06/04/07 The Future of Our Parks

The Future of Our Parks. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and National Park Service Director Mary Bomar unveiled "The Future of America's National Parks," a report that puts forth goals, national strategies and projects that will be completed by the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. The content of the report was guided in part by input from listening sessions held throughout the country. KEMPTHORNE: We held listening sessions throughout the United States of America, 40 of them. We had well over 6,000 comments that came through this process. And then meeting with outstanding organizations throughout this process, all of their input, I believe that this is one of the most inclusive efforts ever undertaken by a government agency. The report was delivered to President Bush prior to the rooftop press conference at the Interior Department. The President, last August, directed the Interior Secretary to establish goals for the future of national parks as part of the Centennial Initiative. One of the important themes was education. Secretary Kempthorne says children need to be reintroduced to the outdoors and that parks are a great education resource. KEMPTHORNE: This is where the classroom can take place. This is where the curriculum can be developed in all grades so that children realize what the outdoors is about and what a treasure the National Parks are. The report sets high performance goals in the areas of stewardship, environmental leadership, recreational experience and professional excellence. By 2016 the park service will have rehabilitated several historic sites, improved habitat and even become a better place to work with management improvements. KEMPTHORNE: Be one of the top ten places to work in America; flat statement. Be one of the top ten in America to work. We can and we will achieve that. We're not there yet, but that's a bold statement by which we will be measured in the future. Some of the actions in the report include an inventory of all wildlife in parks and strategic acquisitions to protect landscapes. The report will go out to the entire park system with each unit presenting their Centennial strategy and projects by August 2007. KEMPTHORNE: Each of the 391 National Parks in the National Parks system will take these goals and use them to develop their own Centennial strategies. This report times 391. Each will not only shape its own destiny but will also be a direct participant in shaping our National Parks as a whole. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.