Inventory Objectives

The basic goal of the NPS biological inventory program is to provide park managers with comprehensive, scientifically-based information about the nature and status of selected biological resources occurring within park boundaries in a form that increases its accessibility and utility for making management decisions, scientific research, and educating the public.  The inventories will also lay the groundwork necessary for park managers to develop effective monitoring programs and to formulate effective management strategies for resource management and protection.  To attain these basic goals, biological inventories were designed to meet three basic objectives:

1. Establish a baseline inventory by documenting the occurrence of at least 90% of the expected vertebrate and vascular plant species.

2. Describe the distribution and relative abundance of species of special concern, such as threatened and endangered species, exotics, and other species of special management interest.

3. Provide the baseline information needed to develop a general monitoring strategy and design that can be implemented by parks.