More international recognition came in 1981 when Olympic National Park was declared a World Heritage Site by the World Heritage Convention. Most nations of the world have agreed by treaty to give special recognition to important natural and cultural areas by recognizing them as world heritage sites. The American public is often uninformed about ecosystem management issues. Awareness is increasing, but environmental education based on science is largely not available. National Park Service educational pro grams are among the few exceptional opportunities avail able to the public.
Public education is essential to prevent and correct ecosystem problems.
Ecosystem damage occurs through the cumulative impacts of many individuals over time. Top-down management has not been very effective in preventing these types of impacts. Educational programs that change individual behavior may be one of the most effective tools for ecosystem management. Natural history programs help students understand their biological surroundings, while cultural history programs increase students' knowledge of their heritage and the traditions of the Native Americans who have lived in this area for thousands of years. Olympic National Park is in the process of developing a comprehensive educational program to reach the 150,000 students who live within an hour's drive of the park.