Research
As part of it's mission to provide managers with the most relevant and up-to-date information concerning the state of the parks' natural resources, the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network works closely with the North Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU), as well as the Network's two Research Learning Centers.
The NCBN and North Atlantic Coast CESU share common goals, including providing resource managers with timely, high-quality scientific research, technical assistance, and education needed to develop and implement sound adaptive management approaches. The NCBN is able to utilize the CESU's institutional ability to create and maintain effective partnerships among Federal agencies and universities in order to share resources and expertise. Academic partners within the CESU include the University of Rhode Island, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Rutgers University, Stony Brook University, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and the City University of New York. Each partner brings a different perspective and wealth of technical knowledge, allowing for the development of new, innovative and creative solutions to the environmental issues that confront our parks' ecosystems.
In addition, the NCBN works closely with the Cape Cod National Seashore'sAtlantic Research Center and Gateway National Recreation Area'sJamaica Bay Institute. Like the CESU, these learning centers facilitate the synthesis of science and education for the benefit of the national park areas by fostering a collaborative approach to research and resource monitoring. Through the centers, non-NPS scientists are encouraged to work with park managers to conduct research on important park projects, thereby increasing the collective scientific knowledge and allowing for more informed resource management decisions. The learning centers facilitate such collaborations by providing expertise, facilities, and funding opportunities to individuals, universities, public agencies, and non-governmental organizations.