National Heritage Areas, a designation recently established by Congress, contain land and properties that reflect the history of their people. They consist mainly of private properties and may include natural, scenic, historic, cultural, or recreation resources. The NPS supports these efforts through technical and financial assistance, usually for a temporary period. Supporters of Heritage Areas have asserted that they reduce pressure to add new, costly, and possibly inappropriate areas to the National Park System, while opponents have feared that they could be used to extend federal control over nonfederal land. Differences also have existed over whether to create a comprehensive heritage program containing priorities and standards for establishing Heritage Areas.
Some programs give places honorary recognition.
Cultural resources may be listed by the NPS in the National Register of Historic Places, as meriting preservation and special consideration in planning for federal or federally assisted projects. The Secretary of the Interior may designate natural areas as national natural landmarks, and cultural areas as national historic landmarks. National parks, monuments, and other areas of international worth may, at the request of the United States, be recognized by the United Nations as world heritage sites or biosphere reserves. The Congress, or the Secretary of the Interior, may designate rivers as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and trails as part of the National Trails System. NPS experts and programs support local and state governments in protecting resources.