of Natural Areas in National Parks","subtitle":null,"abstract":"David M. Graber argues that national_park management policies must evolve as ecological science advances and societal values change, tracing this shift from the Yellowstone Act of 1872 through the Leopold Report of 1963 to contemporary fire and wildlife strategies. He shows how early \"spectacle\" era practices—protecting scenic features and accommodating tourism—gave way to resource management informed by systematic study, such as the Leopold Committee's call to restore \"primitive America\" scenes via population controls, exotic_species removal, and prescribed fire. Graber critiques the scene_management paradigm for its anthropogenic artifacts and proposes instead an \"ecological reserve\" principle: parks' natural areas should prioritize unhindered interactions among native processes (like fire, succession, and predatorÐprey cycles) and structural elements (plants, animals, soils) except when intervention is required to reverse human impacts, protect key resources, or safeguard human life and property. By framing parks as indispensable living laboratories—where baseline ecosystem functions can be studied and monitored—he calls on the Park Service to embrace a management ethic that maximizes scientific value and preserves dynamic natural processes for future generations.","language":"eng","license":{"name":"","short_name":"","text":null,"url":""},"keywords":[],"section":"Article","is_remote":false,"remote_url":null,"frozenauthors":[{"first_name":"","middle_name":"","last_name":"","name_suffix":"","institution":"","department":""}],"date_submitted":null,"date_accepted":null,"date_published":"1983-09-01T22:00:00+04:00","render_galley":null,"galleys":[{"label":"PDF","type":"pdf","path":"https://journalpub.escholarship.org/gwf/article/62349/galley/48187/download/"}]},{"pk":62348,"title":"Research in the National Parks","subtitle":null,"abstract":"In this article, which was published in 1933 and reprinted here, Horace M. Albright outlines the evolution and significance of scientific research within the U.S. National Park System, which began with Yellowstone in 1872. Initially focused on preserving scenic beauty for public enjoyment, the parks soon became vital laboratories for scientific and historical study, leading to a broader mission that emphasized both conservation and education. Albright describes how parks such as Yosemite, Mesa Verde, and Grand Canyon offer unique geological, biological, and anthropological features that attract researchers and visitors alike. Over time, research expanded from basic protection and interpretation to include complex wildlife management and ecological restoration efforts, such as restocking buffalo and antelope herds and combating diseases and invasive species. He highlights how collaborative studies, especially those initiated by George M. Wright and others, became essential to maintaining the parks' ecological integrity against the pressures of modern civilization. Ultimately, Albright argues that in order to preserve the parks' natural and cultural treasures \"unimpaired for future generations,\" scientific inquiry must be central to park management.","language":"eng","license":{"name":"","short_name":"","text":null,"url":""},"keywords":[],"section":"Article","is_remote":false,"remote_url":null,"frozenauthors":[{"first_name":"","middle_name":"","last_name":"","name_suffix":"","institution":"","department":""}],"date_submitted":null,"date_accepted":null,"date_published":"1983-09-01T22:00:00+04:00","render_galley":null,"galleys":[]},{"pk":62340,"title":"Research in the National Parks","subtitle":null,"abstract":"In this article, which was published in 1933 and reprinted here, Horace M. Albright outlines the evolution and significance of scientific research within the U.S. National Park System, which began with Yellowstone in 1872. Initially focused on preserving scenic beauty for public enjoyment, the parks soon became vital laboratories for scientific and historical study, leading to a broader mission that emphasized both conservation and education. Albright describes how parks such as Yosemite, Mesa Verde, and Grand Canyon offer unique geological, biological, and anthropological features that attract researchers and visitors alike. Over time, research expanded from basic protection and interpretation to include complex wildlife management and ecological restoration efforts, such as restocking buffalo and antelope herds and combating diseases and invasive species. He highlights how collaborative studies, especially those initiated by George M. Wright and others, became essential to maintaining the parks' ecological integrity against the pressures of modern civilization. Ultimately, Albright argues that in order to preserve the parks' natural and cultural treasures \"unimpaired for future generations,\" scientific inquiry must be central to park management.","language":"eng","license":{"name":"","short_name":"","text":null,"url":""},"keywords":[],"section":"Article","is_remote":false,"remote_url":null,"frozenauthors":[{"first_name":"","middle_name":"","last_name":"","name_suffix":"","institution":"","department":""}],"date_submitted":null,"date_accepted":null,"date_published":"1983-09-01T22:00:00+04:00","render_galley":null,"galleys":[]},{"pk":62365,"title":"Research in the National Parks","subtitle":null,"abstract":"In this article, which was published in 1933 and reprinted here, Horace M. Albright outlines the evolution and significance of scientific research within the U.S. National Park System, which began with Yellowstone in 1872. Initially focused on preserving scenic beauty for public enjoyment, the parks soon became vital laboratories for scientific and historical study, leading to a broader mission that emphasized both conservation and education. Albright describes how parks such as Yosemite, Mesa Verde, and Grand Canyon offer unique geological, biological, and anthropological features that attract researchers and visitors alike. Over time, research expanded from basic protection and interpretation to include complex wildlife management and ecological restoration efforts, such as restocking buffalo and antelope herds and combating diseases and invasive species. He highlights how collaborative studies, especially those initiated by George M. Wright and others, became essential to maintaining the parks' ecological integrity against the pressures of modern civilization. Ultimately, Albright argues that in order to preserve the parks' natural and cultural treasures \"unimpaired for future generations,\" scientific inquiry must be central to park management.","language":"eng","license":{"name":"","short_name":"","text":null,"url":""},"keywords":[],"section":"Article","is_remote":true,"remote_url":"https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7368v5ks","frozenauthors":[{"first_name":"Horace","middle_name":"M.","last_name":"Albright","name_suffix":"","institution":"","department":""}],"date_submitted":null,"date_accepted":null,"date_published":"1983-09-01T22:00:00+04:00","render_galley":null,"galleys":[{"label":"PDF","type":"pdf","path":"https://journalpub.escholarship.org/gwf/article/62365/galley/48205/download/"}]},{"pk":62336,"title":"Table of Contents, Vol. 3, No. 4","subtitle":null,"abstract":"","language":"eng","license":{"name":"","short_name":"","text":null,"url":""},"keywords":[],"section":"Article","is_remote":false,"remote_url":null,"frozenauthors":[{"first_name":"","middle_name":"","last_name":"","name_suffix":"","institution":"","department":""}],"date_submitted":null,"date_accepted":null,"date_published":"1983-09-01T22:00:00+04:00","render_galley":null,"galleys":[{"label":"PDF","type":"pdf","path":"https://journalpub.escholarship.org/gwf/article/62336/galley/48176/download/"}]},{"pk":62361,"title":"Table of Contents, Vol. 3, No. 4","subtitle":null,"abstract":"","language":"eng","license":{"name":"","short_name":"","text":null,"url":""},"keywords":[],"section":"Article","is_remote":true,"remote_url":"https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5h83j56g","frozenauthors":[{"first_name":"The","middle_name":"","last_name":"The George Wright Forum Editors","name_suffix":"","institution":"","department":""}],"date_submitted":null,"date_accepted":null,"date_published":"1983-09-01T22:00:00+04:00","render_galley":null,"galleys":[{"label":"PDF","type":"pdf","path":"https://journalpub.escholarship.org/gwf/article/62361/galley/48198/download/"}]},{"pk":62344,"title":"Table of Contents, Vol. 3, No. 4","subtitle":null,"abstract":"","language":"eng","license":{"name":"","short_name":"","text":null,"url":""},"keywords":[],"section":"Article","is_remote":false,"remote_url":null,"frozenauthors":[{"first_name":"","middle_name":"","last_name":"","name_suffix":"","institution":"","department":""}],"date_submitted":null,"date_accepted":null,"date_published":"1983-09-01T22:00:00+04:00","render_galley":null,"galleys":[{"label":"PDF","type":"pdf","path":"https://journalpub.escholarship.org/gwf/article/62344/galley/48183/download/"}]},{"pk":62317,"title":"A Data Base Management System for Cultural Resource Managers","subtitle":null,"abstract":"As part of a broader initiative to enhance cultural resource management at Chaco Culture National Historical Park, a computerized data base management system (DBMS) was developed to consolidate and analyze archaeological and environmental data. Initially based on data coded for the San Juan Basin Regional Uranium Study, the system integrates site attributes with digitized environmental variables such as soil, vegetation, and erosion channels. The system—named PARKMAN—enables resource managers to access and interpret detailed site information, generate visual overlays, and support preservation planning, research, and interpretive efforts. Early accomplishments include data cleaning, hardware and software setup, and digitization of critical environmental and cultural features. Ongoing work aims to expand the data set and improve its utility for decision-making and conservation. This pilot project is also serving as a model for other regions with similar archaeological and management needs.
","language":"eng","license":{"name":"","short_name":"","text":null,"url":""},"keywords":[],"section":"Article","is_remote":true,"remote_url":"https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1pv3770x","frozenauthors":[{"first_name":"Frances","middle_name":"Joan","last_name":"Mathien","name_suffix":"","institution":"","department":""},{"first_name":"W.","middle_name":"James","last_name":"Judge","name_suffix":"","institution":"","department":""}],"date_submitted":null,"date_accepted":null,"date_published":"1983-06-01T22:00:00+04:00","render_galley":null,"galleys":[{"label":"PDF","type":"pdf","path":"https://journalpub.escholarship.org/gwf/article/62317/galley/48157/download/"}]},{"pk":62325,"title":"Aldo Starker Leopold: 1913–1983","subtitle":null,"abstract":"This memorial article honors the life and legacy of Aldo Starker Leopold, a pioneering wildlife ecologist and influential figure in American conservation policy. Written shortly after Leopold's death in 1983, the piece reflects on his profound impact on national park and wilderness fire management, particularly through the seminal 1963 \"Leopold Report\" which redefined ecological restoration and management strategies within the U.S. National Park Service. Kilgore recounts Leopold's pragmatic yet visionary philosophy, advocating for scientifically informed and ecologically sensitive intervention, including controlled burns, to maintain or restore natural conditions in protected areas. The article highlights Leopold's enduring influence as a scientist, advisor, and educator, emphasizing his rare ability to balance ecological insight with actionable policy guidance. It also offers personal reflections on his character, celebrating his blend of intellectual rigor, humility, and deep commitment to natural resource stewardship.
","language":"eng","license":{"name":"","short_name":"","text":null,"url":""},"keywords":[],"section":"Article","is_remote":true,"remote_url":"https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1m307342","frozenauthors":[{"first_name":"Bruce","middle_name":"M.","last_name":"Kilgore","name_suffix":"","institution":"","department":""}],"date_submitted":null,"date_accepted":null,"date_published":"1983-06-01T22:00:00+04:00","render_galley":null,"galleys":[{"label":"PDF","type":"pdf","path":"https://journalpub.escholarship.org/gwf/article/62325/galley/48165/download/"}]},{"pk":62322,"title":"An Outdoor Laboratory: The Indiana Dunes","subtitle":null,"abstract":"This article highlights the ecological and scientific significance of the Indiana Dunes, recounting its appeal to early 20th-century scientists and its foundational role in American ecology. Inspired by his first sight of the dunes in 1896, Professor Henry Chandler Cowles pioneered ecological studies in the region, particularly plant succession, establishing the Dunes as a natural laboratory. The article outlines Cowles' classification of dune stages and the region's rich geological and ecological history, including its post-glacial evolution and unique biodiversity. It also reviews ongoing research in botany, geology, animal ecology, and air quality, emphasizing the Dunes' continued importance to conservation and scientific inquiry. The piece serves as both a tribute to early ecological pioneers and a call to support ongoing preservation efforts.
","language":"eng","license":{"name":"","short_name":"","text":null,"url":""},"keywords":[],"section":"Article","is_remote":true,"remote_url":"https://escholarship.org/uc/item/98v0j2jq","frozenauthors":[{"first_name":"Florence","middle_name":"","last_name":"Broady","name_suffix":"","institution":"","department":""}],"date_submitted":null,"date_accepted":null,"date_published":"1983-06-01T22:00:00+04:00","render_galley":null,"galleys":[{"label":"PDF","type":"pdf","path":"https://journalpub.escholarship.org/gwf/article/62322/galley/48162/download/"}]},{"pk":62324,"title":"(Book) Reviews","subtitle":null,"abstract":"Reviews of \"The National Park Service\" (Everhart), \"Algeny\" (Rifkin), and \"The Making of a Ranger\" (Garrison).
","language":"eng","license":{"name":"","short_name":"","text":null,"url":""},"keywords":[],"section":"Article","is_remote":true,"remote_url":"https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7616p2ct","frozenauthors":[{"first_name":"Harry","middle_name":"W.","last_name":"Pfanz","name_suffix":"","institution":"","department":""},{"first_name":"David","middle_name":"","last_name":"Graber","name_suffix":"","institution":"","department":""},{"first_name":"","middle_name":"","last_name":"","name_suffix":"","institution":"","department":""}],"date_submitted":null,"date_accepted":null,"date_published":"1983-06-01T22:00:00+04:00","render_galley":null,"galleys":[{"label":"PDF","type":"pdf","path":"https://journalpub.escholarship.org/gwf/article/62324/galley/48164/download/"}]},{"pk":62320,"title":"Cooperative Regional Demonstration Projects: Environmental Education in Practice","subtitle":null,"abstract":"This article proposes a strategy to address escalating environmental degradation in tropical and subtropical regions through the development of Cooperative Regional Demonstration Projects (CRDPs). These projects build upon the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program, using biosphere reserves as focal points for integrated conservation, research, and sustainable development. CRDPs emphasize collaboration among local communities, scientists, policymakers, and international organizations to solve region-specific ecological challenges. Case studies from Mexico, Kenya, and Rwanda illustrate how CRDPs can demonstrate effective environmental management practices, promote community participation, and serve as models for broader application. The author advocates for increased international support, training, and coordination to implement these projects and strengthen global cooperation in environmental stewardship.
","language":"eng","license":{"name":"","short_name":"","text":null,"url":""},"keywords":[],"section":"Article","is_remote":true,"remote_url":"https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7h93d843","frozenauthors":[{"first_name":"Vernon","middle_name":"C.","last_name":"Gilbert","name_suffix":"","institution":"","department":""}],"date_submitted":null,"date_accepted":null,"date_published":"1983-06-01T22:00:00+04:00","render_galley":null,"galleys":[{"label":"PDF","type":"pdf","path":"https://journalpub.escholarship.org/gwf/article/62320/galley/48160/download/"}]},{"pk":62316,"title":"Editorial","subtitle":null,"abstract":"Reflections on the place of conscience in research and publishing.
","language":"eng","license":{"name":"","short_name":"","text":null,"url":""},"keywords":[],"section":"Article","is_remote":true,"remote_url":"https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2k59s89s","frozenauthors":[{"first_name":"Jean","middle_name":"","last_name":"Matthews","name_suffix":"","institution":"","department":""}],"date_submitted":null,"date_accepted":null,"date_published":"1983-06-01T22:00:00+04:00","render_galley":null,"galleys":[{"label":"PDF","type":"pdf","path":"https://journalpub.escholarship.org/gwf/article/62316/galley/48156/download/"}]},{"pk":62319,"title":"Natural Resources Management—Nature Conservation in Parks: Statement by Roland H. Wauer at the New Directions in Conservation of Parks Conference","subtitle":null,"abstract":"In his statement at the New Directions for Conservation of Parks Conference, Roland H. Wauer discusses the evolution of natural resource management within the U.S. National Park Service (NPS), highlighting the shift in ranger duties from resource stewardship to law enforcement due to increased visitation and social unrest in the 1970s. This shift, coupled with limited funding and expanding park units, led to declining attention to ecological conservation. In response, the NPS developed a comprehensive strategy for resource protection, outlined in the 1979 State of the Parks Report and a 1980 mitigation plan. Wauer details six major initiatives implemented since then: (1) mandatory Resources Management Plans for all parks, (2) identification and prioritization of Significant Resource Problems (SRPs), (3) targeted training for superintendents and specialists, (4) a Natural Resources Management Trainee Program, (5) Information Baseline Guidelines to support planning, and (6) the Resource Information Tracking System (RITS). These efforts aim to systematize and elevate resource management to ensure the long-term protection of the parks' natural and cultural assets.
","language":"eng","license":{"name":"","short_name":"","text":null,"url":""},"keywords":[],"section":"Article","is_remote":true,"remote_url":"https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9bd475sb","frozenauthors":[{"first_name":"Roland","middle_name":"H.","last_name":"Wauer","name_suffix":"","institution":"","department":""}],"date_submitted":null,"date_accepted":null,"date_published":"1983-06-01T22:00:00+04:00","render_galley":null,"galleys":[{"label":"PDF","type":"pdf","path":"https://journalpub.escholarship.org/gwf/article/62319/galley/48159/download/"}]},{"pk":62323,"title":"Park Superintendent Responds to \"Acid Rain\" Article","subtitle":null,"abstract":"A letter from the superintendent of Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area to the manager of Plateau Electric Cooperative.
","language":"eng","license":{"name":"","short_name":"","text":null,"url":""},"keywords":[],"section":"Article","is_remote":true,"remote_url":"https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9kn3j1pm","frozenauthors":[{"first_name":"Doyle","middle_name":"","last_name":"Kline","name_suffix":"","institution":"","department":""}],"date_submitted":null,"date_accepted":null,"date_published":"1983-06-01T22:00:00+04:00","render_galley":null,"galleys":[{"label":"PDF","type":"pdf","path":"https://journalpub.escholarship.org/gwf/article/62323/galley/48163/download/"}]},{"pk":62318,"title":"Report on the International Working Conference on New Directions for Conservation of Parks, June 5–15, 1983","subtitle":null,"abstract":"The International Working Conference on New Directions for Conservation of Parks, held in West Germany from June 5–15, 1983, brought together conservation professionals from Europe and North America to explore evolving approaches to park management. Hosted at Luneburger Heide Nature Park and supported by Alfred Toepfer, the conference featured working sessions, field visits, and discussions covering diverse topics such as park administration, nature conservation, interpretation, volunteer engagement, and environmental values. Participants highlighted significant differences and similarities between U.S. and European park systems, particularly regarding land ownership, legal frameworks, and public involvement. Emphasis was placed on the need for education, research-based management, and moral commitment to conservation. Key issues included balancing use with preservation, using volunteers effectively, and addressing ethical and philosophical foundations of environmental protection. The conference concluded with 12 resolutions aimed at guiding future conservation efforts.
","language":"eng","license":{"name":"","short_name":"","text":null,"url":""},"keywords":[],"section":"Article","is_remote":true,"remote_url":"https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0fk5259s","frozenauthors":[{"first_name":"Roland","middle_name":"H.","last_name":"Wauer","name_suffix":"","institution":"","department":""}],"date_submitted":null,"date_accepted":null,"date_published":"1983-06-01T22:00:00+04:00","render_galley":null,"galleys":[{"label":"PDF","type":"pdf","path":"https://journalpub.escholarship.org/gwf/article/62318/galley/48158/download/"}]}]}