The National Park Service (NPS) has initiated planning of a long-term global change program involving 17 areas of monitoring and research. In 1991, the agency proposes integrated programs totaling $2.3 million in eight biogeographic areas. Each program will implement monitoring and research activities in the 17 initiative areas.
The Service plans to increase the number of areas each year until 1995, when programs are expected to be underway in 20 areas. Parks interested in participating in the 1991 program have been asked to prepare concept papers modeled on those prepared for the November 1989 LTER Global Change Workshop. The papers will describe site capabilities and show how the proposed scientific initiatives address the criteria, objectives, and priorities of the U.S. Global Change Research Program being developed by the Committee on Earth Sciences.
The NPS program will seek to develop linkages with LTER sites conducting monitoring and research on similar themes, particularly those sites in the same biogeographic areas.
A workshop has been scheduled for May 14-18 in New Orleans, Louisiana to present the parks’ proposals to a steering committee that will recommend parks for selection. A group of outside peer reviewers familiar with national and international global climate change research initiatives will be enlisted to review the proposals, identify productive areas of study, and suggest opportunities for coordination with other research programs.
In the next phase, the Service proposes to hire program coordinators for areas selected and to provide technical personnel and support. This summer, participating parks will develop proposals for research to be initiated during the 1991 field season.
For further information contact William Gregg Acting Global Change Program Coordinator; National Park Service, Wildlife Vegetation Division, P.O. Box 37127, Washington DC 20013-7127, 202-343-8122.