USNPS International Affairs

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USNPS International Affairs

The National Park Service International Program promotes and facilitates collaboration in preserving and understanding natural and cultural heritage throughout the world.
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The 'national park idea,' spawned and nurtured with the creation of Yellowstone National Park in 1872, has contributed to the creation of over 1,200 national parks and equivalent reserves worldwide. They have been referred to as 'Yellowstone's children.' It is not surprising then that many nations turn to the U.S. for advice and assistance on park planning and management and that park staff from around the world come in a regular flow to observe park operations in the U.S. and discuss problems of mutual interest... it is reportedly impossible for the National Park Service to keep up with the demand for American expertise."

- "National Parks in the World Community," Parks and Recreation Magazine, 1973

Since that article was written, the number of parks and protected areas globally has swelled to more than 100,000 sites. The National Park Service is recognized by the international community as a leader for its excellence in protecting and preserving America's heritage. In this leadership role, the Park Service has shared its diverse and varied talents, expertise, and experiences in mutually beneficial international partnerships. These partnerships are created to establish, sustain and strengthen parks, heritage sites, and other types of protected areas, both domestically and internationally.

Operating as usual

NPS scientist Dr. Kyle Joly is a co-author of an article in the magazine Science that announced the launch of the Global...

05/11/2021

Launch of the Global Initiative on Ungulate Migration - Region 11 (U.S. National Park Service)

NPS scientist Dr. Kyle Joly is a co-author of an article in the magazine Science that announced the launch of the Global Initiative on Ungulate Migration -
https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1840/global-initiative-on-ungulate-migration.htm

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — On May 7, the journal Science, announces the launch of the Global Initiative on Ungulate Migration (GIUM) in an article entitled “Mapping out a future for ungulate migrations.” An international team of 92 scientists and conservationists created the first-ever global atlas o...

In observance of Asian-American & Pacific Islander month, NPSOIA shared how it has been mentoring Chinese/Tibetan commun...

05/10/2021

NPS mentors Chinese-Tibetan community rangers (U.S. National Park Service)

In observance of Asian-American & Pacific Islander month, NPSOIA shared how it has been mentoring Chinese/Tibetan community rangers - https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/nps-mentors-chinese-tibetan-community-rangers.htm

Well-managed national parks benefit not only the park’s resources and surrounding communities but also the broader global environment. The NPS Office of International Affairs mentors park colleagues across the world as they strive to manage the natural and cultural resources in their countries. On...

Congratulations to one of our beloved international colleagues, Julia Miranda, former Director of Colombia's National Pa...

05/07/2021

Julia Miranda Londoño among Frankfurt Conservation Award winners

Congratulations to one of our beloved international colleagues, Julia Miranda, former Director of Colombia's National Park Authority - http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2283

The UNESCO World Heritage Centre is pleased to congratulate one of this year's Frankfurt Conservation Award (Bruno H. Schubert Prize) winners, the highest endowed private environmental prize in Germany - Julia ...

Welcome and best of luck to one of the world's newest national parks, in Mozambique - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/03...

05/06/2021

Mozambique Mints a New National Park — and Surveys Its Riches

Welcome and best of luck to one of the world's newest national parks, in Mozambique - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/03/travel/mozambique-national-park.html?smid=url-share

In the wake of wars, natural disasters and insurgencies, Mozambique is experiencing an environmental renaissance. One of the results is a new and stunningly beautiful national park.

We recognize today as African World Heritage Day, thanks to this page on the UNESCO World Heritage Site - https://whc.un...

05/05/2021

May 5th is African World Heritage Day

We recognize today as African World Heritage Day, thanks to this page on the UNESCO World Heritage Site - https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2277

African World Heritage Day May 5th 2021 “Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want”. Since the proclamation of African World Heritage Day in 2015 by the 38th session ...

We're happy to note another NPS unit, Chiricahua National Monument , has been recognized for the quality of its night sk...

05/04/2021

Chiricahua NM International Dark Sky Park - Chiricahua National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)

We're happy to note another NPS unit, Chiricahua National Monument , has been recognized for the quality of its night skies by the International Dark-Sky Association - https://www.nps.gov/chir/learn/news/chiricahua-nm-idsp.htm

Chiricahua, in partnership with the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association will hosti a special dark sky event this Saturday, May 8, 2021, from 7:30-9:30 pm to celebrate the Dark Sky Certification.

Chiricahua National Monument

05/03/2021

Earlier this Spring, our colleagues in the Italian Forest Carabinieri
established their nation's first visibility monitoring station at Circeo National Park, southwest of Rome. USNPS International Affairs served as a conduit to experts from the NPS Air Quality Division, who offered general support and recommendations to our Italian colleagues. Italy's first station for monitoring a broad array of airborne pollutants follows three years of engagement between the Carabinieri and NPS on air quality monitoring.

We share our concern and sadness at the devastating fires raging at our newest sister park partner, Ireland's Killarney ...

04/30/2021

Killarney National Park: Major fire damages beauty spot

We share our concern and sadness at the devastating fires raging at our newest sister park partner, Ireland's Killarney National Park - partnered with our Glacier NP - https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56874599

Irish authorities are hopeful of bringing the blaze at Killarney National Park under control soon.

As part of the observation of our 60th anniversary as the Office of International Affairs of the U.S. National Park Serv...

04/29/2021

Back to the Past - International Cooperation (U.S. National Park Service)

As part of the observation of our 60th anniversary as the Office of International Affairs of the U.S. National Park Service, we are highlighting past notable activities with international counterparts - https://www.nps.gov/subjects/internationalcooperation/back-to-the-past.htm

04/28/2021

Everglades National Park was the answer to a question on Jeopardy! about international conservation designations!

Interesting article about Cahokia Mounds World Heritage Site challenging our previous notions what contributed to its ab...

04/27/2021

What Doomed a Sprawling City Near St. Louis 1,000 Years Ago?

Interesting article about Cahokia Mounds World Heritage Site challenging our previous notions what contributed to its abandonment - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/24/science/cahokia-mounds-floods.html?smid=url-share

Excavations at Cahokia, famous for its pre-Columbian mounds, challenge the idea that residents destroyed the city through wood clearing.

04/26/2021

UNESCO's Marine World Heritage program has issued its annual overview report -https://whc.unesco.org/uploads/activities/documents/activity-13-404.pdf

04/23/2021

Crater Lake National Park Education Coordinator John Duwe will give a presentation today about his Fulbright Specialist visit to Slovenia as part of The Fulbright Program's Protecting the Planet Day - https://fulbright75.org/april-23-protecting-the-planet-day/
- as well as our National Park Week Event Registration is required.

04/23/2021

A bit late, but always appropriate to celebrate our shared global heritage!

Is there a place in the world that is particularly special to you?

Today is World Heritage Day, and Chaco Culture would like to celebrate that in 1987 we were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

1,000 years ago, Chaco Canyon began being a major cultural center of Ancestral Puebloan people. The canyon showcases monumental ancient architecture of great houses and kivas, and its status as a center of trade, political activity, and ceremonies.

#FindYourPark #NewMexico #WorldHeritageDay

Image Description: A placard in front of a tan building with text showing designation as a World Heritage Site

Ben Bobowski, Superintendent of America's largest national park, Wrangel-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, in Alaska...

04/22/2021

Earth Day Wrangell St Elias 2021

Ben Bobowski, Superintendent of America's largest national park, Wrangel-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, in Alaska, made this video especially for colleagues in Poland, for today, Earth Day 2021 - https://youtu.be/b0HOHch1kcg

Celebrate Earth Day with us every day!

04/21/2021

NPS staff have long participated in and supported the international technical assistance programs of the U.S. Interior Department (USDOI-ITAP) - DOI International Technical Assistance Program - fund by USAID - US Agency for International Development. Back in April 2002, Georgian Parliamentarians participated in a DOI-ITAP sponsored study tour that visited several of our national park units. On Earth Day 2002, these Georgian Parliamentarians participated in a dedication event organized by Grand Canyon National Park - Grand Canyon National Park - and its gateway communities by planting a tree on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

In 2003, the Parliament of Georgia passed legislation on earthday.org to designate 8 new categories of protected areas and the expansion of 3 existing PA's, inspired by the parliamentarians experience with US national parks experience during the previous year's visit. That 2003 Georgian law designated Tusheti National Park and Protected Landscape, one of the largest in Europe.

Thus, the USAID/Georgia Mission, Grand Canyon National Park, USNPS International Affairs and DOI International Technical Assistance Program all played a significant role in this most excellent gift to the Earth!

Just one of the many historical achievements we note during NPSOIA's 60th anniversary.

04/18/2021

Reminder - join us tonight at 8:00 pm ET for a live Twitter Chat on World Heritage - #worldheritageday @NPSInternation

04/18/2021

“Happy World Heritage Day and International Day of Monuments and Sites!

The USNPS Office of International Affairs (NPSOIA) serves as the technical lead on World Heritage in the U.S. and functions as the U.S. World Heritage Program Office.

NPSOIA and the USAID/DOI-ITAP National Parks and Ecotourism Program works to improve management of World Heritage Sites, including the Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands (pictured below, courtesy of the Georgian Agency for Protected Areas), nominated as the first natural site from Georgia for inscription to the World Heritage list. [Georgia flag]

Situated within the Autonomous Republic of Adjara and the regions of Guria and Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, the Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands truly embody the spirit of this year’s World Heritage Day theme: “Complex Pasts, Diverse Futures.”

NPSOIA and DOI-ITAP are proud to partner with the Georgian National Agency of Cultural Heritage Preservation (NACHP) and Agency of Protected Areas (APA) to support the preservation of cultural heritage and natural history all around the world.

Photo Caption: The Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands are situated within the Autonomous Republic of Adjara and the regions of Guria and Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti of Georgia. These nominated sites have a high level of integrity, i.e., of completeness, intactness and absence of critical threats.

04/17/2021

We at NPSOIA are proud to have played a role in this successful series of seminars.

4/13〜15
2021日米インタープリテーション研修会＠Zoom
「市民参加の科学調査とインタープリテーション～グレートスモーキーマウンテン国立公園から～」
無事終了しました。
平日の朝７時〜10時と、夜19:30〜21時と非常に変則の時間設定でしたが、アメリカと日本、さらにはマレーシアや韓国などの国立公園関係者など、オフラインでの参加も含めると130名くらいが参加するウェビナーになりました。新しく知る情報も多く、消化するには、資料を読みなしたりする時間が必要そうです。
また、日米の状況の違いこそあれ、国立公園関係者やインタープリテーション関係者に共通する熱い思いが感じれられた3日間でした。参加者の皆様、朝早くから、また夜遅くまで、お疲れさまでした。

04/16/2021

Join a live #WorldHeritageDay Twitter chat on April 18!
8:00 PM ET @NPSInternation

04/16/2021

Yesterday NPSOIA arranged for the new manager of our NPS Shared Beringia Heritage Program to speak with the foreign service officers at the Office of Russian Affairs at the State Department on plans for hosting the next Beringia Days symposium in late 2022.

04/14/2021

U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania Robert Gilchrist welcomed us this morning at the start of a webinar on Improving Accessibility of National Parks for Persons with Disabilities. The U.S. Embassy in Vilnius arranged for us to have this discussion with our colleagues in Lithuania. Two presentations include:

9:10 a.m./4:10 p.m. – Accessibility Programs in Lithuania's National Parks
Ramunas Lydis, Director of Zemaitija National Park - will present an accessibility development project implemented in Zemaitija National Park in 2019. He will speak about the achievements of the program, its impact, as well as the gaps that need to be addressed in order to develop this area further in Lithuania.

9:30 a.m./4:30 p.m. – Accessibility Requirements and Implementation at U.S. National Parks
Jeremy Buzzell, U.S. National Park Service, Branch Chief of Accessibility Program - will present an overview of the requirements that the National Park Service follows for making parks accessible to people with disabilities and how it implements those requirements.

04/13/2021

Today and tomorrow, NPSOIA in cooperation with Great Smoky Mountains NP and Japan Association for Interpretation will host two 3-hour webinars on Community/Citizen Science. These will be from 6-9pm US EDT, so that colleagues in Asia can participate at the start of their day.

Tuesday, April 13 (6-9pm US ET / 7-10am Tokyo)
Welcome Cassius Cash, Superintendent
General Japanese Park Interpretation Overview Professor Koji Furuse, Teikyo University
Japan Environment Ministry Overview Naoko Nakajima, Visitor Use Office
Introduction to Great Smoky Mtn NP Dana Soehn, Management Assistant
Brief overview of the park landscape, history, resources, and visitor services.
Science in the Park Lisa McInnis, Chief of Resource Management & Science
Introduction to how and why the park collects scientific information.
All Taxa Biodiversity Program Becky Nichols, Aquatic Entomologist
Sharing highlights from the park’s scientific inventory program.
Discover Life in America Todd Witcher, Executive Director
The park’s non-profit partner in science will share how their organization supports research, education, and public engagement

Wednesday, April 14 (6-9pm US ET / 7-10am Tokyo)
Creating Science-Based Materials for the Public Laurel Rematore, CEO
Learn how our non-profit park partner, Great Smoky Mountains Association, creates engaging educational books, puzzles, calendars, t-shirts, and a variety of products to connect the public with science and earn funds for the park.
Community (Citizen) Science in the Park Susan Sachs, Education Specialist
Learn about hands-on learning opportunities for visitors, students, and residents.
Coordinating Research in the Park Paul Super, Research Coordinator
Learn how the park coordinates, connects, and supports research in the park.
Using Science Data Kendra Straub, Data Manager
Discover how the park coordinates data collection so that it can be efficiently shared with researchers and the public (Species Mapper).
Community (Citizen) Science Will Kuhn, Research Specialist
Learn how our Discover Life in America partner engages the public in collecting and sharing science in the park.
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If you are interested in listening in, please email [email protected] for the link.

Address

1849 C St NW
Washington D.C., DC
20240

General information

The National Park concept has been described as "America's best idea." Many countries around the world look to the United States as a leader in park and protected area management. At the same time, the National Park Service often learns about innovative practices from other countries' park agencies. In addition, international cooperation is required to preserve numerous species of migratory wildlife that spend only a part of their lives within the boundaries of U.S. national parks, and likewise to help protect park resources from threats that may originate from outside park (and U.S.) borders -- air and water pollution and invasive species, for example. For these reasons, the National Park Service has an Office of International Affairs that for over 50 years has worked to facilitate cooperation between the U.S. National Park Service and counterpart agencies around the globe. The Office of International Affairs provides the overall framework for the Service’s international programs and coordinates the fulfillment of the Service’s mandates, obligations, and responsibilities for international activities. It collaborates and coordinates with the Service’s partners for international programs on major global conservation issues. OIA evaluates requests for assistance to maximize the impact and effectiveness of the Service’s limited resources. Finally, OIA enhances the Service’s ability to accomplish its domestic mission through increased experience and professional growth of its employees derived from their participation in international programs.

Telephone

(202) 354-1800

Website

https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1955/index.htm

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Videos

Ranger Tom Engberg's Message to Sondrio Environmental Film Festival

Badlands Superintendent sends greetings on World Ranger Day

World Ranger Day Greeting from USDOI International Technical Assistance Program Manager

NPS Director Vela's World Ranger Day greeting

Video from the Unity Temple Restoration Foundation

Earlier this week we promised you a video tour by the Unity Temple Restoration Foundation of one of the Frank Lloyd Wright homes now listed as a World Heritage Site. Here's that video.

Sharing how NPS & USGS Measure Air Quality with Italian Colleagues

Colleagues from Italy's Forest Carabinieri Corps joined a group of NPS and USGS scientists into Rocky Mountain National Park in December 2018 to check on monitoring devices that the park uses to measure the presence of non-point source pollutants that arrive in the park from across the world.

Benefits of International Engagement - Sister Parks

A brief interview by OIA's Linda Bennett with Colleen Bathe, Chief of Interpretation at Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park, discussing the benefits of sister park relationships with protected areas in Cambodia and China.