Wildlife population sizes. Populations of potential pests. Effects of angling on fish populations. Effects of backcountry use on the condition of soils and vegetation along trails and at campsites. Management For the natural resources of national parks to be conserved, the scientific information gained through research and monitoring must be put to use.
Resource management involves taking direct action to conserve park ecosystems.
It also may involve efforts to mitigate impacts and restore damaged ecosystems. Natural resource managers use a variety of tools to access and analyze scientific information. Programs of active management of natural resources are based on the integration of scientific information with the park's specific management objectives, public input, effects of the proposed action on other park resources, effects on the human social environment and economy, and the cost of the program weighed against its long-term benefits. Resource management programs must be consistent with laws and legal regulations, and with the policies that govern management of national parks. The National Park Service has a Natural Resource Management Guideline publication that aids natural resource managers in developing and carrying out these programs.