Connect the Dots

The “Connect the Dots” effort is a strategic, long-term framework (over a period of years to decades) for coordinating the efforts of the I&M networks, Watershed Condition Assessment Program, park planning (e.g., Foundation Statement, General Management Plan, Resource Stewardship Strategy), park-funded monitoring and research relevant to assessing natural resource conditions, and other research and monitoring efforts. A Natural Resource Summary Table will be developed for each park as part of the park’s Resource Stewardship Strategy document. The Natural Resource Summary Table framework demonstrates the connection of science to management through the planning process.

This year, the 32 I&M networks were required to develop a first draft of a Vital Signs Supporting Table for each park, which will feed into the larger Natural Resource Summary Table. The draft excel spreadsheets listed for each park below summarize the key measures of resource condition that the I&M network will routinely provide data for as part of our duties of measuring the condition of selected park resources. A subset of measures have been selected for each Vital Sign to best convey the condition of the resource. If the park superintendent or Chief of Natural Resources thinks this Connect the Dots framework is a good idea and requests assistance from network staff to populate additional rows and columns of the Natural Resource Summary Table, network staff will contribute data and expertise to the extent that data and staff time are available to assist the park.

We have very limited data to fill our Vital Signs Supporting Tables for each park due to the status of our Vital Signs monitoring program. These tables will continue to be updated as new information is available.

Vital Sign Summary Tables:

• American Memorial Park (AMME)

• Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail (ALKA)

• Haleakala National Park (HALE)

• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HAVO)

• Kalaupapa National Historical Park (KALA)

• Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park (KAHO)

• Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park (PUHO)

• Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site (PUHE)

• World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument (VALR)

• National Park of American Samoa (NPSA)

• War In The Pacific National Historical Park (WAPA)