2015 GSA Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, USA (1-4 November 2015)

Paper No. 110-14
Presentation Time: 9:00 AM-6:30 PM

AMERICA’S GEOLOGIC HERITAGE: ESTABLISHING PRINCIPLES AND A NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PROGRAM


WOOD, Jim F., National Park Service, Geologic Resources Division, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, CO 80225, KENWORTHY, Jason P., Geologic Resources Division, National Park Service, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, CO 80225 and PRANGER II, Harold Sherman, U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship & Science, Geologic Resources Division, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, CO 80225, Jim_F_Wood@nps.gov

America’s geologic heritage arises from the features, landforms, and landscapes characteristic of the United States, which are conserved in consideration of the full range of values that society places on them, so that their lessons and beauty will remain as a legacy for future generations. The National Park Service (NPS) Geologic Resources Division (GRD) recently has led an effort to formally establish the principles of, and a program to support, America’s geologic heritage. Preserving geologic features has been a part of the NPS since its inception in 1916 and notably includes the establishment of the National Natural Landmarks program in 1962. GRD has supported cave and karst and paleontology programs since the 1990s and in 2011 created a Geologic Heritage Program to more systematically address issues related to geologic heritage features, including arches, dunes, volcanoes, and geothermal. In March 2013, GRD co-convened an invitational workshop on America's Geologic Heritage with the U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Geological Sciences, Geological Society of America, American Geosciences Institute, Colorado Geological Survey, and U.S. Geological Survey. See http://go.nps.gov/americasgeologicheritage for more about the workshop and geologic heritage concepts. In 2015, as a follow-up to the workshop, GRD and American Geosciences Institute published America's Geologic Heritage: An Invitation to Leadership that outlines the following principles of America’s geologic heritage: 1) America’s geologic landscape is an integral part of our history and cultural identity, and we have a proud tradition of exploring and preserving our geologic heritage; 2) America’s geologic heritage, as shaped by geologic processes over billions of years, is diverse and extensive; 3) America’s geologic heritage holds abundant values—aesthetic, artistic, cultural, ecological, economic, educational, recreational, and scientific—for all Americans; 4) America’s geologic heritage benefits from established conservation methods developed around the world and within the United States; and 5) America’s geologic heritage engages many communities, and your involvement will ensure its conservation for future generations.