Research can be conducted at a single site or at multiple sites throughout the National Park System. Nonnative plants are both an ecological and management problem in many national parks. Some habitats within national parks are more vulnerable to invasion than others. Research is needed to identify the ecological and management conditions that influence or determine the vulnerability of natural systems to nonnative plant invasion. The results will be useful in developing new techniques for managing nonnative plants in national parks.
National parks depend on clean air.
Yet they exist in developed airsheds, receiving materials transported by air masses - often from great distances. Research is needed to understand and measure the sensitivities of park species and habitats to these influences. The results will be important in determining how to protect natural systems in national parks. National parks and historic sites have many costs and benefits -including economic, nonmarket, intergenerational and other values. Research is needed to develop practical and accurate methods for estimating these costs and benefits.