Atlas of Conservation Cartography, Volume I by Kevin McManigal

Copyright © 2020 University of Montana All rights reserved. This atlas or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in an atlas review. Printed in the United States of America Atlas of Conservation Cartography Volume One, 2020 University of Montana W.A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation 32 Campus Drive Missoula, MT 59812 www.cfc.umt.edu Editor and Director of Cartography: Kevin McManigal

Cover Art: Emily Cahoon Cover Map: Frank, S., et al, 2020 Title Page Art: Tanner Humphries

TABLE OF CONTENTS FORWARD by Kevin McManigal...................................................................................................................................................................... 1

Sophie Frank, Zach Goodwin, Miles Scheuering, Clint Whittle Safeguarding Our Planet, World Protected Areas Map.................................................................................................................................................. 3

CHAPTERS Emma Aschbacher, Ulmus Cartographic Band-e-Amir National Park, Afghanistan...................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Blake A Bentley, North Star Cartography Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.......................................................................................................................................................................... 7 E.L. Cahoon, ELC Cartography Chitral Gol National Park, Pakistan............................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Joe Dehnert, Ptolemy Cartography Pumalin Park, Chile........................................................................................................................................................................................................11 Frank Frontado, Adventure Mapping Khustain Nuruu National Park, Mongolia................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Graydon Hidalgo, Eyrie Cartographic Everglades National Park, United States of America................................................................................................................................................... 15 Katrina M. Himmelreich, Adventure Cartography Khao Sok National Park, Thailand............................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Sara G. Hulbert, Signpost Cartography Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, Mexico.................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Tanner Humphries, Over the Hump Cartographic Sumidero Canyon National Park, Mexico................................................................................................................................................................... 21

Heather Leach, Headwaters Maps Tarutao National Marine Park, Thailand..................................................................................................................................................................... 23 James Fain McGough III, Periscape Cartography Pulau Weh and Pulau Sabang Marine Nature Recreation Parks, Indonesia............................................................................................................ 25 Katherine Patrick, Crooked Fence Cartography Farasan Islands Protected Area, Saudi Arabia............................................................................................................................................................. 27 Chris Prange, Trail Blaze Cartography Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal......................................................................................................................................................................... 29 Sterling Prentice, Sterling Cartography Joshua Tree National Park, United States of America.................................................................................................................................................. 31 Jake Reller, Cherry Tree Cartography Bom Jesus Biological Reserve, Brazil........................................................................................................................................................................... 33 Robert Schreiner, Crazy Crown Cartography Indio Maiz Biological Preserve, Nicaragua................................................................................................................................................................... 35 Timothy C. Seegraber, Outback Cartography Wapusk National Park, Canada.................................................................................................................................................................................... 37 Madison Seigler, Stinky Man Cartography Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria............................................................................................................................................................................ 39 Bradley R. Smith, Cardinal Cartographic ‘Uruq Bani Ma’ Arid Wildlife Sanctuary, Saudi Arabia............................................................................................................................................. 41 Donald Swanson, Trident Nautical Charts Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and World Heritage Area, Australia..................................................................................................................... 43

A PPEN DICES Cartography Company Logos.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 45 Map References............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 46

FORWARD ... Looking It is 2020, we are in a global pandemic, and more humans live on planet Earth than during any period in history. It is a time of incredible technology. A simple search for the world population clock instantly brings up a running count of 7.7 billion people, with a child being born every quarter second. All that hope, promise, and potential, backed by exponential growth and development. However, one can imagine something of an anti-clock, running in reverse, hidden just under the veneer of progress. It is one of loss, degradation, and destruction. Every second, less habitat, less wildlife, less clean air and water. The loss of the natural world. The loss of the very thing we rely on, come from, and are an integral part of. The loss of balance. Humans find themselves in a shocking reality, a nightmare that we deny and avoid waking from. Our only home, this precious rock floating through the vacuum of the universe, with no possibility of outside intervention, is being destroyed. We, the only species with enough intelligence to make our own future, can’t seem to avoid the future we are making. Science, the greatest tool of truth we have ever fashioned, is slicing through our denial with a body of evidence that we can no longer ignore. The time to act was long ago, when we saw the 50% decreases, then the 70% losses, and so on. Now, surely, when the numbers routinely show 90% or more of what we had is gone, we will change. Or will we? Only a few centuries ago the world was wild. Today, 96% of all mammals are humans and our 1

livestock. Only 4% of wild tigers and elephants are left, and many other species have gone extinct under our watch, by our hands. In North America, only 15% of wetlands remain, and less than 7% of old growth forests, yet we continue to convert and cut. When is enough, enough? When will we learn? A popular meme shows the dinosaurs looking skyward as a huge meteor streams through the atmosphere, seconds away from annihilating all life. A thought bubble above the terrible lizard proclaims “Oh No... the economy!” We smirk because it is true. Those that inherit the Earth next will judge us. “You lived in a miracle and threw it away for a profit?” But for all the loss, all is not lost. This planet is still amazingly diverse, beautiful, and alive. We can return to Eden. Imagine creating Biosphere Earth, a thriving, self-sustaining perpetual garden of life. The eminent biologist, E.O. Wilson has called for half of the world to be placed under strict wilderness protections if we hope to survive our precarious growth spurt. This may allow the planet to recover, or at least hold in stasis, while our technology catches up with our insatiable thirst for energy. However, many are put off by such lofty proclamations, and the vocal minority can sway the disheartened majority. Humans prefer goals, all the more so when we can achieve them. Another program seeks to place 30% of the planet in protection by 2030. In view of the fact that we already have 15% of terrestrial landscapes, and more than 7% of marine ecosystems in conservation, we appear to be well on our way. Hope springs eternal when the prize is in sight. The nay-sayers will fade into the dust as we near the finish line. What needs to be done? Everyone has a

part play, something to offer this global challenge. As cartographers, we have a heavy lift. Safeguarding Our Planet, the world map on the next spread, depicts more than 240,000 landscapes and over 17,000 seascapes in protection. Over the course of eight months, a team of four student cartographers worked to classify, generalize, and stylize the map. On the wall in full size, it mesmerizes an audience, casting a glimmer of hope in uncertain times. Unfortunately, over 50% of the world’s protected areas lack the proper maps for management. These so-called paper parks have designation, but no demarcation. We all recognize the power of maps to change space into place. They firm up the ground beneath our feet, affirm our hollow words, and make the ethereal, official. This fall, twenty cartography students each chose a park to outline and map. Twenty places made more whole by cartography. And so, here is our contribution, the first of many. There is still much work to do, but it is a start. Enjoy!

Kevin McManigal Director of Cartography University of Montana, Missoula November, 2020

“You are capable of more than you know. Choose a goal that seems right for you and strive to be the best, however hard the path. Aim high. Behave honorably. Prepare to be alone at times, and to endure failure. Persist! The world needs all you can give.” E.O. Wilson

Band-e-Amir National Park was established on Earth Day, April 22, 2009. The national park is located in the Hindu Kush mountains of Bamiyam Province in central Afghanistan. At about 596 km² (230 mi²), the highest elevation of Band-eAmir National Park is 3,902 m (12,682 ft). The lowest elevation is 2,742m (8,912 ft). Using the Köppen Climate Classification the region of Band-e-Amir national park is a dry cold desert (BWk). The region is also considered a desert biome. Band-e-Amir National Park is home to over 150 species of birds classifying the park as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. Although the park is realtively new, with only being formed about 11 years ago, the national park has an interesting history in terms of conservation status and current management structure. Band-e-Amir National Park is the first national park in Afghanistan. The national park employes the first female park rangers in the country. The park was created in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Afghanistan government to protect six lakes formed by natural travertine dams. The national park is currently managed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock and a committee, with involvement from local communities. The Afghanistan government has requested the Band-e-Amir National Park be considered a World Heritage Site, although a decision is pending. 5

The national park faces unique challenges and successes regarding conservation. Band-e-Amir National Park is state owned but is continuing to be used by local communities through traditional farming rights. The use of the land by livestock has caused over grazing in areas of Band-e-Amir. Fishing with hand grenades and electricity is causing significant problems for fish populations. To combat these challenges community involvement in park management is important. Band-e-Amir also provides additional opportunities for employment and increased tourist revenue for local communities that will hopefully encourage locals to alter livestock grazing areas and fishing methods. The national park has a rare and beautiful physical landscape. Band-e-Amir is located in the Hindu Kush Mountains. In this mountainous landscape there are six lakes that have been formed from mineral deposits, known as travertine. These travertine deposit dams have created waterfalls connecting the deep lakes. This physical landscape, created by the traver

tine deposits, has been called Afghanistan’s Grand Canyon. Beyond the lakes, Band-e-Amir National Park is characterized by desert and a mountainous landscape. The park is utilized by those that live in and outside of the park for fun and relaxation as well as for traditional livelihoods. Visitors to the park are welcome to swim in the lakes and rent swam shaped paddle boats to float the lakes in. Camping, hiking trails, picnic areas, and a tourism center are available amenities for those visiting the national park. Local communities use the amenities made available by the park, while also utilizing the areas within the park for fishing and traditional farming practices. Band-e-Amir National Park is important to the world. Band-e-Amir is the first national park in Afghanistan. The national park shows the country’s dedication to the protection of the rare natural travertine deposites that have formed the six natural deep lakes. The national park also illustrates the want for peace and stability by the Afghan people.

A FGHANISTAN ’ S

Band-e-Amir National Park

Park Afghanistan

Khakdaw

Villages

Abqol Bala Tang B and -e Zulf iqa r

Kotak

Nawe Tundak

Band-e Haibat Jarukashan Sabzel

Jedachel

Shahrestan Koy Kenak

Emma Aschbacher 6

The Maasai Mara National Reserve is a large game reserve located in Narok County in the southwestern region of Kenya and is home to one of Africa’s most stunning and significant annual animal migrations. Established in 1961 by the British colonial government, a 520km² wildlife sanctuary was set aside with the intention to preserve wild animals in a natural landscape. Later that same year the sanctuary was increased to 1821km², reconstituted as a game reserve and managed under the control of the Narok County Council. Kenya gained its independence from the United Kingdom 1963, and eventually in 1974 the Kenyan government declared the area the Maasai Mara National Game Reserve. Between 1974 - 1976 areas of land totaling 311km² were returned to locals reducing the Maasai Mara to its present-day size of 1510km² or 583mi². In 1994 the newly formed Trans-Mara County Council assumed management of the western section of the Maasai Mara known more commonly as the ‘Mara Triangle’, while the Narok County Council continued management of the eastern region. The Trans-Mara County Council sub-contracted their management to the not-forprofit agency Mara Conservancy, in 2001. Lands to the west, north, and east of the Maasai Mara are inhabited and administered by members of the Maasai tribe. The Maasai are a native tribal group that raises and sustains themselves by moving their livestock throughout the pastoral grassland of the region. They have maintained this semi-nomadic lifestyle with cooperation and acceptance from regional governments. The reserve was named in their honor along with the Maasai word Mara, which describes the savanna shrub land that dominates the area. The land cover is primarily savanna grassland with sparse dotting of acacia trees and seasonal 7

riverlets. The eastern region is a hot, semi-arid climate which tends to have extremely hot summers and cool winters. The western region is a tropical savanna climate experiencing a lengthy dry season and two relatively short wet seasons (April - May, November - December) receiving about 275 mm (40 in) of precipitation per year. The region ranges in elevation from 1,500m - 2,180m (4,920 - 7150ft) with temperature ranges between 12 - 30 °C (54 - 86 °F). The Maasai Mara borders the much larger Serengeti National Park to the south, which also divides Kenya and Tanzania. The western border follows about 15 miles of the Esoit Oloololo Escarpment, a north - south trending geologic feature of the Great Rift Valley. The eastern border tends north - south along the Ngama and Ol Oloitikoishi Hills. The Mara River, one of the three major rivers in the reserve (Mara, Sand, and Talek) runs through the heart of the park and is a focus to one of the greatest scenes in the animal kingdom.

The reserve hosts the largest annual animal migration in the world from July to October when over one million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of other species including Thomson’s gazelles, topis and Grant’s zebras pass though seeking fresh grazing grounds. Nile crocodiles lay in wait under the surface of the sweeping Mara River for

these animals to cross. This region is also known for having Africa’s ‘Big Five’ which include lion, leopard, elephant, black rhino, and cape buffalo. The Maasai Mara is the only protected area in Kenya with an indigenous black rhino population and supports one of the largest populations in Africa.

Maasai Mara’s eastern border is about 224 km from Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi. This eastern region of the park experiences the highest volume of tourism due to this proximity. Tourism and safaris are a major economic driver for the region but may be contributing to its degradation. The rise in popularity has brought a rapid increase in annual and permanent construction of lodges for wealthy tourists. Back in 2013 the minister for tourism said that of 108 tourist operations in the Mara area, only 29% were legal. Poor road connectivity exists throughout the region. In 2011 a global outcry led to the stoppage of a large road being constructed through the park, however as of 2019 that road is now back under construction. Poaching has been an ongoing issue of concern for the region as it hosts large populations of big cats and exotic animals that are part of the illegal global animal trade. The Maasai Mara is a vital corridor and grazing land upon which millions of animals from thousands of species rely. It is of great importance that this region be protected for as long as humans are able to do so.

Chitral Gol National Park covers an area of 7,750 hectares (77.5 km2) in Northwestern Pakistan, which resides in a mountainous river valley of the Kyhber Pakhtunkhwa Province. Located in the Hindu Kush Mountain Range, the area is considered an alpine river catchment which spans across the reserve. The park was officially established as a protected area in 1984 by IUCN Management and the Government of Pakistan as a Category II for the protection of habitat of endangered species such as the Kashmir Markhor and the snow leopard. Chitral Gol is currently owned by the Government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department. The overall physical terrain is comprised of sharp ridgelines with steep grades which range from 45 to 120 degree gradients. Likewise, the general elevation of the area differs by roughly 3,450 meters between its highest (5,000m) and lowest (1,450m) points above sea level. The gorge, which acts as the convex spine of the park, extends roughly 18 kms and deposits into three sub-valleys. Accompanying the Chitral River is a system of streams that drain into Chitral Gol. Several glaciers can also be found in the park which contribute

to these stream networks. The park sees two different rain seasons in the high elevation of the peaks and in the meadows of the park each year. The annual precipitation average is roughly 445mm during the winter and spring seasons. The general climate is dry and temperate with extreme temperature ranges depending on the location within the park. Conservationally, the park is home to many species of vegetation and animals registered on the endangered or threatened record. The most popular of these endangered species is the Markhor goat, which have experienced a rough fourty-percent decrease in population since the 1970s and brings tourists and researchers to the area. Though the Markhor is its primary resident, several other species including the vulnerable Himalayan otter, Siberian ibex, and the threatened black bear also occupy the landscape. Other endangered species who roam the area but do not primarily reside in the park include the Snow leopard and the Tibetan wolf. Contrary to fauna, Himalayan Cedar trees are among some of the more common vegetation found in Chitral Gol. This Himalayan species of cedar is native to Northern Pakistan. The park is a symbol of cultural and historic significance to the District of Chitral having once belonged to a sovereign entity of leadership known as the Mehtar of Chitral. Prior to 1983, the land now known as Chitral Gol National Park was owned privately by the Mehtar where an established summer fort, Brimoghlasht, hosted court during the season. Even after the Mehtar’s decline from power in the late 1960s, this status change to a national park

has been contested since the park’s establishment as a Terrestrial Protected Area and National Reserve due to heritage and litigation issues between the Mehtar and the Government of Pakistan. The park is situated near historic sites such as Chitral Fort, Chitral Museum, Shahi Masjid Chitral, and several original sites from the Mehtar occupation and ownership in the park itself. The Brimoghlasht Summer Fort overlooks the city below the reserve at 2,800 meters above sea level. These structures and the City of Chitral cultural attractions draw tourists into the area for a number of adventures. Tourism for the park usually consist of multi-day trips with lodgings in a hotel and back country camping. These original hunting structures and wilderness huts also offer camping and additional lodging for limited travelers. Hiking trails are available for public access and range in difficulty for both family and adult trips. The present day culture of the area has an ancient heritage from Gandharan culture, which dates back before the Persian reign. The Chitral area is connected historically with the Daradas tribes from the Iron Age. By the late 20th century and being fully assimilated as a part of Pakistan, the District of Chitral became an official entity of the county. While Urdu is the common language of Pakistan, the primary language spoken in the region is Khowar, which belongs to the Dardic branch of the Indo-Iranian language family of Pakistan. ‘Gol’ translated to English means ‘stream.’

Pumalin Park is a 4,020 km2 (~1,552 mi2) park located along the Carretera Austral, The Southern Way, in central Chile. The park was envisioned in 1992 by Northface Park founder Douglas Tompkins as a way to restore biodiversity, develop ecological agriculture, and promote leading-edge activism in the area. Officially established in 2005, the park’s purpose was to serve as a remedy for some of the systemic problems plaguing the region. These problems included: •The loss of traditional knowledge and culture because of the assumption that humans have been granted superiority over nature. •Economic and development trends reaching from the modernizing world to more rural communities that place industrialization over all else. •Unsustainable burdens being placed on the biodiversity of the region because of overpopulation. The creation of Pumalin Park didn’t solve all of these problems overnight, but there has most assuredly been a shift in the cultural and ecological paradigms in the area. The park was declared a Natural Sanctuary on August 19th, 2005 by thenpresident Ricardo Lagos.

The park is accessible only by boat from Hornopiren, Chile and is a collection of deep green forests that plunge into the fjords that bound it on either side. The park houses 12 trails with only 4 of those trails located in the southern end of the park. All of the trails are described as being moderate in difficulty, but anyone who has walked on them knows they should be categorized as extremely strenuous. Most trails follow one or more of the parks 300 waterfalls and terminate at granite walls that rise hundreds of feet in the air. The parks highest point, and one of the more notable points of interest, is the Michinmahuida Volcano (2,404 m) which was almost completely covered by ash during the 2008 Chaiten eruption. The park is essential to the preservation of flora and fauna for all of Chile. Over 25% of the total remaining species of Chilean Larch trees exist in the park, as well as a large portion of the country’s Puma population. Pumalin Park is also home to some of the last remaining stands of Alerce trees which are one of the oldest tree species on Earth. The region is housed in a temperate broadleaf biome (Cfb in Köppen classification system) with no dry season and boasts over 250 inches of average rainfall.

The annual precipitation combined with the glaciers resting high in the mountains keeps the rivers consistently frigid which enables them to support native populations of rainbow trout and grayling. In 2019, management of the park was handed over to Chile’s National Forest Corporation (CONAF). The park utilizes citizens that live on the agricultural lands surrounding the park as unofficial rangers; they help to inform CONAF of potential poaching activity, and also maintain the ecological heritage that has existed there for millennia. As of 2018, the park was extremely well maintained. There are wonderful campgrounds free to the public, and the restrooms are some of the cleanest in the country. Although the park is immaculately maintained, the maps are quite lacking in accurate information. The best option is to speak directly to one of the workers manning the kiosk at Caleta Gonzalo, and utilize their local knowledge instead of relying on the poorly made brochure provided at entry. Information about the biodiversity present in the park is on display and accessible to the public at the information kiosks, but the brochure and map offered to visitors could very easily capture valuable information regarding transportation, recreation, and the ecology of the park. The primary goal of this report is to create an elegant, practical map worthy of the prestige present in Pumalin Park.

Khustain Nuruu National Park (HNP) was established in 1993. The Park is in Mongolia, near Ulaanbaatar, in the Töv Province (Aimag). The square area of the Park is approximately 195 mi2 or 506 km2. The park’s elevation averages between 3,609-6,037ft or 1,100-1,840m. The typical climate for the area is cold and semi-arid. The HNP is home to 459 species of plants, 85 species of lichens, 90 species of moss, 33 species of mushrooms, and 217 species of birds to include the golden eagle, lammergeier, great bustard, whooper swan, black stork, Daurian partridge, and little owl. Sixteen fish species, two species of amphibians, and 385 species of insects also frequent the Park. Major protected animals include the Przewalski’s horse (Takhi), the red deer, Mongolian gazelle, roe deer, grey wolf, lynx, red fox, golden eagle, bearded vulture, great bustard, whooper swan, black stork, and partridge. HNP was the first Park to be managed by a

non-governmental organization specializing in nature and environmental conservation. The Mongolian Association for the Conservation of Nature and the Environment managed the Park from 19932003. The Hustai National Park Trust (HNPT) took over in 2003. The HNPT has developed a range of ecotourism initiatives to finance its conservation programs within the Park. Incomes, earned through entrance fee, accommodation, souvenir sale, and donations, directly contribute to the Takhi Horse program and other conservation projects. Roughly 17% of Mongolia’s landmass has some form of national environmental protection, and a further 10% has a local protected area status. HNP found success with the introduction of 300 Takhi in 1993. The Takhi is the last truly “wild” horse on Earth. The Takhi were extinct in the wild by the 1960s, which now helps restore the steppe ecosystem. The Takhi horse serves to increases environmental awareness in the whole of Mongolia. HNP is in the Töv Province of Mongolia and is also known as Hustai National Park. The Tuul River runs through the Park’s southern border while the Khentii Mountains make up the Park’s interior. Mongolian Steppes can be seen at the western boundaries of Altanbulag, Argalant, and Bayankhangai Soums. The Park is 100 km from the capital city of Ulaanbaatar to the west. The HNP is

50,620 ha consisting of a Steppe and forest-steppe environment. The Park is shaped in a rounded triangle pattern along mountainous terrain. More than 10,800 people live in the biosphere reserve, mainly following their traditional nomadic life with herding sheep, goats, horses, and cattle. In summer, families live by the Tuul River. In Winter, they move to the mountain areas for shelter. Herding animals on the Steppe has previously had almost no negative impact on nature since stock numbers were low. Today, many families from Ulanbaatar settle in the biosphere reserve transition area, so their livestock has increased rapidly. Overgrazing of pastureland is said to be the main problem that the region faces today. Studies on the ecosystem’s carrying capacity, improved commercialization of livestock products, and stakeholder empowerment aim to improve the situation. With the increasing trend of tourism in HNP, additional sources of income have been created. An information center and Nature museum provide exhibitions, seminars, and field trips for tourists and locals. The HNP and its programs have become a matter of pride for Mongolian people. HNP is of great importance, for it is a contribution to Central Asia’s ecological balance by providing a place for numerous threatened and endangered species. These species’ gene-pool may hold vital information for improving livestock, curing diseases, and many other, yet undiscovered, benefits.

Everglades National Park, founded in 1947, is located in state of Florida, United States of America. The square area of park is 7,800 mi². The highest point in the park is 240 feet of elevation, and the lowest is sea level. The Köppen Climate Classification for Everglades National Park is tropical savannah. The main biome classification for the park is the temperate deciduous forest and grassland. The Everglades have one of the most amazing habitat cascades on the planet, beginning with upland pineland, and gradually moving through hard hammock, scrubland, sawgrass freshwater marsh, mangrove, brackish estuary, to the abundant saltwater of Florida Bay and the Keys. Due to the park’s amazing multitude of habitats, the Everglades has immense biodiversity. Not only does the park hold an array of avian life from roseate spoonbills to magnificent frigatebirds, it has both American alligators and American crocodiles and is home to the last remaining population of the Florida panther. Not to mention, due to the amount of protected marine and freshwater habitat the park is home to a vast variety of aquatic life. One of the biggest reasons why I chose this park as my protected area is because half the park is underwater wilderness. Additional major protected fauna and flora include the American alligator, snail kite, west Indian manatee, buccaneer palm, tree cactus, Florida thatch palm, king’s holly. The park is managed by the National Park Service under the United State government. It is very threatened by climate change, habitat destruction, and invasive species. The Everglades is an interesting case because it is immensely larger than the park’s boundaries. All the water that feeds the Everglades is from Lake Okeechobee. Unfortunately, Okeechobee has been dammed up by dikes on the north and south shore of the lake which prevents 15

park due east and in between the city and the park boundary are miles of agricultural fields. These agricultural fields are worked by immigrants from the Caribbean and Mexico. Early inhabitants of this vast swamp included the Seminole tribe. The park experiences a lot of traffic and is one of the most popular national parks in the United States. The everglades hold a biome found nowhere else on earth. The mix of brackish mangrove coastal habitat and temperate grassland habitat is unique to the park. Lastly, the Seminole tribe were the original inhabitants of what is now Everglades National Park. The tribe occupied the wetland for thousands of years before their exterpation in the 18th century. The photo below was taken in the mid 19th century and provides a window into their beautiful heritage and culture.

a constant flow of freshwater from feeding the ecosystem. The park was created in 1947 to protec the fragile ecosystem from complete annihilation. Before the damming, an almost 11,000 square mile sheet of shallow water flowed from Okeechobee to Florida Bay. On top of this, the Everglades are one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world due to sea level rise. Another huge challenge are invasive Burmese pythons that devastate native wildlife. One of the biggest successes is the conservation and recovery of the Florida panther through conservation easements, crossing structures, and the introduction of western mountain lions from Texas and the general southwest. The area surrounding the park is very populated with people. Homestead is the closest town to the park and is 10 miles outside the east entrance of the park. Miami is a mere hour from the

Khao Sok National Park was established on December 22, 1980, as part of the Khoa Sok Forest Complex that incorporates 12 protected areas spanning across 5,316km2, including Khoa Sok National Park. The park is currently managed by The Royal Forest Department and is located in the Surat Thani Province in Southern Thailand, a few hours north of Phuket. Over 400,000 tourists are welcomed to the park annually, with most visiting outside of the months of May, June, September, and October. Khao Sok covers 739 km2 (285 mi2) with its highest point at 960 m (3,150 ft) above sea level and the lowest point at 200 m (656 ft). The park is 40% foothill rainforest, 27% rainforest plains, 15% limestone crag vegetation, 15% lowland scrub, 3% rainforest at 600-1000m above sea level. Khao Sok also includes Cheow Larn Lake which was created by the development of a hydroelectric dam in 1982 that covers 165 km2 in the park. Khao Sok National Park claims that they are “lucky” to exist, because if it was not for a 1940’s deadly epidemic and the communist insurgency groups in the 1970’s, the historic rainforest may not have existed by 1980 due to human encroachment when the land was declared a National Park and the area protected. In 1982, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) built the Raijaprabha Dam which created the Cheow Larn Lake, a 165 km2 lake within the National Park. The purpose of the dam was to generate electricity for Southern 17

Thailand as it was becoming an increasingly attractive place for tourists on vacation. Today, Cheow Lan Lake has become its own tourist destination in its own right and people can stay in one of many floating raft houses pictured here. According to Köppen Climate Classification, this park is listed as a Tropical Monsoon Climate (Am), which means that Khao Sok is a rainforest. This park is protected by the International Union for Conservation (IUCN) and is red listed as Category II, Critically Endangered (CR). The ICUN classifies a Category II: National Park as a large natural area that is set aside for the protection of large-scale ecological processes in order to protect the natural biodiversity in the location to promote education and recreation while supporting the ecological structure and environmental processes. The ICUN Red List, created in 1962, represents critical indicators for the health of the world’s biodiversity. Khao Sok National Park houses many species that are of critical threat for global extinction, such as the Palm Lankow, the world’s most endangered species that is only found in Khao Sok and Khao Phra Taew forest in Phuket, which is why it is listed as a CR location. Protecting this area is of great importance because the vast biodiversity provides benefits for protecting the area against the impacts of climate change. While many of the different plant and animal species throughout the park are protected, the tigers remain the largest, and arguably the most

important, protected species within the park. Khao Sok has endured many differing challenges and successes regarding conservation in the park. Much of the park’s success has come from protection against logging the trees for the use of plantations and educating tourists and locals alike about the importance of Khao Sok’s ecosystem. Although, many of the challenges still faced come from human interaction in the park. Unregulated tourism and poaching are major challenges for the park to combat, but the biggest challenge caused by human influence is indirect. Khao Sok National Park is already seeing the impact of climate change on higher risk native species of plants and animals, and expecting to see many of the other native species to be impacted soon. Every year, many people are drawn to Khao Sok National Park because of the beautiful, serene lakes, waterfalls, cliffs and other physical features. This park holds the oldest evergreen rainforest in the world, making it older than the Amazon, and hundreds of diverse species of flora and fauna. Many of the individuals traveling here are ecotourists and take advantage of the trails and other tour opportunities to have a sustainable and intimate experience of a lifetime. The official website for the park suggests many different tour packages and encourages park visitors to utilize this resource while they can so that they can get the most out of their experience.

Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve The Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, located in the State of Querétaro, Mexico, was developed in 1997. Sierra Gorda covers approximately 3,782 square kilometers (1,460 square miles). The Biosphere Reserve is 350 kilometers north of Mexico City. The Reserve borders the States of San Luis Potosi, Hidalgo, and Guanajuato. Sierra Gorda is considered one of Mexico’s most ecologically diverse protected areas. Sierra Gorda, or “fat mountains”, is named after its vast mountains ranging from around 1,000 to 10,000 feet in elevation. Sierra Gorda lies in the Sierra Madre Oriental Range of Mexico.This mountainous region features steep and rugged peaks and ridges. Biosphere reserves are ecologically essential areas at risk due to human development that serve as learning sites for sustainability. The World Network of Biosphere Reserves designates these Biosphere Reserves. They work with state and local officials to promote conservation and conflict resolution within these areas.

Sierra Gorda lies within the Pánuco Watershed, where the rainfall from the Reserves high tropical forests flows into the Pánuco River. The Mountains of Sierra Gorda act as a barrier for weather moving from the Gulf of Mexico and receive much of the precipitation moving West. The rainfall in these mountains replenishes important groundwater sources and feeds the many rivers in this region. These rivers merge to form the Pánuco River, which then flows into the Gulf of Mexico. Sierra Gorda contains other interesting geographic features like massive sinkholes, deep canyons, caves, and waterfalls caused by limestone erosion. Sotano Del Barro, a 455m deep sinkhole, is home to the last colony of military macaws. The biodiverse and lush Reserve has 14 vegetation types, although primarily tropical sclerophyllous forest. Tropical sclerophyllous forests are hearty, drought-resistant forests that have adapted to the seasonal rainfall and warm climate in this region. Other vegetation types found throughout the Reserve are desert, cloud rainforest, grasslands, and tropical rainforests. The Reserve features a variety of oak, pine, juniper, and fir forests as well. The Reserve supports an incredible number of animals and insects. Some of the species found in the Reserve, like the bearded wood-partridge, redcrowned parrot, and great curassows, are threatened or endangered. Other important species like cougars, black bears, jaguars, and ocelots also reside within the Reserve. There are five Franciscan Missions still standing today in Sierra Gorda that serve as reminders of Spain’s colonization of Mexico. UNESCO designated these missions as World Heritage Sites in 2003. These missions represent interesting and unique cultural interactions between the Indigenous people and Franciscan Priests and feature Christian and Native artwork. After the Spanish arrival, much of the rugged terrain in the heart of Sierra Gorda remained unconquered.

The Indigenous groups of Sierra Gorda pre-hispanic influence were the Otomíes, Pames, Mazahua, Huasteca, Jonaz, Guachichils, and Ximpeces. The Chichimeca Jonaz and Pames exist in the present-day as cultural groups with living languages. The Reserve serves a critical role in supporting large amounts of biodiversity and providing an island of habitat within Mexico. All six of the big cat species found in Mexico are present in Sierra Gorda. Sierra Gorda has an incredible number of endemic species like the Querétaro pocket gopher and the Querétaro peyote cactus. Illegal harvesting and poaching harm these important populations. Mining, poaching, overgrazing, and illegal logging threaten the lush and vibrant ecosystems of Sierra Gorda. These practices can impact water quality, reduce habitat, endanger critical species, and erode soils. The high levels of biodiversity in this region are essential to ecosystem function. Rainforests and other ecosystems provide vital services like carbon sequestration and air and water filtration. The services provided by the ecosystems within Sierra Gorda have a more significant impact beyond the Reserve. Climate Change has impacted Sierra Gorda with changes to seasonal weather patterns and increasing annual temperatures. These changes could reduce the amount of desirable habitat for Sierra Gorda’s flora and Fauna.

Sumidero Canyon National Park, un lugar inolvidable (an unforgettable place). Located in the beautiful state of Chiapas, México, the park was Detail established in 1980 and has since become the second most visited tourist site in Chiapas. The total area of the park encompasses 217.89 km2 with elevations ranging from 420 m to 1,200 m. The flora and fauna are representative of the park’s Tropical Rainforest Biome and subsequent Zone Aw (tropical with winter dry season) Köppen Climate Classification. A wide variety of protected, threatened, and endangered species can be found in and around the canyon ranging from River Crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) to Mexican Spider Monkeys (Atteles geoffroyi vellerosus). The heart of the park is the breathtaking Sumidero Canyon and the Grijalva River that runs from south to north through it. The park’s border in the south is marked by the Belisario Domínguez Bridge, and in the north by the massive Chicoasén Dam. Constructed between 1974 and 1980, the dam began operations in 1981. At 261m, it boasts the titles of both the tallest dam in North America and the fifth tallest in the world. It is also one of México’s most important sources of electric power, producing just over 30% of all hydroelectric energy in México. The people who benefit from the energy produced in the park also benefit greatly from visiting and immersing themselves in the indescribable beauty of it. On average, the park is visited by 300,000 people annually, about 80% of which are Mexicans and 20% foreigners. This makes ecotourism the most important economic activity in the park. In addition to the sale of food, handicrafts, and folk art, tour operators take visitors on boat rides through the canyon. A trip down the mighty Grijalva 21

River takes visitors past towering canyon walls covered in lush green foliage, mesmerizing waterfalls, and mysterious caves. Boat rides often take visitors 30 kilometers up the river to the northern border of the park, where they can view the magnitude of the Chicoasén Dam. Many visitors also enjoy taking in the immensity of the canyon from above. Several miradores (viewpoints) can be found lining various parts of the canyon rim. These viewpoints afford visitors not only a view into the hypnotizing vastness of the canyon, but also a glimpse into the cultural history of the area. The Los Chiapas mirador is near where the canyon’s walls rise the highest from the Grijalva River below. According to legend, a number of Chiapas people chose to commit suicide by jumping from this point rather than submitting to Spanish conquest. The Chiapa people, known as Chiapanecas, who long populated the region before Spanish conquest, were such a fierce and powerful people that they resisted pre-Hispanic, Aztec domination. They vehemently defended their land when the Spanish arrived in 1528, with many of them hiding away in caves throughout the canyon until their last leader was captured in 1535. The Spanish conquerors tied the leader to a tree in the main square of Chiapa de Corzo, the entry point of the canyon, and

burned him to death. The legendary “burning tree” still stands in the square today, a monument to these ancient and fiercely independent people. Since then, the areas surrounding the canyon have become highly developed, leading to some serious conservation concerns. The most grave one being the contamination of the Grijalva River. The wastewater of about 552,000 people from the state’s largest city, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, is carried into the Grijalva via the Sabinal River. It is estimated that about 5,000 tons of trash accumulate in the river each year, making it one of the five most polluted rivers in México. In an attempt to address the pollution problem, there are year-round and seasonal efforts to clean the river. Much of this effort is undertaken by CONANP (Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas), the governmental agency that manages the park. However, conservation challenges often come with conservation success as well. In 2004 the park was designated a Ramsar Site, meaning that the area is a wetland site of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. In addition to this designation, the park received additional protection when it was named a Priority Terrestrial Region and an Important Area for Bird Conservation by CONABIO (Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad) in 2000. With rich history and biodiversity, Sumidero Canyon National Park in Chiapas, México, truly is un lugar inolvidable.

Tarutao National Marine Park was established in 1974 (ASEAN Heritage Park and Reserve 1982). It is located in Thailand, Satun Province and is 1,490 km2/ 575 mi2. The highest elevation is at 708 meters/2,322 feet high although much of the park is at sea level. Its Köppen Climate Classification is Equatorial monsoonal which leads to its many monsoon forests, moist evergreen forests (dominant), dry evergreen forests, mixed deciduous forests, mangrove forests, beach forest and old agricultural land, including coconut plantations. Some of the flora and fauna you will see includes deer mouse, crab-eating macaque, boar, civet king cobra, nest swiftlets (nest gathering is now prohibited), coral reefs, dolphins, sperm whale and mink whale. Reef egret, white- bellied sea eagles, ospreys and hornbills are some of the many birds. Three species of migratory sea turtles are common here. There was a group of nomadic ‘sea gypsies’ (Chao Lay) who made their home on the islands first, travelling from beach to beach. In the late 1930’s the islands were used to house political prisoners. Eventually the number of prisoner’s was over 3,000. When the Second World War broke out supplies from the mainland were cut off. The guards and prisoners joined together to raid passing ships to survive, sinking the ships and murdering all aboard. Nearly a third of the convicts died of cruelty

Park

from the guards, starvation and malaria. The prison was shut down shortly after the war. After the war, the islands were used by farmers and fisherman, with almost 1,000 people living at Hak Bay in the early 1970’s. Boonruang Saison was a famous Thai conservationaist and the first director of the park when it was established in 1974. Now many of the islands are known for their diving and snorkeling. Koh Lipe was in National Geographics 20 Best Places to Visit in the World (2012), but it has been hurt by limited regulation of resort building and beach usage. In 2018 the Department of Natural Park, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation banned plastic and styrofoam containers in the park. The park is currently a protected area and a national marine park, as well as an ASEAN Heritage Park and Reserve. It was a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990 but due to concerns over protection of its natural resources (including the now extinct saltwater crocodile) it was vetoed. Currently the park is managed within the Thai Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. The head of the park is Mr. Kan-

chanaphan Khamhaeng. Koh Lipe is the main location where long tails and other boats can be arranged to travel to destinations in the park. The seven largest islands are Koh Tarutao, Koh Adang, Koh Rawee, Koh Lipe, Koh Klang, Koh Batuang and Koh Bissi. Koh Tarutao is the largest and has the highest peak at 708 meters. The island is mostly cliffs interspersed with bays and beaches and plains in lower elevations. Canals and streams throughout the island wind their way to the bays. Park headquarters are located on this island as well as the main entry point on the northwest side of the island in Ao Pante Malacca Bay. Koh Adang has high, mountainous terrain with steep cliffs. Most of the other islands follow a similar make-up, mountainous with steep cliffs and beaches. Koh Kai is a very small island but is known for its beautiful beach and arch formation. Although the park has seen degradation due to over-usage from tourism and little to no regulation of the development of the islands, it still provides needed habitat for many species. The endangered Irrawady dolphin lives here. Three species of migratory sea turtles lay their eggs on the beaches of the park and the islands are an important nesting area. The reefs in the park are an important habitat for a quarter of the world’s species of tropical fish.

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Park Headquarters at Ao Pante Malacca Bay

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Crocodile Cave Ko Tarutao Campsite Mo Lae Campsite

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Ko Tarutao Historical Prison

Ko Kai

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Ko Adang Ko Kai Beach

Sai Kao Beach

Ko Ra Ba

Ko Batong Monkey Beach Ko Palai

Ko Hin Ngam

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Pirate Waterfall

Rattana Waterfall

Ko Panan

Ko Lipe Patai Galah Beach

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Mountain Tops Tropical Forest Coastline Water

Local road

Boat Route

Park Headquarters

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Generalized land cover within Marine Park

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Heather Leach, 2020

Pulau Weh and Pulau Sabang Marine Nature Recreation Parks are located on the remote island of Pulau Weh off the northern tip Marine Nature of Sumatra, IndoRecreation Parks nesia. The protected areas were established in 1982 and cover 80 km² along the northeast and northwest coast of Pulau Weh, with over half of the protected areas in the ocean. A volcanic island, Pulau Weh has a mountainous topography with its highest point 635 meters above sea level. Like most of Indonesia, the parks are classified as an Equatorial Climate (Af) with a Humid Tropical biome. The most northern point in Indonesia, sitting directly west of Thailand and Malaysia, Weh Island is uniquely positioned on the border of three large bodies of water: the Indian Ocean, the Andaman Sea, and the Malacca Strait. The strong tidal currents of these three oceans provide the waters surrounding the island with rich nutrient upswells causing an abundance of marine life. The parks aim to protect the island’s land and marine biodiversity including the endangered Pulau Weh toad, whale sharks, dolphins, reef sharks, manta rays, and nesting sea turtles. The parks are managed by the provincial planning, the district fisheries, and district conservation agencies. These agencies work with the local community to increase understanding of the marine resources, provide training and support for stakeholders, and facilitate the flow of information between locals, managers, and the academic community. The 2004 tsunami off the coast of Sumatra had a devastating impact on Pulau Weh. The loss of life in the tsunami on the island is unknown. Because of Pulau Weh’s deep waters, much of the coral infrastructure survived the tsunami, though man25

grove forests on the island were destroyed and the tsunami caused an increase of sediment and debris in the water. In the wake of the tsunami the Sabang District Development and Planning Agency formed a roadmap to continue the legacy of managing marine ecosystems. Historically, Weh Island had an economy based on fishing. Unfortunately, the island’s coral reefs have been subject to destructive fishing practices, such as the use of dynamite and cyanide, as well as outbreaks of the voracious crown-of-thorns starfish. Unsustainable fishing practices have greatly impacted the fish populations and contributed to the designation of the Marine Nature Recreation Parks. Today, a large percentage of Pulau Weh is dominated by agriculture, with cloves and coconuts being produced. With the designation of the Marine Nature Recreation Parks, Pulau Weh’s economy became more land based than marine based, but scuba diving remains a big draw on the island. Many of the dive sites are located within the boundaries of Pulau Weh Marine Nature Recreation Park, which local dive operations visit frequently. To the east of the northern tip of Weh Island is an underwater plateau etched with volcanic rock formations. Batee Tokong, a towering pinnacle that emerges out of the water, is the most pronounced of these formations. A trip to any one of the dive sites on the plateau guarantees sightings of large schools

of fish, black-tipped reef sharks, octopi, and cuttlefish. For the more daring, The Canyon, located in the exposed waters off the northwestern tip of Weh Island offers a spectacular deep drift dive. While the exceptional scuba diving has caused a gradual increase in tourism, the island is still relatively obscure. With the nearest international airport located in Banda Aceh on mainland Sumatra, and an infrequent two-hour ferry ride from there, Pulau Weh’s remoteness may contribute to this. There are only a handful of dive shops located on the island, most in the Gapang Beach area, and foreign tourists tend to congregate there. The island’s remoteness as well as the ban on alcohol might be reasons that tourism on Pulau Weh has not developed like it has on many dive islands in the Gulf of Thailand. Although not a popular international tourist destination, many Indonesians come to Pulau Weh for family holidays and to visit Kilometer Zero, the landmark of the most northern point in Indonesia. The relationship between the parks’ success in conservation and the tourist industry is not clear. Though tourism can inject resources into the local economy, it comes at an environmental cost. The Pulau Weh and Pulau Sabang Marine Nature Recreation Parks play an important role in the conservation of land and sea on this biologically diverse and remote treasure.

The Farasan Island Protected Area is an archipelago of over 170 islands that were created from uplifted fossil coral reefs. Situated 30 miles off the shore of Jizan, Saudi Arabia, the islands have become a mecca for wildlife, both aquatic and terrestrial, in the Red Sea. The Farasan Islands are a protected UNESCO site located on the Arabian continental shelf where the climate is arid and sub-tropical. The islands have an average of high temperatures and low rainfall, where the majority of the rain falls during October, January and May due to Indian Ocean monsoons. The Farasan Islands are referred to as “the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of the biological diversity of the Red Sea region” (UNESCO). The landscape of the islands is represented by low sea levels, varying between 0 and 70m, that rise into inland cliffs. The desert resemblance of the islands is juxtaposed by miles of the engulfing Red Sea. With the islands being made from uplifted ancient coral beds, a wide variety of coral reefs encompass the surrounding marine habitat and attract a myriad of species of fish and aquatic wildlife. The landscape of the islands, while mostly flat, has multiple inlets that provide space for vegetation to grow, creating tropical mangroves.

The Saudi government allows the Jizan Port to send two free ferry rides to the main island of Farasan al-Kabir a day, which connects the local population of 12,000 to the mainland. As a relatively isolated site, it has only more recently become a more popular tourist destination; however, the islands have been an important fixture in the landscape with ties much older than summer vacations.

stands today. The latest inhabitants of the Farasan Islands are the Arabs who make up the local population of 12,000.

With a history that dates back to the first millennium BCE, the islands were sought after for their Northern access to the Strait of Bab Al-Mandel to the maritime connection between the ancient kingdoms of Africa and Arabia. For this reason, the earliest known occupants of the islands were the Sabean people whose remains of their constructions and inscriptions can still be found on the Eastern most side of the main island. During the 2nd century BCE the Romans set out to secure a maritime route to India. They sent a permanent military detachment to the main island, who then also left a trace of their presence with Latin inscriptions able to be seen all over the island. In addition to the Sabean and the Romans, the Aksumites, the Arabs and the Ottomans have left evidence of their occupations of the islands. In recent history, the strategic location of the Farasan Islands continued to prove to be of interest. During World War II, the Germans built a fort on one of the islands of the archipelago that still

The protected area has one of the highest combined marine and terrestrial biological diversity of any location within the Red Sea region. With endemic species of both wildlife and vegetation, high marine diversity and a large number of species of conservation significance, as well as their protection status and management effectiveness, including more than 230 fish species, 50 species of coral, and a significant number of sea birds and mammals, the Farasan Islands are one of the most important protected areas in the world. The area is also listed as an Important Bird Area with a significant number of globally threatened species and species that are threatened or have declining populations in the Middle East. The protected area was first given “high level legal protection and was established in 1989 by the Board of Governors of the Saudi Wildlife Authority” after a national mandate advocated for the establishment, management and protection for areas of significance within Saudi Arabia (UNESCO). In 1996 the islands were officially listed as a protected area by the Saudi Wildlife Authority; and, in 2019 the area was added to UNESCO’s tentative list of protected areas by the Permanent Delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Annapurna Conserva- tion Area: Nepal has long been a land known to West- ern outsiders as the “roof of the world”, housing the Earth’s tallest peaks. Alongside the mountains and Detail the alpine zones that dominate the landscape, there also exist lush, deep valleys and diverse forested regions. While this striking landscape has long beckoned to travelers and trekkers alike, it also serves as the homeland for numerous groups of Indi- genous people, each living in and working with the natural resources that so many tourists see only for their scenic value. Balancing the multiple uses of these natural resources has increasingly fallen under designations of protected areas within the region of Nepal. Originally introduced as a small “test-pilot” conservation project (covering 200 square meters) in 1986 by the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation, the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) now encompasses over 7600 square meters of landscape. Officially designated as a conservation area in 1992, the mission behind the original test project remains in place: protect the region’s biodiversity and special landscapes through implementation of sustainable economic and social development for the local people. Specifically, the ACA has focused on promoting and developing low-impact tourism that seeks to preserve the natural resources for traditional uses by the Indigenous cultures. The Annapurna Himalaya mountain range is the primary attraction for the thriving tourist 29

industry of Nepal; 50% of all the trekkers that visit the country come to travel within the shadow of the Annapurna massif, which houses the 10th highest peak on Earth in 26,545 foot Annapurna. While this landscape feature may be the highlight of the Annapurna Conservation Area, several other natural wonders exist within the park’s boundaries. The world’s deepest gorge, the Kali Gandaki River Valley, spans 1.5 miles wide and three miles long, and aids in providing the more than 100,000 inhabitants within the Annapurna Conservation Area with a valuable freshwater source. Other features, such as Tilicho Lake (the world’s highest freshwater lake), help to make the Annapurna Conservation Area a true gem of protected lands. The mix of lands within the park’s boundaries includes forested areas in the sub-tropical conditions of the southern region, barren alpine deserts bordering the northern and western arid steppe regions, and grasslands in the north-central regions. This diversity in landscape exhibits the importance of the resource conservation goal maintained by the park’s management. Today the Annapurna Conservation Area is managed by the non-government organization of the National Trust for Nature Conservation. With no regular government funding for the park, conservation management is maintained by national and international donors, as well as visitor entry fees into the

park. Seven unit-conservation offices help to focus park management objectives to specific regions within the park. The Trans-Himalayan offices of the north focus on integrated tourism management of the popular trekking areas, many of which are challenged with large amounts of tourist trash and energy needs that deplete local resources. Conservation offices in the Southern Annapurna region of the park focus on local sustainability issues such as integrated agriculture, agroforestry, and poverty alleviation within the local communities. In addition to sustained local tourism, the Upper Mustang office of the remote northern regions include heritage conservation of the local culture and landscape as primary goals. Overall, the success of the first and largest conservation area of Nepal has been well documented. At-risk species such as the snow leopard, musk deer, and Tibetan wolf have gained valuable protection within park boundaries. All six species of Nepalese pheasants can be found within the ACA, something that is unique to this region only. All told, housing over 500 bird species, 100 mammal species, and 22 different forest types, protection of biodiversity allows the ACA to continue its mission to promote “conservation and prosperity of the Annapurna region, its resources, and its people.”

Quail Mountain, in the Western half of the park, near the West Entrance, is the highest point within the park boundaries, at 5814 ft, or 1773 m, whereas the lowest point within the park lies at 536 ft, or 163 m, and is located at the furthest southeastern extent of the park, where it skirts Highway 177.

Joshua Tree National Park is believed to have gotten its name from early Mormon settlers who thought the trees’ branches resembled the outstretched arms of Joshua (from the Bible) praying to the heavens. Obviously the National Park owes its namesake to the trees, and was originally established as a National Monument in 1936, with the boundaries expanding in 1950, then again in 1994. There is also the Joshua Tree Wilderness Area within the Park boundaries, which was established in 1976. It was later designated as a National Park in 1994 (when the boundaries most recently expanded), and is located within the southern portion of California, in the Southwestern region of the United States. Joshua Tree National Park, or simply “J-Tree” (as it is known to locals), protects an area that is roughly 792,510 acres, 3207 km2 or 1238 mi2, which encompasses about three-quarters of the designated wilderness, wherein the Mojave and Colorado deserts converge. The greater Mojave Desert mostly lies above 3,000 feet in elevation, making it a “high desert” that receives occasional snowfall. The Colorado desert, on the other hand, mostly lies beneath 3,000 feet in elevation and is the western portion of the greater Sonora Desert (extending into Arizona and northern Mexico). 31

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, J-Tree is in a zone that is classified as BSk, where B = arid, S = steppe and k = cold arid. It is somewhat difficult to ascertain the true classification, given the diversity of sub-climates in the region that converge around the park area. The park is in what is generally recognized as a Desert Biome but is unique in that it contains three distinct ecosystems (Mojave Desert, Colorado Desert and Little San Bernardino Mountains along the southwestern boundary). Joshua Trees, or Yucca brevifolia, are the largest of the Yucca family and grow only in the Mojave Desert, owing to the name of the area just beyond the park’s northwestern boundary: Yucca Valley. The park has such a rich biodiversity that the name proposed for this area in 1930 was “Desert Plants National Park”, given the nearly 750 species of vascular plants found there.

Furthermore, the western half of the park is currently under evaluation for being designated a “protected area under the endangered species act”, given the Western Joshua Tree’s progress in being

classified as an endangered species (Olalde). This will have a tremendous impact on the park, being especially positive for the natural inhabitants, and rather negative for the human visitors.

Human traffic has dramatically increased since its designation as a National Park, and access was made easier by the construction of wide, paved roads, allowing tour buses carrying tourists from around the world. The increase in human activity has undoubtedly affected the conservation efforts focused on protecting the long-endangered Desert Tortoise. The park is overlapped by multiple areas designated for the protection of the desert tortoise, whose greatest threat is vehicular traffic. Joshua Tree National Park not only acts as protector to much of the surviving specimen of Yucca brevifolia, as well as other more broadly dispersed flora, but also includes with it the incredible geologic features such as the proliferated rock-piles. Just a stones-throw away from the park’s southwestern border is the Coachella Valley, which rests at sea-level, and is split lengthwise by the San Andreas Fault, making J-Tree an elevated first step up to the North American plate. The entire nature of the park is that of convergence: converging plates, converging deserts, converging elevation extremes, converging biota and converging climates.

Joshua Tree National Park

Bom Jesus Biological Reserve is located in the southern tip of Brazil, in the state of Paraná. The reserve was created on June 5th, 2012 by presidential decree from, then president, Dilma Rousseff. The area has a national designation from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) of a management category Ia - Strict Nature Reserve. According to the IUCN, a strict nature reserve is the highest category of protected area and is meant to protect large areas of unspoiled Wilderness. Following these guidelines, the main purpose for giving Bom Jesus a strict nature reserve status was to add to the preservation of the Atlantic Forests, protect the local river systems, and relieve some of the stresses on the protected species that reside within the park. The land within the reserve is owned and operated by the government of Brazil. It is managed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation, an arm of the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment. Relative to other biological reserves in Brazil, Bom Jesus is modest in size, covering 34,180 hectares (342 km2). The reserve is located just north of the town of Paranaguá, across the Paranaguá Bay. Nearly all of the reserve is composed of forested land. According to the Köppen Climate Classification System, the area resides within a “Humid Subtropical” climate, which includes high levels of annual rainfall. Bom Jesus Biological Reserve is located in the greater ecosystem known as the Atlantic Forest, which extends along the Atlantic coast in South America and stretches inland toward the Amazon. The majority of the reserve is within the Serra do Mar coastal forest ecoregion, which is defined by the Serra do Mar mountain range. However, the southern portion of the reserve, along the Paranaguá Bay, is located within the Southern Atlantic mangrove 33

ecoregion. As a result of this variety in ecoregions, there is a wide range of elevations within the reserve, with the lowest point standing at 23 ft (7m) above sea level along the coastal plains and the highest point reaching to 2,398 ft (731 m) within the mid-elevation tropical rainforests. The ecoregions within Bom Jesus Biological Reserve are known for their rich biodiversity of both flora and fauna. Many of the species found within the park are endemic to either the Atlantic Forest or Southern Atlantic Mangrove biomes, meaning they are not found anywhere else in the world. As a result, the reserve is home to a number of species on the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species. While there are many protected species found within the reserve, a few notable species include several species of wild cats (Puma concolor, Leopardus wiedii, and Leopardus pardalis), the brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba), and a species of palm tree (Euterpe edulis). Another key species to consider in relation to the reserve is humans (Homo sapiens). The area was originally inhabited by the Guarani tribe, an In-

digenous people native to South America. There are still several small village of Guarani people located just outside the reserve. Bom Jesus Biological Reserve does not currently have any infrastructure supporting the management of the land, interpretive education programs, or recreational opportunities for the public. Despite the lack of human presence and infrastruc-

ture within the reserve, it is not immune to negative impacts from humans. There are several urban area located nearby, including the city of Curitiba. Highway PR-405 runs through the middle of Bom Jesus Biological Reserve, bisecting the land from east to west, making certain areas of the park more accessible, and therefore more susceptible human-imposed threats. Deforestation and poaching are a couple of the major widespread threats within this region. The addition of Bom Jesus Biological Reserve to areas with a protected status is part of a much larger movement in Brazil to protect its forests. The reserve is included in the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve conservation unit, which aims to protect much of the Atlantic Forest biome. It is also a part of the Lagamar Mosaic of conservation units, which aims to protect the Mangroves biomes within Brazil. While the land benefits from the recent establishment of its protected status, acts of deforestation and poaching still threaten the landscape. Habitat loss and poaching can lead to increased pressures on threatened and endangered species. The protection of Bom Jesus Biological Reserve helps promote rich biodiversity throughout the Atlantic Forest, the country of Brazil, the continent of South America, and the entire planet.

Reserve

plantations have been encroaching on the buffer zone. All of this is happening with little pushback from the national government. Hurricane Otto in 2016 and wildfires in 2018 destroyed large swaths of forest. All of this adds to the nations’ wide deforestation, more than 75,000 hectares cleared each year. This reserve is seen as a last hope, both for conservationists and profiteers. Between 2000 and 2018 the region suffered a 37% forest cover loss.

Indio Maiz Biological Reserve The reserve located in the Rio San Juan

The Indio Maiz was originally protected in 1990 as part of a larger reserve, Reserva de Biosfera del Sureste de Nicaragua, and it was reorganized in 1999, in separate smaller regions, including Indio Maiz. In 2002 tribes gained title to 70% of the land. Over the last decade, settlers have been illegally clearing land for cattle and agriculture, creeping in from the western edge, and some 600 families in the core. Also, large commercial palm 35

Most of the park is in the jurisdiction of the Territorial Government of the Rama (indigenous) and Kriol (Afro-Descendent) People. These tribes rely primarily on subsistence agriculture and fishing. The tribes have great interest in preserving the forest and have made great effort to do so. The park is technically administered by the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, and small guard stations can be found at the main entrances to the preserve. However, the recent influx of cattle ranchers and settlers, has seen little resistance from the national agency since 2001.

Department and South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region, Nicaragua. It is approximately 2600 square kilometers. The elevation ranges from sea level to 653 meters. The climate is classified as tropical wet (Af) under the Köppen system. In the mid 1800’s, before the transcontinental railroad was completed, it was common practice for people traveling between New York and San Francisco to take a ship to the east coast of Nicaragua and a boat up the San Juan River to Lake Nicaragua, and then take a short overland carriage to the Pacific. Mark Twain is known to have made this trip.

about 1,000 square miles. The jungle is home to multiple endangered species, notably; Bairds’s Tapir, Geoffroy’s spider monkey, Lowland Rain Frog and the Great Green Macaw.

In recent years, grassroots efforts lead by local tribes, with help from NGO’s has led to the development of a management plan and campaigns to raise awareness, but they have received little support from the capital. Located in the south east portion of Nicaragua in the department (state) of Rio San Juan and the South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region. Bordered on the southern edge by Costa Rica and to the east by the Caribbean Sea. The preserve surrounds both the Indio and Maiz Rivers from their headwaters in the northwest to their termination at the sea. The northwest portion has mountains, and it transitions to lowlands adjacent to the coast. The southern border of the reserve roughly follows the San Juan River with a buffer zone between them. The total area of the park is

Wapusk National Park was founded in the year of 1996. It is located along the South-Western portion of the Hudson bay in Manitoba, Canada.

Park Location

The park derives its name from the Cree word for “white bear”. Although not very well known or visited, the park is still very important from an ecological and historical perspective. Wapusk spans 11,475 square kilometers (4,430 square miles) and is located in an area with low elevation. The lowest point in the park is 0 meters (0 feet) and the highest point is 291 meters (954 feet.) Given the nature of the location, Wapusk is classified as a cold-subtropical highland climate, as it is located right next to a very large body of water. The biome is primarily taiga, tundra, and boreal forest. The park is labeled White Bear because of the thousand Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) that breed and spend the majority of the year within the area, this park is very important to the longevity of the species. The park is also well known for the Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus), Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnea), and Great Horned Owl (Strix nebulosa).The most abundant plant in Wapusk is the Alpine Azalea (Kal37

mia procumbens) which takes up about 27% of the total ground area. Historically, The name of the park is Cree, translating to “White Bear” which historically dates back to the Polar Bear population that has bred for years and resides within the park. There is a ten-member park management board through the Government of Canada, Province of Manitoba, Town of Churchill, York Factory First Nation and Fox Lake Cree Nation. Everyone on the board is appointed by the local governments and communities.

The physical landscape of Wapusk is located on a low-lying plain on the western edge of the Hudson Bay. There is a Permafrost underneath the land area of the park. A large majority of the area being lakes, rivers, streams, and bogs. A good half of the park is along the Hudson Bay. The majority of the lakes are located in the Northern point of the region. The park has been long inhabited by Chpewyan and Cree (dating back to nearly 3,000 years ago). In the 1950’s through the 1960’s part of the now protected land and area surrounding the park was used as the Churchill Rocket Research Range. The park was also a point for fur trade and travel, including both the animal for fur and a pincicle trading center. Why is this small piece of protected land so important to the World? For one it acts as a sanctuary for more than 1,000 Polar Bear, whose numbers are quickly diminishing globally due to the threat of climate change. The park also holds important indigenous and trading history for not just Canada, but the World as well.

Some of the challenges that the park faces include Climate Change issues have also created more recent problems where there is an overabundance of the Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens) population. Climate Change also poses a much more general and overall issue in the arctic areas in regards to population of all flora and fauna. The Northern regions are expected to experience large environmental change.

Hohe Tauern National Park began as an idea for both August Prinzinger, a member of the Salzburg Provincial Parliament, and the Hohe Tauern Carinthian forest industrialist Albert Wirth who dreamt of preserving the land between Grossglockner and Grossvenediger for future generations. Prinzinger motivated the association for national parks, ‘Verein Naturschutzpark’ to purchase over a thousand hectares of land in the Amer and Stubach Valleys in 1913, and Wirth donated around 4,072 hectares of land in the Grossglockner region in 1918 to the Austrian Alpine Club, laying the groundwork for what would later become the largest national park in the Alps. This temperate coniferous forest is classified as Dfb by the Köppen-Geiger system with all months averaging temperature below 22° C. Hohe Tauern is a Category II national park in the Austrian Alps, nestled in the provinces of Carinthia, Salzburg and Tyrol and covers an area of 1,856 sq. km (716.61 sq. miles). The core zone, which is 1,213 sq. km, is under strict protections and

is not for profit use, while the remaining outer zone of the park allows alpine farming while still following measures to help preserve the natural landscape. The park is accessible all year free of charge. There are over 4,300 km of trails to explore Hohe Tauern with tours available from their many park rangers. Each province has its own park center, as well as a cross-province secretariat for the National Park Council in Tryol. Hohe Tauern National Park established a council of experts in 2011 to oversee research in the park and to ensure relevance outside of the park. This council is made up of a variety of representatives coming from different scientific backgrounds. On the park website there is access to several online portals with data from research done at the park, to be used in outside research and projects. Hohe Tauern features an extraordinary physical landscape with its giant mountain massifs shaped by both endogenous an exogenous processes over millions of years. Its highest peak is Grossglockner Peak (pictured bottom left) at 3,798 meters (12,460 feet). The

park is well known for The Tauern Window, conisting of rock formations buried deep in the lowest layers of the Alps, which are visible in the extraordinary mountains of Hohe Tauern. This window allows us to view Earth’s history including four massive gneiss cores created by liquid magma which formed famous peaks like the Grossvenediger and Hoher Sonnblick. The exceptional geography in the park is appreciated by more than just it’s visitors. Hohe Tauern National Park is home to ibex (pictured upper middle) and others. The fauna in the park is adapted to the steep mountainous terrain and cold seasons that often reach below minus 25° C. Decorating valleys and mountaintops, an estimated 3,500 specialists have been found in Hohe Tauern, including approximately 1,300 ferns and flowering plants. Due to the extreme soil and climatic conditions, most of these plants are protected and highly adapted to their unique environments. Their sensitivity makes them rare but comes with challenges. Only select native species were able to survive the ice ages on dryer patches of land, otherwise many of the plant species are diverse, naturalized immigrants to the park.

‘Uruq Bani Ma’arid

is a protected wildlife sanctuary within the Rub’ al Khali desert of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The area is often described as a “sand sea”, and is commonly referred to as the empty quarter. However, while it is a region filled with sand and occupied by heat, it holds an abundance of life as well. The ‘Uruq Bani Ma’arid sanctuary is environmentally crucial to the area, for it serves as a refuge for many species in an otherwise desolate and empty land. The wildlife sanctuary was founded in 1993, and consists of three sections; a core nature reserve, a grazing zone, and a hunting zone. The total area of the park is 12,787 square kilometers. The park is fairly round on the eastern border, but follows the path of Road 177 on the western border. The nearest large city, Najran, is nearly 300 kilometers away. A buffer zone on the borders is currently being considered by the reserve’s authority. 41

The park was initially created to protect its wild inhabitants from being over hunted, and to safeguard the biodiversity of the Rub’ al Khali as a whole. The reserve was chosen as the region to reintroduce four species: the Arabian Oryx, the Arabian Sand Gazelle, the Mountain Gazelle, and the Ostrich. The programs that were created to reintroduce native populations have been rather successful for the ‘Uruq Bani Ma’arid protected wildlife sanctuary. In addition to the larger predators present, the park plays host to a variety of smaller animals too. Within the reserve the Sand Cat, Red Fox, Cape Hare, Desert Hedgehog, Cheeseman’s Gerbil, and 104 species of birds can be found. A majority of plants that can be found within the region are shrubs and grasses. There are three hallmark species that can be found within the sanctuary: Commiphora Myrrha, Haloxylon Persicum, and Moring Peregrina. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded on the 23rd of September, 1943. It is a relatively young country, but has a very old history, and it is awe-inspiring that such a young country has already taken an interest in protecting its resources.The Kingdom has declared the region its first model reserve, and clains that it falls in line with the highest of international standards.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosts the world’s third largest population of Bedouins, an Arabic word that is best translated to “desert dweller”; Sudan and Algeria surpass the Kingdom respectively. There are over 2,000,000 Bedouins that roam the deserts of the Kingdom. Bedouins are classified as a nomadic people, and are organized in tribes. Historically, Bedouins utilized the resources found within the ‘Uruq Bani Ma’arid sanctuary as a means for survival. The tents scattered along the map indicate historic settlements that various tribes would traverse to.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and World Heritage Area is a natural reef system located off the western coast of Queensland, Australia. It is the largest coral reef system in the world with over 3,000 individual reefs, with over 450 species of coral, 1,600 species of fish, 30 species of whales and dolphins, and 3,000 species of mollusks. The reef covers almost 350,000 square kilometers (about half the size of Texas) and is sightly longer than the eastern coast of the United States. The reefs in the park were formed by naturally growing corals, many of which create their own calcified exteriors. These hard formations stack on top of each other as they live and die. The reef is estimated to be about 25 million years old, starting near the beginning of the Miocene epoch. It has survived multiple warming and cooling phases, including the last ice age. However, the current mass extinction caused by global climate change has caused a mass bleaching and die-off of the reefs, and it is unlikely they will recover. The exact causes of these bleaching events are still relatively unknown, however warmer sea levels, more acidic seawater, pollution runoff from the Australian mainland, and the crown of thorns starfish contribute heavily. Crown of thorns (Acanthaster planci) feed on the coral polyps, 43

which are already threatened by changes in the water. These starfish are native to the Great Barrier Reef, but are multiplying rapidly as water warms. Like other starfish, they are able to regenerate from being broken apart, which can happen when they are hit by motorized vessels. They have very few natural predators due to the large, poisonous spines protecting them.

A crown of thorns starfish

Another well-known genus that are native to the Great Barrier Reef are clownfish. These fish have a symbiotic relationship with sea anenomes. The fish will feed on the undigested food of the anemone, and the anemone provides the clownfish shelter and protection with its stinging tentacles. Clownfish typically have bright colors, especially black, white, and yellow, red, and orange. Because of their bright color, personalities, and ease of care, clownfish and sea anenomes are popular in reef aquariums. In part due to this niche popularity, clownfish were featured in the popular Pixar movie Finding Nemo, which featured a pair of ocellaris clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) in the Great Barrier Reef.

An ocellaris clownfish in an anemone

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was established in 1975 by the government of Australia. In 1981, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared the park a World Heritage Area due to its “outstanding universal value.” It is currently administered by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), which outlines the various uses allowed within the park, including shipping lanes, fishing areas, cruise ship channels, and tourism permits. Tourism in the reef is a multi-billion dollar industry, with over two million people visiting a year. The majority of visitors are Australian residents during the winter season. Tourism is mostly centered in Cairns and the Whitsunday Islands, where many resorts exist, though tour boats can be hired in most towns along the Queensland coast. Popular activities in the park include fishing, sightseeing through glass-bottomed boats, scuba diving, helicopter rides, and sailing. The water quality along the eastern edge of the reef is more popular for

diving because of better water quality. Human impact from the tourism industry causes greater stress in the reef, which often become bleaching events if conditions become severe. This is mostly caused by motorized boating activities, pollution, and higher populations of seabirds in the area. Several major shipping lanes exist throughout the park with several of Australia’s largest ports existing on the coast along the park. There have been over 1,500 shipwrecks in the reef. In 2010 a large shipwreck spilled 4 tonnes of oil into the reef east of Gladstone and caused considerable damage to the ecosystem. Fishing also continues to be a major industry through tourism and commercial means. Many species are prohibited from being taken in the park, but only one-third of the park is completely protected from fishing. The GBRMPA also has a policy of culling sharks in the reef using nets and baited lines. With so much of the world’s biodiversity in one region, it is paramount that the Great Barrier Reef be protected from man-made catastrophe.

A coral reef with clownfish

R EFERENCE S

References:

Forward: Looking

nature.org/en-us

Author: Kevin McManigal

protectedplanet.net/en/thematic-areas/ wdpa www.naturalearthdata.com

References:

worldtoptop.com/the-jewels-of- afghanistan-band-e-amir-lakes Park: Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya Cartographer: Blake A. Bently Projection: Africa Albers Equal Area Conic

census.gov/popclock

Park: Band-e-Amir, Afghanistan

References:

Cartographer: Emma Aschbacher

cdn29.us1.fansshare.com/images/ themasaimara/maasai-mara- map-801839689.jpg

Bar-On et al. 2018, “The Biomass Distribution on Earth.” PNAS 115.

panthera.org worldwildlife.org iucn.org

Projection: Herat North References: climatelinks.org

cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the- world-factbook/geos/ke.html

cnn.com/travel/article/band-e-amir- data.humdata.org/dataset/hotosm_tza_roads afghanistan-national-park/index.html diva-gis.org/gdata curiousatlas.com/band-e-amir- fao.org/geonetwork/srv/en/main.home afghanistans-national-park geoportal.rcmrd.org diva-gis.org/gdata maasaimarakenyapark.com dwtkns.com/srtm30m protectedplanet.net/en maratriangle.org/images/uploads/maps- mara-triangl.pdf goodreads.com/author/quotes/31624. earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/38311/ band-e-amir-national-park-afghanistan Edward_O_Wilson protectedplanet.net/1297 flaticon.com worldwildlife.org/magazine/issues/ saruni.com/masai-mara winter-2018/articles/the-status-of-african- hub.arcgis.com elephants saruni.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/ mapcruzin.com/free-afghanistan-lakes- mara-6.pdf scientificamerican.com/article/wetlands- arcgis-maps-shapefiles.htm update sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/data/sets/browse protectedplanet.net/1122 globalforestwatch.org theguardian.com/travel/2013/aug/23/masai- rferl.org/a/afghanistan-bamiyan-statues- mara-tourism-politics destroyed/26896782.html traveltriangle.com/blog/masai-mara- Map: Safeguarding Our Planet thenounproject.com national-park Cartographers: Sophie Frank, Zach Goodwin, whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1946/ wri.org/resources/data-sets/kenya-gis- Miles Scheuering, Clint Whittle data#biodiversity worldtoptop.com/the-jewels-of- Projection: Equal Earth Greenwich afghanistan-band-e-amir-lakes

Rhind, D. “Business, Governments and Technology: Inter-Linked Causal Factors of Change in Cartography.” Proceedings of the 19th International Cartographic Association Conference, (August 1999): 33.

Park: Chitral Gol National, Pakistan

/chile/pumalinpark.html

Cartographer: E.L. Cahoon

protectedplanet.net

Projection: European Lambert Conformal Conic

rutadelosparques.org/parque-nacional- pumalin-douglas-tompkins

References:

national-park.com/welcome-to-everglades- national-park

washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/ florida-states-unusual-bond-with- seminole-tribe-puts-mascot-debate-in-a- different-light

shadedrelief.com/blue-earth bioone.org/journals/mountain-re search-and-development/volume-30/ theguardian.com/travel/2019/sep/26/ issue-1/MRD-JOURNAL-D-09-00024.1/ patagonia-chile-routes-parks-national- Park: Khao Sok National Park, Thailand Protected-Areas-A-Resource-or-Constraint- tompkins Cartographer: Katrina M. Himmelreich for-Local-People/10.1659/MRD-JOUR tompkinsconservation.com/who_we_are. NAL-D-09-00024.1.full Projection: MONREF 1997 UTM Zone 47N htm cnn.com/2019/02/13/asia/pakistan-mark hor-goat-trophy-hunter-scli-intl/index.html References: Park: Khustain Nuruu National Park, Mongolia omniglot.com/writing/khowar.htm diva-gis.org/gdata Cartographer: Frank Frontado protectedplanet.net/en iucn.org Projection: Equal Earth Asia Pacific researchgate.net/publication/235009732_ khaosok.com Prediction_of_Kashmir_markhor_habi References: tat_suitability_in_ChitralGol_Na link.springer.com/ tional_Park_Paki stan#pf5 chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-33900-5_11 atlasobscura.com/places/khustain-nuruu- national-park wildlifeofpakistan.com/ProtectedAreasofPa lonelyplanet.com/thailand/lower-southern kistan/ChitralGol_NP.htm gulf/khao-sok-national-park diva-gis.org/gdata hustai.mn/wp

national-parks.org/thailand/khao-sok

protectedplanet.net

shadedrelief.com/blue-earth

Projection: South America Albers Equal Area Conic

thainationalparks.com/khao-sok-nationalpark

References:

Park: Everglades National Park, U.S.A

Park: Pumalin Park, Chile Cartographer: Joe Dehnert

Photo Credit: Kevin McManigal

Cartographer: Graydon Hidalgo commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File:Waterfalls_in_Pumalin_Park.jpg Projection: NAD 1983 Florida GDL Alberts diva-gis.org/gdata dwtkns.com/srtm30m luxurylatinamerica.com 47

References:

fce-lter.fiu.edu/data/GIS

coast.noaa.gov/dataviewer/#/lidar

Park: Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, Mexico Cartographer: Sara Hulbert Projection: WGS 1984 UTM Zone 12N References: data.globalforestwatch.org diva-gis.org/gdata

dwtkns.com/srtm

Park: Sumidero Canyon National Park, Mexico

wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Macaca_ fascicularis_in_Tarutao_National_Marine_ Park.jpg

earthisland.org/journal/index.php/ Cartographer: Tanner Humphries magazine/entry/viva_sierra_gorda Projection: Mexico ITRF 2008 eorc.jaxa.jp/ALOS/en/aw3d30 References: Parks: Pulau Weh and Pulau Sabang Marine Nature indigenousmexico.org/queretaro/ Recreation Parks, Indonesia indigenous-queretaro-de-arteaga-land-of- databasin.orgdwtkns.com/srtm30m Cartographer: James Fain McGough III the-otomies inegi.org.mx/default.html Map Projection: WGS 84 UTM Zone 47N inspiredbymaps.com/sierra-gorda- biosphere-reserve-mexico mapa-mexico.com/Canyon_Sumidero_ References: National_Park_Map_Chiapas_Mexico_2. lacgeo.com/sierra-gorda-biosphere-reserve- htm mexico cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/data/walrus/ lonelyplanet.com/mexico/reserva-de-la- biosfera-sierra-gorda

tsunami/news/sumatra.html mexicolesstraveled.com/canondelsumidero. htm diva-gis.org/gdata

mexiconewsdaily.com/news/decree-to- protect-chiapas-sumidero-canyon-park perceptivetravel.com/issues/0915/sierra_ gorda.html traveljust4u.com.au/sumidero-canyon naturalearthdata.com

dwtkns.com/srtm30m monsterdivers.com/dive-sites

old.mpatlas.org/campaign/weh-island planetacarbononeutral.org/en/sierra-gorda- vaticannews.va/es/mundo/news/2018-01/ biosphere-reserve iglesia-en-mexico-apoya-a-los-indigenas- old.mpatlas.org/campaign/weh-island de-chiapas-forzados-a-hu.html queretaro.travel/en/section/33/arroyo-seco protectedplanet.net/20432 wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumidero_ sciencebase.gov/catalog/ Canyon#National_park protectedplanet.net/en item/4fb55df0e4b04cb937751e02 sierragordaecotours.com/en/discove r-the- sierra-gorda sustainabletravel.org/worlds-inspiring- places-sierra-gorda/

Park: Tarutao National Marine Park, Thailand Cartographer: Heather Leach

Projection: WGS 1984 UTM Zone 48N thegef.org/project/biodiversity- conservation-sierra-gorda-biosphere-reserve References: unesco.org/biosphere/lac/sierra-gorda

dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp/style1/default

worldlandtrust.org/what-we-do/where-we- dwtkns.com/srtm30m/ work/mexico protectedplanet.net/928 worldlandtrust.org/wp-content/ uploads/2018/02/mexico-brief.pdf

thainationalparks.com/tarutao-national- marine-park

reefbase.org/gefll/pdf/Coral%20Reefs%20 of%20Northern%20Sumatra.pdf reefbase.org/gefll/pdf/Coral%20Reefs%20 of%20Northern%20Sumatra.pdf sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/ S2351989415300500 shadedrelief.com/blue-earth stingynomads.com/pulau-weh-island-guide- indonesia volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=261800 48

Park: Farasan Islands, Saudi Arabia

dwtkns.com/srtm

b74f96cc008d4c7398ea0ef0bb6b4078

Cartographer: Katherine Patrick

esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/ desertsun.com/story/news/ SEMCV2XPXPF2.html environment/2020/09/22/california- Projection: WGS 84 UTM Zone 37N joshua-trees-advance-endangered-species- Humphries, T. (2013) Annapurna Circuit, listing/5854896002 References: Nepal. koordinates.com/data/global/north-america/ aramcoexpats.com/articles/the-seven- imnepal.com/annapurna-conservation-area- united-states/california natural-wonders-of-arabia-part-v- nepal-places-visit-tourist/ the-farasan-islands libguides.humboldt.edu/c.php?g=303789 Kumpakha, B. Annapurna Conservation diva-gis.org/gdata Area Datasets: Trails, Villages, Rivers, npca.org/parks/joshua-tree-national-park Lakes, Rural Municipal Districts, Park dwtkns.com/srtm nps.gov/jotr/learn/management/statistics Boundary. National Trust for Nature Conservation. Email correspondence. naturalearthdata.com/downloads protectedplanet.net naturalearthdata.com/downloads/10m- onthewayaround.com/farasan-islands pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/ofr20151175 raster-data/. protectedplanet.net/en usgs.gov/science-support/osqi/yes/national ntnc.org.np/index.php/project/annapurna- saudiarabiatourismguide.com/farasan- conservation-area-project-acap islands Stanciu, C. Marsyangdi River and Tal Park: Bom Jesus Biological Reserve, Brazil villages on Annapurna Circuit, Nepal. shadedrelief.com/blue-earth Cartographer: Jake Reller whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6370 Park: Joshua Tree National Park, U.S.A Projection: WGS 84 UTM Zone 22S, Central wikipedia.org/wiki/Farasan_ Meridian -51.0°W Cartographer: Sterling Prentice Islands#Climate References: Projection: California (Teale) Albers Park: Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal Cartographer: Chris Prange

References:

diva-gis.org/gdata

dwtkns.com/srtm30m biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press- Projection: Asia Lambert Conformal Conic, Central releases/state-agency-recommends- earthexplorer.usgs.gov advancing-protection-for-californias- Meridian 84.0°E joshua-trees-2020-04-13 geonode.state.gov/layers/ References: geonode%33AGlobal_LSIB_Polygons_ cali49.com/jtnp/2013/10/22/samuelsons- Detailed rocks jstor.org/stable/2798427 grandereservamataatlantica.com.br/en/ data.europa.eu/89h/jrc-dopa-maps-and- diva-gis.org/gdata. nature/protected-areas datasets dnpwc.gov.np/en/conservation-area- icmbio.gov databasin.org/datasets/ detail/68/ 49

theculturetrip.com/south-america/brazil/ articles/the-indigenous-tribe-in-brazil- living-between-the-forest-and-the-city

tirol&searchterm=arcgis-geoservice hohetauern.at/en

Park: Great Barrier Reef, Australia Cartographer: Donald Swanson

protectedplanet.net/en/search-areas?search wikipedia.org/wiki/Bom_Jesus_Biological_ term=hoho+tauern&geo type=site Reserve

Projection: MGA 2020 UTM Zone 55S

wri.org/blog/2016/01/forest-loss-pushes-far- beyond-plantation-boundaries-south- Park: Uruq Bani Ma, Saudi Arabia america-africa Cartographer: Bradley R. Smith

Park: Wapusk National Park, Canada Cartographer: Timothy C. Seegraber Projection: NAD 1983 UTM Zone 15N References:

Projection: WGS 1984 UTM Zone 40N References:

References: gbrmpa.gov.au

nationalmap.gov.au commons.wikipedia.org naturalearthdata.com

data.nextgis.com/ dwtkns.com/srtm

protectedplanet.net ftp.maps.canada.ca/pub/nrcan_rncan/ elevation/cdem_mnec/doc/CDEM_product_ whc.unesco.org/fr/listesindicatives/6369 specs.pdf Photo Credit: Cynthia w. Smith mhs.mb.ca/docs/mb_history/20/ fortchurchill.shtml naturalearthdata.com pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np

Park: Indio Maiz Bio Preserve, Nicaragua Cartographer: Robert Shreiner

Map Projection: Lambert Conformal Conic pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/mb/wapusk/decouvrir- References: discover/photo/photo_ours-bear dopa-explorer.jrc.ec.europa.eu/wdpa/30628 Park: Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria

forestsoftheworld.org/programs/Nicaragua

Cartographer: Madison Seigler

globalwildlife.org/project/indio-maiz- biological-reserve

Projection: NAD 1984 UTM Zone 33N References:

tirol.gv.at/data

data.gv.at.auftritte/?organisation=land-

iucnredlist.org protectedplanet.net worldatlas.com/articles/ecological-regions- of-nicaragua.html 50