title: Optimism and challenge for science-based conservation of migratory species in and out of U.S. National Parks.
abstract: Public agencies sometimes seek outside guidance when capacity to achieve their mission is limited. Through a cooperative agreement and collaborations with the U.S. National Park Service (NPS), we developed recommendations for a conservation program for migratory species. Although NPS manages ∼ 36 million hectares of land and water in 401 units, there is no centralized program to conserve wild animals reliant on NPS units that also migrate hundreds to thousands of kilometers beyond parks. Migrations are imperiled by habitat destruction, unsustainable harvest, climate change, and other impediments. A successful program to counter these challenges requires public support, national and international outreach, and flourishing migrant populations. We recommended two initial steps. First, in the short term, launch or build on a suite of projects for high-profile migratory species that can serve as proof to demonstrate the centrality of NPS units to conservation at different scales. Second, over the longer term, build new capacity to conserve migratory species. Capacity building will entail increasing the limited knowledge among park staff about how and where species or populations migrate, conditions that enable migration, and identifying species' needs and resolving them both within and beyond parks. Building capacity will also require ensuring that park superintendents and staff at all levels support conservation beyond statutory borders. Until additional diverse stakeholders and a broader American public realize what can be lost and do more to protect it and engage more with land management agencies to implement actions that facilitate conservation, long distance migrations are increasingly likely to become phenomena of the past.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59801, U.S.A.; North American Program-Wildlife Conservation Society, Bozeman, MT 59715, U.S.A.. jberger@wcs.org.
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Cain
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dratch
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ellison
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: Herbert C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Frost
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gende
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Groves
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Karesh
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leslie
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Machlis
authors.forename: Rodrigo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Medellin
authors.forename: Reed F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Noss
authors.forename: Kent H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Redford
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soukup
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wilcove
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zack
mesh_terms: D025041:Animal Migration; D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D058735:Environmental Policy; D014481:United States
keywords: capacidad de planeación; conservación; conservation; migración; migration; national parks; parques nacionales; planning capacity