Special Designations

National Natural Landmarks

Definition

National Natural Landmarks are nationally significant natural areas that have been designated by the Secretary of the Interior. To be nationally significant, a site must be one of the best examples of a type of biotic community or geologic feature in its physiographic province. National Natural Landmarks (NNLs) can be designated on both private and public land, including NPS units.

Policy and Program Objectives

The objectives of the NNL program are to identify, recognize, and encourage the protection of sites containing the best remaining examples of various ecological and geological components (themes) that occur in the nation's landscape. Within the parks, sites that have been determined to qualify may be nominated to the Secretary for NNL designation.

Authorities

Legislative authority for the NNL program is found in the Historic Sites Act of 1935.

Relationship to Other Guidance

See the National Natural Landmarks Program regulations 36 CFR Part 62, to be updated based on Federal Register, 1999, May 12. Also see NPS Management Policies, 4.3.5.

Program Guidance

The determination that a site is one of the best examples of a particular feature in a given natural region is based on the primary criteria of illustrativeness and condition of the specific feature. If a decision cannot be made on that basis, the secondary criteria of rarity, diversity, and value for science and education is invoked.

The authority for administering the NNL Program has been delegated by the Secretary of the Interior to the NPS. Potential landmarks are identified in contracted natural region surveys and through suggestions of individuals or non-NPS groups (e.g., state natural area programs or federal land management agencies).

For sites of presumably high potential, the NNL Program regional coordinator arranges for an onsite evaluation to be conducted, usually under contract by a qualified university scientist. Completed onsite evaluation reports are then peer-reviewed by other scientists and forwarded by the regional coordinator to the NPS Washington Office NNL staff. The Washington Office makes a final judgement, based on all available information, as to whether the site appears to meet the criteria for national significance. These sites are then presented to the Secretary of the Interior's National Parks Advisory Board for consideration. An area that is determined to be qualified by the Advisory Board may be nominated to the Secretary of the Interior for possible NNL designation. To determine whether a site within a unit of the National Park System qualifies for potential designation as a NNL, the park should consult with the regional NNL coordinator.

NNLs occur both within and outside the National Park System and complement it in two ways: (1) as a means for recognizing and encouraging the preservation of nationally significant areas that can be protected and managed by others; and (2) as a form of recognition for areas within the National Park System deserving special attention and management. National park management plans should recognize NNLs and promote their natural values.

NNLs may also be Research Natural Areas, and can occur in Wilderness Areas or in parks designated as Biosphere Reserves or World Heritage Sites.

Sites may be used for research; however, this use is subsidiary to protection of the site's integrity. Likewise, any resource management actions must avoid damage to NNL site integrity. Unless the site is fragile, NNLs may provide an excellent opportunity for interpretation of resources. The location of exceptionally fragile landmarks should not be widely publicized, unless visitation is carefully monitored to ensure their protection. Depending on the nature and fragility of the resources designated, it may be necessary to restrict some types of recreational use to prevent impacts. Development should not be permitted, unless it is compatible with the resources and needed for interpretation or educational use.

Neither the NPS nor any statutes or regulations can dictate land use within NNLs outside national park units. However, the NPS encourages other public land managers of NNLs and private NNL landowners to follow the same guidance as the NPS to protect the values for which a site was designated. It is important to note that designation does not imply that the site is open for public visitation, which is a prerogative of the landowner or administrator. In some cases, the regional NNL coordinator may arrange for NPS technical assistance, if requested to do so.

Preparation of Annual Status Reports The Secretary of the Interior is required to provide an annual report to the Congress on any damaged or threatened NNLs (i.e., the Section 8 Report) through 1999. The Washington Office in coordination with the regions may continue to prepare this report and pursue its adopted goal of reporting on approximately half of the NNLs each year.

Preparation of Onsite Evaluation Reports

Onsite evaluation reports will be prepared by the regions using report preparation guidelines. Contracts may be used to secure some of this information.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Director approves of and submits new NNL nominations to the Secretary of the Interior's Advisory Board on National Parks. The Director submits annual status reports to the Secretary for potential transmittal to Congress.

The Associate Director, Natural Resources, Stewardship and Science, through a subordinate division or office, is responsible for overall program policy and direction, preparation of new site nominations, coordination with head offices of other agencies and organizations, and assimilation of any annual reports.

The regional NNL coordinators are responsible for program operations in their regions, or for NNLs they have been assigned, including coordinating site inspections, conducting onsite evaluations, and all other landowner liaison duties.

The superintendent is responsible for ensuring the integrity of any designated NNL in the park and that NNLs are accounted for in appropriate park plans and considered during environmental compliance. Superintendents or their staff may be asked to assist in accomplishing NNL visits to complete the annual status report.

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