New Horizons
It’s very hard to create what you haven’t experienced.... When you do bring I into reality it always looks and feels different than what you anticipated. Reality never shows up according to our plans exactly.
--Peter Senge
Author, global sustainability advocate, and senior lecturer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Change is a hallmark of successful organizations, yet organizational change is never easy. To prepare for new situations and develop new capabilities is a constant process of anticipating future unknowns, capitalizing on new opportunities, and summoning the courage to create. But change is not always proactive or bold; often it is reactive and measured. Whatever the impetus, the National Park Service must continually strive to improve as caretaker of irreplaceable park resources. With the help of dedicated staff, innovative partners, and the caring public, in 2000 the National Park Service faced a variety of challenging and controversial natural resource management issues. As the following articles suggest, technological advances, public input, analysis of past actions and historical events, use of law, programmatic innovation, and, to a small degree, chance are shaping the future of natural resource preservation in the national park system. Collectively, the following articles represent adaptations that are leading toward new horizons.
Articles
Environmental impacts from snowmobiles scrutinized
By Holly Sharpless
Applying new technology to mitigate acid mine drainage in the Northeast
By Kathleen Kodish Reeder
Geoindicators: A tool for monitoring and understanding ecosystem change in parks
By Bob Higgins and Jim Wood
Implementing the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998
By Carol McCoy
Prudential algebra
By Glenn Haas
The unprecedented 2000 fire season
By Tom Zimmerman
Sidebars
EPA asked to restore and protect air quality in parks
Zion’s new transportation system and visitor center receive accolades
Geologic Resources summit held
Utah parks water rights agreements signed
Award-Winner Profile--Redwood superintendent receives award
Rare sea turtles nest at Cape Hatteras
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Last Updated: 06/17/2001
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