Humans in the Environment
While archeological and other historical studies help explain how humans left their mark in times gone by, research is also undertaken in each of the parks to learn how people continue to affect and be affected by places that have been relatively protected from human impacts. Some alterations, such as the construction of roads and other facilities, are generally accepted as necessary to accommodate visitors, but information on the possible consequences of human activities both inside and outside the parks is used to determine when restrictions are needed to preserve each park’s natural and cultural resources as well as the quality of the visitor’s experience.
