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Parque Nacional Natural Farallones de Cali Farallones de Cali (Meaning “Cliffs” of Cali) is a beautiful pro tected wilderness park of the northern Andes. Located just west of the Cauca Valley region of Co lombia, Farallones de Cali sits near the equator close to the Pacific Ocean, and its namesake, Cali. The third largest city in Colombia.
The park is incredibly accessible and provides a wonderful refuge for recreation, seeing thousands of eco-tourists a year. This is in part due to the extreme biodiversity of the park. Giving way to numerous unique ecosystems and habi tats. While it is a heavily forested area, there are significant changes from tropical rainforests, subtropical “cloud” forests, which are almost constantly encased in fog, mountain forests, and Paramo, or high alpine environments for which the Andes mountains are famous.
malian species, including nearly 80 species of bats, sloths, and 5 primates including Red Howler monkeys. The elusive and vulnerable Speck led Bear also presides in the high humidity, high altitude forests. The fauna is spectacular, with over 100 species finding sanctuary in the park. Varieties from common oak and black oak can be found growing in relative proximity to wild cocoa and arborescent ferns.
This level of biodiversity is made possible, in part, due to high levels of relief. Remnants of past orogenic events, the terrain of the park varies greatly, from close to sea level, less than 300m, to over 4000m, an elevation common among the high and far-reaching Andes Moun tains. The Andes are not just a singular range but include 3 Cordilleras that come together to form the longest mountain chain in the world. Running 8,900 km along the western coast of South America. Farallones de Cali is the youngest formation of the western cordillera and as such, has less weathering than older members in the formation. This gives way to the amazingly steep and jagged terrain that can be seen throughout
the park. This astoundingly beautiful terrain, alongside the abundant wildlife, culminated in the official protection of this natural treasure trove.
Managed by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, the park is vast, cov ering close to 2000 sq km. It is home to incredible flora and fauna alike. Residing within, are over 20 protected species and multiple endemic species. Hosting over 500 species of bird including the endemic Multicolored Tanager, and Chestnut Wood-quail. The park also provides refuge to multiple protected reptilian species. The Sapo Mamboré (Colombian Giant Toad) and Oophaga Lehmanni(The Red-banded Poison Frog) are 2. Farallones de Cali is also home to many mam
Founded in 1968 Farallones de Cali is an incredible destination for tourists, locals, and scientists alike. The Ministry of Environment has put forth great resources furthering education, protection, and interest in and about the park. There is extensive nature-based programming: Flora tours, bird-watching tours, or guided hikes. There are offerings for educational programs and photog raphy classes that enrich visitors as well as inform them. Furthermore, there is a large focus on broadening the outreach for the park making sure to reach as many communities as possible with an emphasis on informing visitors and fo cusing on heritage interpretation. Thanks to conservation efforts, Farallones de Cali is protected and will remain a natural wonder for generations to come.
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D E L O S A N D E S MONTA Ñ A S PACIFICOCEAN PARQUE NACIONAL NATURAL FARALLONES de CALI Rio Yurumangui RioCajambre Rio Piedras Rio Rapo s o 25 25 19 Alto del Raton (3156 m) Alto del Buey (843 m) Pico de la Botella (2950 m) Cuchilla de Los Carpatos (3110 m) Pico de Loro (2497 m) 10 Km 0 Km5 Km N Cali Pico de la Montaña Ciudad Carretera (Mountain Peak) (City) (Highway) (Railway) Ferrocarril
Huatulco National Park lies in the Mexican State of Oaxaca, south of Mexican Nation al Highway 200 that runs along the Southern Mexican Coast adjacent to the Pacific Ocean. The nearest town is La Crucecita with a resident population of 19,252 people.
The continental portion of the park is represented by a range of low hills (<200m) that ends abruptly, with rocky areas forming small protected bays which create ideal coral reef hab itats. The area has a warm, sub-humid climate with average annual precipitation between 800 and 1200 mm and with changes of less than 5 degrees in terms of temperature.
Due to its location within the intertropical belt, the light intensity is high and almost constant throughout the year. Surface sea temperature of the sea fluctuates between 26 and 28°C. Because of the consistent light and temperatures of the ocean, the marine portion of the park provides ideal habitat for migrating sea mammals. In spring and summer, the prevailing winds come from the west, southwest and south resulting in heavy rains and thunderstorms. This region has a high incidence of tropical storms which often become hurricanes.
The coastal strip that includes the park historically belonged to the Mixtec kingdom of Tututepec. After the conquest of Spain it was one of the first ports of New Spain around 1539, and served as an important link for trade with Peru,
the rest of South America, China and the Philip pines. The inhabitants of the area have traditionally been known as very competent fishermen in the ocean, rivers and lagoons.
One activity with deep historical and cultural roots, which also brings some economic benefits to the local people, is the dyeing of their clothing with the purple snail which is an endemic species to the area. The use of these dyes dates back to pre-Hispanic times, and they have a mystical meaning as a symbol of fertility and power. This activity is regulated by differ ent decrees, norms, agreements and exploitation permits. Today, the park is generally seen as a tourist destination because of the warm ocean temperatures and abundant sea life surrounding the coral communities.
The entire marine portion of the park is federal property, whereas the areas surrounding the marine portion are a mixture of both private and federal property. Starting in 1984, the federal government undertook a massive tourism project spanning a large area along the Oaxacan Pacif ic coastline that includes the park. This project resulted in a change in land use which included the alteration of the natural drainage network in order to meet the growing demand for space and resources for the eventual urban and commercial development of the area. In 2002, the federal government specifically designed a polygon for the park with exact percentages of land that were categorized into: restoration, exploitation (tourism development), conservation and total protec tion. Despite this definition of the National Park polygon, the high population growth (8.7% per year) presents a continual risk in terms of further exploitation of key resources such as soil, forest biodiversity and water.
The St. Katherine Pro tectorate is a rather large area that en compasses almost the entire south ern half of the Sinai Peninsula in eastern Egypt. Nestled high in the mountains on that peninsula lies a sa cred monastery that time for got and whose existence is the namesake for the park. The St. Katherine protectorate was officially established in 1996 followed shortly by the en shrinement of the area entitled the “Ring Dyke” as a World Heritage Site. The latter is a geologi cal phenomenon that encompasses peaks of the the highest mountains on the peninsula located in the core of the region. The protectorate spans 5,750 square kilometers and reaches heights of 2,629 meters. The arid desert highlands of the park are a harsh climate, one not known for abun dant vegetation or fauna. However, the region is home to 472 plant species, primarily succulents and halophytes, and 63 unique animal species. Of the 27 mammal and 46 reptile species, 15 of the latter are found nowhere else on earth. Anthropologically, the protectorate and greater Sinai Peninsula hold dramatic signifi cance to our understanding of human migration between Africa and Asia with written record of the region dating as far back as 3000 BCE. Addi tionally, the Israelites are known to have traveled across the peninsula with fragments splintering off and going south to the area that would later be come the protectorate, although their routes are
not definitively known. During the early Chris tian period the protectorate became a loose en semble of settlements for devoutly religious fringe groups of Christians that congregated in the area. The construction of the Monastery of St. Cather ine was commissioned by the Byzantine Empire in the 6th century. Work on the monastery itself began in 530 BCE by workers sent from Mace donia, the monastery served as a center for the groups of monks that had settled in the baron region to congregate. Ancestors of the original builders, the Egyptian Bedouin tribes, still call the Protectorate home today. Additionally, the monastery was written about as a pilgrimage site during the Middle Ages, and to this day it remains a sacred site to Eastern theologists. Today, tourists are able to visit the region and see the well-preserved monastery as well as climb the peaks that make up the bulk of the
region. However, the protectorate is not without issue, during the Arab Spring, a period of heavy political destabilization in Egypt, the protector ate was the subject of attacks by radical Islamic militants. Today, the heavy presence of security in the southern peninsula can detract from the sacred nature of the protectorate but, it is a nec essary measure to ensure the safety of visitors and religious pilgrims alike. Maintaining the cul tural sites and historic landscape of the park is a main priority of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, which manages the protectorate.
The protectorate plays host to the high est point on the peninsula, Mount Sinai, as well as a spectacular cast of dramatic mountains and deep, cavernous valleys. The region’s rugged and barren landscape is not for the feint of heart, the desert is harsh and only the most resilient plants, animals and people call it home. Only about 7,000 permanent residents live in the massive park.
The St. Katherine Protectorate is one of the more desolate protected areas in the world, but don’t let that detract from the parks remark able scale of landscape and significance in hu man history.
Jabal Tinya Jabal Salwa Nabq El Tor Sharm El-Sheikh St. Catherine’s Monastery Plain o f E l - Qa ’ a fluG o f A q u aba A r abia n D e s ert Jabal Thim ā n Jabal Mas’ ū d Jabal Ithm ā m ī yah Jabal Sarabil Jabal Serbal Jabal Abu Qursan Mount Sinai Jabal al Benat Jabal At al Sharqi Jabal Abu Lassaf Jabal Mukattab Jabal Abu Tubil Mount Catherine Jabal Qunay Jabal Umm Adawi St. Catherine Gulf of Sue z R e d S ae Jabal al Khala St. KatherineProtectorate Sinai Peninsula Egypt Firan El Tarfa Village Jabal Shaykhal‘Arab 0 20 10 Kilometers N Mountains Within The Ring Dyke Mountains Outside of The Ring Dyke Towns and Settlements Holy Place
Nuristan National Park is a relatively new National Park in the country of Afghanistan in South western Asia. In the context of Afghanistan the park is located in the North Eastern part of Afghanistan, in extremely rugged and isolated lands within Nuristan province. Originally the park was proposed in 1981 but no real progress was made, in part due to the Soviet-Afghanistan war that was raging at the time.
The park was established on June 5th, 2020 coinciding with World Environment Day. The park is 5,733 square kilometers in size, or 2,213 square miles. The shape of the park being similar to a crescent moon-shape. The motivation for creating the park has to due to the unique biome and ecoystems of the region. Undeveloped and mostly untouched except for the Tribal families that reside in the region. Al most no modern roads transit the region. And of the few that do, they are used by the small tribal population in the low-lying regions. The real prize of the Nuristan National park is in the rel atively undisturbed forests, which are becoming more and more infrequent with anthropogenic development worldwide.
Also important to note is the wildlife of this region. Many species of importance frequent the area such as the endangered Steppe Eagle, the Saker Falcon, the Kashmir Vul
ture and Palla’s Fish-Eagle. In recent years, a species thought to be extinct and then the endangered Kashmir Muskdeer was spotted, confirming the species had not yet gone extinct. The vulnerable Asiatic Black Bears and Snow Leopards inhabit the park in the Northern region of the park and also sometimes sighted are Himalayan Black Bears.
This region is an example of the increas ingly diminishing natural environments, where when people do live in the environment, they live on the land as opposed to major urban sprawls that forever change the landscapes.
Within the park boundaries, there are several villages. Villages, not towns, for the population of tribal individuals within the park is estimated to be lower than 10,000. The hope is that the decleration of a park increases tourism, and also brings awareness to then help conserve this world protected area. Even within the worlds protected areas, Nuristan National Park is unique
In the few decades since the proposal of the Nuristan National Park, an estimated 52% of forest was lost in the Nuristan, Laghman
and Nangahar provinces according to a 2003 UNEP report. This threat is mostly due to the large amounts of illegal logging of Montane Conifer trees that exist in the region.
Challenges to the park have stemmed from geopolitical influences over the region for the past several decades in the form of destablizing war, and a plethora of changes in who con trols the region. Between its original proposal as a national park the region has been involved in conflicts with the Soviet Union, Coalition forces including the United States, and has been a focal point of regional extremism, leading to even more in-fighting.
At the time of founding, the park was under a stable government backed by the United States. Abruptly in 2021, the Biden adminis tration withdrew from the region, and quickly the Taliban took control. Which leaves for an uncertain future for Nuristan National Park, as a park tends to get less attention than survival and human rights violations that the Taliban has and will continue to inflict on the country.
Urho Kekkonen National Park (kansallispuisto) covers approximately 2,550 km^2 within Lapland, Finland’s most northern region. The park is known for being a subarctic boreal fell region, carved by the previous ice age, which produced fells, gorges, forested areas, and boulder fields. The park’s heart possesses the Raututunturi fell area that splits the park between north and south. The north holds the flowing river val leys, the south grows forests of pine and spruce around isolated fells, while the southwest con tains the tricky aapa bogs. Wildlife of all sizes roams the park. The Siberian jay and grey-head ed chickadee frequent old-growth stands while the brambling roams the mires. The more remote forested sections of the park hide the larger fauna such as lynx, fox, wolf, moose, wol verine, and bears. The most attractive animal of the park though is the reindeer. Of all creatures of the park, none has a history near that of the reindeer, which connects past to present through extensive cultural ties to the historic Sámi that once inhabited the northern landscapes of Fin land.
Signs of life in the most northern region can be traced back to the end of the Ice Age, in which mankind inhabited the shores of River Kemijoki nearly 3000 years ago. The oldest sign of life can be noted in the southern part of the park in the Itäkaira region, dating back as far as 8000 BCE. The ancient Forest Sámi were a nomadic tribe dwelling in mod ern-day northern Lapland, northern Sweden,
and Norway. They were traditionally hunters and fishers that scattered during the summer for hunting trips and gathered in villages during the winter. The park historically had four Sámi villages, and only one of those villages, Sompio, remains today.The Sámis’ livelihood was based on their relationship with the reindeer, which provided them with food, clothing, trade, and labor. Even today, few descendants of the Sámi tribe move reindeer across the landscape and have a deep relationship with their herds. Their culture began to decline in the 16th century due to Sweden’s new settler policies and missionary work. This was perpetuated because Finland was still part of Sweden at the time. The Sha man religion was destroyed, their language was forgotten, and their people assimilated with new settlers. Many of these settlers were farmers and cattle owners, although the park was never cultivated. Although, current wilderness zones were historically significant resources for fish, game, pearls, and fur. Life as a settler was not an easy one. They traveled far, and routes tended to be demanding. One course involved pulling a boat four kilometers across the land and set ting it into water. To make the most of the trip, they extracted large amounts of salmon before making their way back over their original path.
By the 19th century, the Wild Forest Reindeer extinction was caused by hunting, which became effective after firearms became more common place. Later, in the 20th century, water power plants were on the Tuulomajoki river in Russia, causing salmon fishing to disappear.
Urho Kekkonen National Park is situated along the eastern edge of Finland’s and Russia’s western border. The varying landscape collects snow throughout the year before melting briefly in the hotter months. The water are headwaters, much of which flow into the Arctic Ocean or the Baltic Sea. Part of Finalnd’s overarching form of patriotism comes from their great desire for conservation which allows areas such as Urho Kekkonen to thrive.
Rio Simpson National Reserve covers 41.160 hectares of blue ribbon trout riv ers, temperate rainforest, and snowcapped peaks in the central cordille ra of the Chilean Andes. It was created through the Ministry of Agriculture in 1967 to protect the area from agricultural development, nationalize the abundant timber resources available and promote outdoor recreation and tourism. Located in the Aysen region, the park extends on either side of ruta 240 that connects the two centers of Coyhaique and Puerto Aysén. With proximity to public transportation, and incredible natural beauty it is popular among locals and tourists.
As part of the Patagonian Andean Cor dillera, this park is characterized by abrupt topography carved by glacial, tectonic and fluvi al events. Steep mountains catch an abundant 2.96m of costal rain annually that supports the temperate rain forest. Since the regulation of the park, grazing pastures have subsided to the native shrubby wood growth of coigüe, ciruelil lo, tepú, and the most abundant chilco (fuchsia). The flora supports a plethora of wildlife includ ing the elusive puma in the high mountains and recovering deer (Huemul) found traversing the eastern rocky foothills. Other species which live in the reserve include pudú, zorro, güiña, ban durrias, queltehues and a large variety of wild ducks.
The park and the Simpson River are named after navy hydrographer Enrique
domestic or artisanal level, coligües, nalcas and wicker willow continue to be utilized by local communities. Since induction as a reserve
CONAFF has adopted park management style that actively supports the expansion of local rec reation and eco-tourism within the park. Historically the area was utilized by the indigenous Pampas groups (Tehuelches), the canoeists (Chonos and Alacalufes), and the fur thest south reaches of the Mapuche. There is evidence that various tribes utilized the Simpson River to connect the lowland Cohaique valley to the pacific. Challenging seasonal weather is one
the area could have been used as an intermediate travel corridor between more hospitable areas.
Cold clean mountain run off, prolific insect hatches, and difficult access all support this remarkable trout fishery. Healthy populations of rainbow and brown trout in the 14-22in with occasional 30+inch fish cruise the watershed. Additionally, the close proximity to the Pacific Ocean means Chinook salmon reaching up to 45+ pounds run the river from January to march to spawn. The main tributaries of Rio Simpson, each remarkable in their own merit are the Hue mules, Blanco, Póllux, Oscuro, Blanco Chico, Baguales and Claro, among several others. This intricate network of streams is also supported by a rich lake system of glacial origin including the Pollux, Frío and Cástor. The Austral University of Chile through its Trapananda Institute is in the stage of preparation and presentation of a project to manage rivers and lakes that are highly attractive for sport fishing in the Aysén Region. CON AF has already expressed its interest in supporting this management style.
Khao Yai National Park was the first national park in Thai land, established in 1962. The park covers 2,168 sq. km in the Nak hon Ratchasima, Prachinburi, Sarabu ri, and Nakhon Nayok provinces of Thailand. This park is part of a UNESCO world heritage site called the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, a forest complex made up of five protected areas with a total of 6,152 sq. km. Khao Yai National Park is a mountainous forested area with mixes of dry evergreen, deciduous, and rain forest. The park experiences a rainy season and contains drain ages for multiple important rivers. It has many waterfalls and interesting geologic features in cluding evidence of lava flow. Forest types vary with elevation and terrain within the park, rang ing in elevation from 400 to over 1,350 meters. Khao Yai is known for its biodiversity. This park is home to native populations of Asian elephants, Asian black bears, sun bears, and diverse popu lations of other mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds.
Khao Yai National Park used to be home to tigers. Due to poaching and habitat loss, tigers have now been missing from this ecosystem for over 20 years. Recent development of a wildlife crossing over a busy roadway shows potential for a wildlife corridor between other protected areas in the forest complex that have tigers. Through concerted efforts, it is possible tigers could expand back into this part of their native
range. Khao Yai National Park has protected a large area of incredible biodiversity for many years. Preserving this area and using it as an ed ucational tool allows protection of other natural areas as well.
Khao Yai National Park is in a historically remote part of Thailand, but it was not unin habited. In the 1920’s, there was a small town where the park is today. The town was very re mote and could only be reached on foot: a jour ney that took days. It attracted criminals and fugitives, so in 1932, the Thai government relo cated the people to a different place. In 1959, the Thailand government set up the infrastructure to create National Parks. Khao Yai was established as Thailand’s first national park in 1962 and is still Thailand’s third largest park.
Today, the park’s boundaries are very clear, abutting sprawling areas of agriculture, deforestation, and development. Some of Thai land’s largest cities lie just outside the park. Maintaining the boundaries and controlling vis itation in the park is important to maintain the validity of the habitat and biodiversity protected there.
Located only 200 kilometers from Bang
kok, the capital of Thailand, Khao Yai National Park is used largely as an accessible way to in teract with nature. It is best used as an educational tool, but hosts many activities for people to enjoy. This is a great place to see wildlife, and the park offers safaris, birdwatching tours, and stargazing.
There are seven trails in the park which facilitate wildlife viewing and scenic overlooks. All but two trails may only be accessed on a guided tour due to the danger of the animals and possibility of getting lost in the dense jungle. There are many tour operators that offer a range of tour types, allowing further exploration of the park. Two short trails near the North Entrance visitor center allow visitation without a guide in cluding the recently established Thai-American Friendship Trail.
Camping and lodging are found within the park and just outside its borders. People are welcome in the park but are required to follow safety and conduct rules. It is encouraged to use the park as a classroom for learning about the natural environment. Maintaining this access to nature to connect people to the environment, while maintaining the biodiversity contained is the key for the future of Khao Yai National Park.
Nakhon Nayok Prachin Buri Takhro Waterfall Wang Mueang Waterfall Than Tip Waterfall Sarika Waterfall Nang Rong Waterfall Haew Narok Waterfall Than Rat Ta Na Waterfall Kaeng Hin Poing Rafting Ched Khot Waterfall Chao Por Khao Yai Shrine Pha Nganm Ngon Waterfall Chao Pho Khao Khiao Shrine Kongkaew Waterfall Lam Takhong River Saraburi Lam Takhong River Nakhon Nay o k Sai Yai River Trail No. 1 Trail No. 2 & 7 Trail No. 3 Trail No. 4 Trail No. 5 Trail No. 6 To Saraburi Noen Hom Entrance Visitor Center Pak Chong Entrance Visitor Center Park Headquarters Visitor Center Khao Yai National Park Khao Rom 1351m 0 10 20 5 Km NN Point of Interest Park Entrance Trailhead Information Campsite First Aid Road Ranger Station Parking Railroad Viewpoint Food Road to Park Restroom Highway Waterfall Lodging Park Road City
Los Glaciares National Park is set on the east side of the Austral Andes in the Patagonia region of Argentina and encompasses diverse landscapes that host a special va riety of flora and fauna. Established in 1937 in the state of Santa Cruz, it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1981 because of its natural beauty, rugged mountains and gla cial lakes. Covering over 7,000 square kilometers, it is the largest national park in Argentina, bordered by the Andes Mountains to the west which drop down to the semiarid steppes to the east. The granite peaks are capped by Cerro Fitz Roy at 3,406 meters high, offering the adventurous visitor a place to climb and hike. The park also includes two lakes, Lake Vied ma to the north and Lake Argentina; the latter being the largest lake in Argentina. Both lakes are bordered by glaciers, the most famous being Perito Moreno which visitors can admire by boat or boardwalks. While most glaciers in the world start of a height of at least 2,500 meters, these glaciers uniquely form at 1,500 meters and flow down to 200 meters above sea level.
These diverse landscapes offer sanctuary to a biodiverse community of flora and fauna. Most importantly are sensitive species such as the Andean condor, lesser rhea, and the huemel or South Andean deer. Other wildlife of inter est includes the white throated caracara, black throated finch, and the South American gray fox.
These animals move through deciduous forests of lenga beech or hunt in the high steppes scattered with azorella shrubs.
With all its unique beauty, the park also has conservation challenges. Historically, over grazing has led to degradation of sites and introduction of invasive species. Some of these inva sives include feral cattle and horse population as well as European Hare and trout species. Former land use has put some wildlife, such as the hue mel, in a precarious position because of habitat loss and fragmentation. Intense hunting has put pressure on fox, guanaco and puma populations. Lastly, forest fires have been a problem in the park with some having severe impacts to the landscape. Overall, the World Heritage Outlook rates the conservation outlook status of the park as “good with some concerns.”
These challenges are addressed by a host of integrated staff members from the area. There are specialized administrative staff, technical staff and park rangers all working together in the park. In 2002, a local collaborative was established to bring together national, provincial, and municipal entities, non-governmental organizations, and various stakeholders in the tourist
industry to serve in an advisory role to Los Glaciares. In creased tourism has brought economic growth to the park and the surround ing communities of El Calafate and El Chalten which serve as gateways to the park. The steady growth of the tourism industry also brings ecological concerns that managers have addressed with improvements to infrastructure in the park.
While this collaborative approach to management is relatively new in the park’s history, there is a long relationship of human use in side the park. The Aonikenk people, indigenious to the Patagonia region, used the rugged and often harsh landscapes as hunting and gathering grounds before European settlement. Many of the place names around the park are attributed to the Aonikenk. Petroglyphs and artifacts found in the area point to an even earlier use of the area.
Los Glaciares National Park continues to be important culturally and ecologically. Com bined with its sister park to the west, Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, the area creates an expansive protected area in Patagonia. The physical remoteness and relatively undisturbed, intact landscape make Los Glaciares a key area to study glaciation and its processes. The park protects part of South America’s largest ice field, and with a warming climate, these areas may play a crucial role in understanding and addressing climate change.
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La Amistad National Park is a beautiful park, with most of its con fines residing in Costa Rica, but stretch ing into Panama. The Park shares rivers, mountain ranges, Flora and Fauna with Panama. The park was established on the date of September 6th, 1988, with the park having a total of 749 square miles, or 1940 square kilometers. How ever, this park is transboundary, so the size is relevant to whether you are talking about the Costa Rican side, or the Panama side. The high and low points of the park range from 145 to 3549 meters or 476 to 11644 feet. The Koppen climate codes for this park are mixed with mostly Af, with a small portion being Cfa, so this parks biome is a Tropical and Sub-tropical rainforest.
Some of the major protected flora and fauna within the region are high alpine grasslands, lowland and upland tropical forests, as well as two thirds of the animal species that call Costa Rica home. Because of this, the park is cherished not just by Costa Rica, but the world included, as the space holds a vast amount of animal and plant species.
La Amistad National Park began its start when political figures from Costa Rica and Panama got together after UNESCO gave a recommendation to protect the area after the park was included in the World Heritage Site. Although this park is a transboundary region, the park is managed by the Costa Rican National Park Service. At this moment, La Amis
tad’s major issues are forest fires, illegal hunting, extraction of resources, land tenure issues and trafficking and propagation of narcotics. Even though these issues happen within the park, the park protects what is said to be one of the most incredible landscapes, protecting 20 percent of Central America’s species and 60 percent of Costa Rica’s. There was recent success in 2021 by IDEHS, or the Global Park Defense in Costa Rica. This organization found an illegal logging operation within the park and was able to eradicate the issue from the park.
Although the team is small, they have a lot more issues to worry about, as well as a large amount of area to cover, given this is the largest protected area in Costa Rica. Within this region of protected area, there really is not much that inhabits the land, besides for a vast array of flo
ra and fauna. However, there are a few remote tribes that farm the area. These tribes are the Naso, Bribri and Ngöbe-Buglé. The landscape is a remote tropical area, with overgrown trails and an abundance of tree species and animals. The area has a large number of mountains, including the tallest point throughout all of Costa Rica. The protected jungle area sits on the southern border of Panama and Costa Rica, being land locked and shared with Panama. To wrap things up, La Amistad International Park is something of great importance to the World. Because of this countries efforts to conserve this land, the culture and more, we are able to experience a place that is truly incredible and unforgetting.
Fjallabak Nature
Reserve is located in the highlands of Iceland translat ing to “Mountain Back”. The park was protected in 1979 to conserve the geothermal area and mountains that lie within. There are few historic accounts of habbitation within Fjallabak due to its inability to support tradi tional farming practices as a result of frigid temperatures and a lack of grazing vegetation. However, in 1841, a priest in Stóruvellir wrote you could find Icelandic moss, roots, trout fish ing, and whooper swan hunting in the highlands. Records also report the first shelter was built in 1907 lying in Landmannahellir, a common open ground for grazing. Furthermore, there are his toric trails marked by cairns (a man-made stack of stones) dating back to 1895 from Icelandic native peoples traversing the volcanic valley to and from the highlands. The cairns total 798 each signifying a historical pathway. Today, many locals remain eager to protect the park’s natural characteristics as visitation increases and climate change impacts the icecaps, remaining boreal forest, and glacial lakes.
Fjallabak is located in south western Iceland. The park was primarily shaped by vol canic activity which formed areas nestled with bubbling lava fields, winding rivers and lakes, and towering sand dunes illustrating a broad range of colors and characteristics. Torfajokull, the main volcanic system has been active for the last 2 million years and has formed some of
Fjallabak’s key features such as Hyaloclastite mountains and the Namshraun crater. In the eastern region of the park lie geothermal valleys etched in acidic rhyolite, a pale granitic volcanic rock, which created the iconic rainbow streaked mountains from the mineral and obsidian composition. Accompanying the rainbow of teal the east is also home to icecaps, glacial lakes, moss, wildflowers, and boreal forest. Some key areas of the park include Landmannarettur, a large open historical grazing area where most of the cabins and tourist facilities now lay, and Kylingar, a continuous bay scattered with pools and wetlands. Fjallaback is a nesting area for 23 known bird species some of the most popular are snow buntings, great northern loons, red-throated loons, swans, red necked phalaropes, and harlequin ducks which are occasion ally spotted in Jokulgilskvisl and have been known to nest in the area.
Fjallabak is mostly perceived as remote wilderness however, it has grown in popularity gaining tourist visitation from Reykjavik, Iceland’s largest city and capital lying in the south west. With facilities for hikers and huts with amenities, the area is well traveled. Rangers are stationed within the park during summer to edu
cate the public and en force the guide lines and conduct of the nature reserve. Many hikers choose a local professional guide to navigate marked and unmarked trails. Typically, tourists recreate in the summer months and traverse hut to hut, through marked trials, or a fully supported guided trip. Some housing options are provided by the companies Campsites, Iceland Touring Association, and the Cave Men located in Landmannalaugar, Landmannahellir, and Hrafntinnusker serving as a “basecamp” area. A main area of contention for the Nature Reserve’s management is preventing damage to the ecosystem. The volcanic landscape among many others in Fjallabak is extremely fragile and easily interrupted especially from traffic damage. Drivers are asked to get equated to the driving conditions and stay on designated roads. Limiting traffic in the most popoular tourist areas continues to be an important goal for Fjallabak Nature Reserve. Utimatley, the park aims at making recreation a happy and healthy experience for all, while protecting the natural landscape and ecosystem for the future.
Virunga National Park, one of the crown jewels of African conserva tion, snakes for nearly 300km along the Albertine Rift Valley on the eastern border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The park’s boundaries contain a wide variety of landscapes, from dry savannas on the shores of Lake Rutanzige, to rainforests of the Congo Jungle, to the snowcapped alpine peaks of the Rwenzori, the legendary Mountains of the Moon. These myriad habitats contain a similarly unbounded variety of wildlife species, including the park’s prized mountain gorillas. Virunga is a far-flung park with a rugged and variable geographic setting. To the south, it abuts the city of Goma and the shores of Lake Kivu. The volcanic Virunga Mountains rise above the lake within the park, including the dangerously active Mount Nyiragongo, which contains the world’s largest persistent lava lake. Nyiragongo and its neighboring Nyamuragira Volcano have erupted numerous times in recent years, threatening nearby communities with lava and pyroclastic flows. To the north, the rift val ley opens deeply into the basin of Lake Rutanzige, formerly Lake Edward. Dry, open savannas fill the valley floor here, similar to the Serengeti plains to the east. North beyond the lake is a region of dense rainforest in the foothills of Africa’s highest mountain range, the dramatic
Rwenzori. These mountains, shrouded in mist and clouds, rise from the floor of the rift valley to soaring heights above 5000m; their high point, Mount Stanley, is Africa’s third-highest peak, behind only the titanic volcanoes Kilimanjaro and Kenya. Long mythologized as the source of the Nile River, the Rwenzori were a major object of David Livingstone’s expeditions to explore the interior of the African continent.
Virunga’s conservation history is trou bled, with its roots in the colonial Belgian Congo era and a long history of hostile relations with residents of the region. The park was established and expanded with little regard for the people it would displace; indeed, some native tribes were considered to be part of the “wildlife” the Bel gians sought to conserve. Today it is locked in turmoil as poachers threaten the wildlife popula tions while militant groups cross the park as part of the ongoing civil conflicts in eastern Congo. The park’s importance as a sanctuary for gorillas, lions, elephants, and numerous other rare animals and plants clashes with its unjust history and its exclusionary present. Closed for visitors
due to violence since 2019, the park is current ly operated by the African Conservation Fund, a private British-led organization, and its ranger staff is militarized. When peace is reestablished in the region, conservation in the park will need to maintain a delicate balance between wildlife and habitat protection, and reckoning with the often violent history and lack of public goodwill it faces from residents of the area.
Virunga sits at a major African geographic crossroads, between the open plains of the Lake Victoria plateau and the dense jungles of the Congo basin. Politically it is pivotal as well, as the border region between Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda has suffered tremendous upheav al since the onset of the Rwandan Civil War in 1994 and through its successor conflicts, which echo in the region to this day. As the nations surrounding the park discuss unification into an East African Federation in part to quell sectarian instability, a path to a more peaceful future is on the horizon. Virunga and its adjoining parks will need to be a crucial lynchpin of conservation in the region, and an example of how the harmful impact of past conservation practices can be made right.
Kronotsky Nature Reserve (Кроноцкий заповедник), some times referred to as “The Land of Fire and Ice”, is a 11,421 square kilometer con servation area within Russia’s Kamchatka Pen insula, originally established in 1934. Dotted with towering volcanoes and steaming thermals, it rises from sea level to more than 3,400m at its highest point and namesake volcano – Kro notsky. Moving inward from the eastern coastline, the waters of the Pacific quickly give way to lush, stream-cut lowlands punctuated by conical volcanic peaks. Lake Kronotskoye domi nates the center of the park, hemmed in on the northwest by the Vostochny Range. To the south, smaller lakes dot the landscape in and around Uzon Caldera, and the Shumnaya River winds its way southeast towards the Pacific. On its way it steams through the Valley of the Geysers, one of the Seven Wonders of Russia and the main tourist attraction of the park. Nearby lies the so-called Valley of Death, where animals of all types and sizes wander in but not out, likely due to a buildup of toxic geothermal gases.
At approximately 55° north latitude and coastally located, the park has a cool, windy cli mate and precipitation in the form of both rain and snow is common. However, the variable ter rain equates to a mix of micro-climates throughout, with milder temperatures near the coastline and more severe weather in the mountains. This largely pristine wilderness is home to many wild animals, including substantial populations of
brown bears, wolves, and wolverines, as well as the last wild reindeer population in Kamchatka. The rivers are filled with brilliant red Sockeye Salmon and on the coast, a rookery of sea lions births more than 100 young every year. Endan gered sea otters began returning to the area in the 1970s after nearly a century away.
Starkly beautiful yet dangerous and re mote, the Kamchatka Peninsula was originally inhabited by several indigenous tribes, who be lieved in the presence of gomuls - spirits that inhabited the volcanic mountain peaks, the erup tions from which were surely a powerful and awesome force in their lives. Tribes in the area included the Koryaks, Chukchies, Aluti, Ayni, Ayvens, Machadals, and the Itelmans, all of whom are genetically related to Native Americans. Today the Kamchatka Peninsula is sparse ly populated, and the park itself contains only minimal development for scientific and touristic purposes, namely in the form of helipads, small outposts, and some boardwalks in sightseeing areas.
Kronotsky Nature Reserve, which con tains eight active volcanoes, is just one part of the multi-park UNESCO World Heritage Site “Vol canoes of Kamchatka.” Tectonically, the penin
sula lies along the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench, and is part of the Ring of Fire, where the Pacific Plate is subducting underneath the Okhotsk Plate, creating volcanic activity. Volcanoes of Kamchatka is noted as one of the world’s most outstanding volcanic regions, containing a high density and wide variety of active volcanoes.
In the 1950’s the area was developed for oil extraction, and eighty-eight wells were drilled, along with roads and other settlement infrastructure, taking a toll on the natural environ ment and wildlife. Following the ebb and flow of political tides, Kronotsky’s status as a reserve was eliminated in the 1950’s, restored almost 10 years later, removed again in 1961, and finally restored once more in 1967. In the 70s a wave of unchecked tourism left a lasting mark on the re serve, and a stagnant economy hampered effective management during the 90’s. Tourism with in the Reserve today is highly regulated – only official, guided trips are permitted, and tourists must be flown in by helicopter. This restrictive management, along with the park’s geographic isolation, has helped return Kronostky Nature Reserve to a more pristine state, conserving this stunning place for generations to come.
The Manaslu Conservation Area (MCA) is 1,663 sq km (642 sq mi). It is in the west-central region of Nepal, and is part of the Mansiri Hi mal (Mountain Range), a smaller portion of the great Himalayan range. The northern border is the international border with Tibet (China). The northwestern part of the MCA covering Samagaun, Lho and Prok wards, is called Nubri valley. The northeast ern area covering the two wards Chumchet and Chhekampar is known as Tsum Valley.
The park is named for its most prominent mountain, Manaslu (also known as Kutang in Tibetan). It is the eighth-highest mountain in the world at 8,163 m (26,781 ft) above sea level. The name Manaslu means “mountain of the spirit” and is derived from the Sanskrit word manasa, meaning “intellect” or “soul”.
Varying from 1,400 to over 8,000 meters, there is extreme diversity of habitat in the park from grasslands, woodland, glaciated highlands, and alpine mountains. The ecosystem has many rare species including snow leopard, lynx, musk deer, red fox, jackal, brown bear, blue sheep, Hi malayan tahr, Himalayan serow, wooly hare, and Himalayan marmot. Bird species include snow partridge, Tibetan snowcock, chukor partridge, and Himalayan griffon.
Prior to the 1950s, this region existed as an interface between Tibet and Nepal, and was part of a prominent trading route between the two nations. Inhabitants were able to depend on trade items as well as revenue from travelers. However, with the invasion of Tibet by China in 1950 the border was closed, and the region be came more economically isolated.
With a recognition of a rising internation al popularity in mountaineering and trekking, the Government of Nepal began to consider pro tection and management of its mountainous re gions. MCA was established in 1998, soon after the Government of Nepal handed over manage ment responsibility to the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC). NTNC’s objective is to improve the capacity of the local communities in the Manaslu area to benefit from tourism in an environmentally sustainable manner. They work with community-based committess to conserve biodiversity, improve livelihoods, and to implement sustainable tourism management practices.
There are about 9,000 inhabitants of MCA, mostly of Tibetan origin and following the Buddhist religion. People living within the
MCA rely on subsistence agriculture and animal husbandry, including yak and goat herding, and depend on natural resource for necessities such as firewood and medicinal plants.
MCA is an incredible destination for hikers and mountaineers. The main route, called Manaslu Circuit, is a 177 km (110 mi) trail following an ancient salt-trading route along the Budhi Gandaki River, skirting the base of Mt Manaslu. The highest point reached along the trek route is the Larkya La (Pass) at an elevation of 5,106 m (16,752 ft).
Mt. Manaslu was first summited on May 9, 1956, by the Japanese Toshio Imanishi and the Nepali Gyalzen Norbu. Data on total summits is hard to come by, but it is over 300.
In October of 2022, unpredictable weath er resulting in avalanches hit the region at the same time as the peak climbing season. Three climbers passed, including two experienced Nepali guides Dawa Chhiring Sherpa and Anup Rai, and renowned American ski mountaineer Hilaree Nelson. It is a reminder that, though beauti ful, this region should not be underestimated.
TIBET(CHINA) NEPAL MANANG LAMJUNG GORKHA DHADING To Gorkha To Besi Sahar Manaslu Summit Route TsumValley Trek Mana s l u Circuit Trek # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # MANASLU 8163 m Ngadi Chuli 7871 m Ganesh Himal 7422 m Himal Chuli 7893 m Saula Himal 6235 m Larke Peak 6330 m Naike Peak 6211 m Samdo Peak 5177 m Lapchung 5918 m Shringi Himal 7083 m Chaataan 5663 m Punchen Himal 5986 m Khojan 5528 m Langju Himal 6274 m Pashubo 6106 m Langbo Kangri 6648 m Larke La 5106 m Gyala Pass 5375 m Thapla Pass 5104 m Nguladho Jyang 5093 m Bhauda Himal 6672 m Pabil 7104 m Lhi Shyo Bihi Nyak Ghap Deng Chule Bursi Tanju Samdo Jagat Shyala Dramba Phurbe Ripchet Namrung Chumchet Chhokang Sirdibas Samagaon Chekumpar Ekle Bhatti Larke Bazar Chhokangparo Larke Phedi MANASLUGLACIER LAN G J A M GLACIER HIMAL CHULI GLACIER BHAUDAHIMAL GLACIER FUKANG GLACIER PONKAR GLACIER THULAGIGLACIER PUNGGEN GLACIER Shyar Khola Birendra Tal Kal Tal Dona Tal Chubu Tal B udhi Gandaki To m Khola Dudh Pokhari Seran Khola Chhilun K hola Ngadi DudhKhola B u d h i Gandak i International Border Primary Path # Manaslu Conservation Area Border Nepal District Borders Secondary Paths Mountaineering Route Mountain Peaks Villages Stupas Mountaineering Camps Map by: Christina Leas 0 10 Kilometers 5 Manaslu Conservation Area
The Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve (MPR) is located in the Cayo District of western Belize in Central Amer ica. The reserve features the Maya Mountains, various meandering rivers and streams, cascading wa terfalls, and pools throughout. Geologically the park is primarily located on top of a mountain range formed by granite, with some areas of limestone to the west. The limestone areas of the park have led to the formation of sinkholes and caves. Soils within the park are generally sandy. The elevation averages 400 to 700 m (1,312 to 2,296 ft); the highest elevation is Baldy Beacon at 1,017 m (3,336 ft) and the lowest point on the Macal River at 120 m (394 ft). The Macal River also acts as the Western and Southern park boundary. Vegetation is predominately Honduras Pine, but there is a significant area of broad leaf forest. The remaining cover is small areas of grassland and wetland. The Köppen Climate Classification for MPR is “AM”, tropical mon soon. This climate experiences monthly mean temperatures above 18℃ (64℉) year-round and experiences a monsoonal season.
The MPR forest reserve was first estab lished a part of a much larger, 6,086 square kilo meter protection forest in 1944. Soon after a cat astrophic wildfire occurred burning the majority of the area. In 1952, the reserve was reclassified as a production forest and experienced drastic infrastructure improvements within its boundar
ies. Reclassifications and improvements in map ping technology have led to numerous changes to the boundary of the reserve and a decrease in total area. In 1978, a hunting ban was imposed that is still in place to protect wildlife. The dis covery of ancient Mayan artifacts dating back to 1200 B.C. provides evidence of an ancient Mayan settlement. Today the park is sparsely populat ed, however there is a Mennonite community at Barton Creek (established in 1969) as well as the Douglas D’ Silva Forest Station. The station is the administrative headquarters for the Western Di vision of the Forestry Department and has a pop ulation of a few hundred people. San Luis was a former logging settlement with a population of about 100 people that has been abandoned after the conclusion of timber extraction.
The Forest Reserve was once apart of a significantly larger forest reserve that was sub jected to fragmentation and changing land uses. Today the park is situated between numerous
additional Forest and Archaeological Reserves, National Parks, and wildlife sanctuaries. It is recommended to have a four-wheel drive to ac cess the park via Chiquibul Road from San Igna cio to the North. Following Chiquibul Road to the South will lead visitors through the adjacent Chiquibul Forest Reserve. Continuing further South along Caracol Road visitors will reach the Caracol Archaeological Reserve. There is no ac cess to the reserve via bus however, tourism has been increasing in the area. The primary tourist attractions within the reserve are the numerous waterfalls and natural pools visitors can take a swim in. There are a number of campsites, cabins and even a Chalet that visitors can stay within or just outside of MPR. The reserve has been subject to a Southern Pine Beetle outbreak that has im pacted a large portion of the Honduras Pine. The various fauna that calls the reserve home adds to the importance of the reserve, protecting the en dangered Morelet’s Crocodile and two species of endemic frogs can be found too.
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park is a natural national park in northern Colombia encompassing the Si erra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range and was established in 1964. It is 3830 square ki lometers and spans three departments of Colombia: La Guajira, Magdalena, and Cesar. The terrain of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is extremely varied due to its coastal and tropical proximity as well as varied elevation. The park rises from the coast of the Carribean Sea all the way to the top of Pico Cristóbal Colón, the tall est mountain in Colombia. The Sierra Nevada mountains are the tallest coastal mountains in the world with the peak of Cristóbal Colón being only 56km from the beaches of the Carribbean. The park is managed by the Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, a special administrative unit of the Colombian government that is charged with the administration and management of Co lombia’s national parks. The non-governmental organization Nacionales Fundación Pro-Sier ra Nevada de Santa Marta (FPSN) works with this agency and other conservation agencies to help conserve the area as well. The park was designated as a protected natural national park in 1964. In 1976 an archaeological exploration uncovered the “Lost City”, the ruins of a Tairona settlement built around 700 AD and abandoned in the 1600s. The Lost City and other culturally significant sites in the park are overseen by the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia, which represents the interests of the indigenous
groups in the area. The conservation objectives of the park are 1) to preserve the park’s snow peaks, paramo, and forests that have strategic importance for the regulation of water, 2) to conserve the rainforest and sub-Andean forest since it contains a number of endangered species, and 3) to preserve the park’s indigenous cultural sites. In 1979 the park was designated a Biosphere reserve by UNESCO. The park contains 120 spe cies of mammals such as tapirs, red brocket deer, howler monkey, jaguar, puma, and little spotted cat as well as 46 species of amphibians and rep tiles - several of which are found nowhere else in the world as they evolved in isolation above 3500m - as well as 628 species of birds. The park was identified as the most irreplaceable park in the world for threatened species. Because of the variety of ecosystems found in the park that pro vide unique habitat for many threatened species and the cultural history of several indigenous groups, the park is truly a unique place in the world. The park is home to a varying landscape including rainforests, sub-Andean forest, and high plains (paramo). Because of the proximity to the coast, tropical latitude and the varied elevations the park contains many different climate
zone such as dry-winter oceanic climate and subtropical highlands. Sixteen major rivers and 36 total rivers originate in the park and provide water for farming and urban areas that 1.5 mil lion residents of Colombia depend upon. Therefore water forms the basis for discussion and negotiation between the various stakeholders of the region including indigenous groups, farmers, and politicians. The park has been threatened by illicit crops and deforestation on the slopes of the mountains that contribute to erosion. The area has seen clashes between guerrilla fight ers, paramilitaries, and drug traffickers that seek to use the land to cultivate illegal crops. There have also been reports of right-wing paramilitary groups extorting tourists to the area. There is a long and rich history of indigenous peoples in the area. Currently 30,000 indigenous people of the Koguis, Arhuacos, Kankuamos, and Wiwa groups live in the area of the park. The ruins of the Tairona Culture are also found in the park, which was a pre-Colombian society that thrived in the area. These groups operate farms in the area and also oversee a portion of the park that includes the “Lost City”, the ruins of an ancient Tairona city that is a popular backpacking destination.
46km C a r i b b e a n S e a Cuchilla La Dona Cerro Leon Loma De Dingui Cerro Cuba Cerro Azul Cuchilla Sanananguega Cerro Angimaloa Cerro El Leon Cuchilla de Turumutal Cuchilla De Angestura Cuchilla De Vainilla Nevado Ramirez Picos De Merida Pico Tairona Pico Simon Bolivar Cerro Climaguarrua Cerro P. Griere Punta Aguda Cerro Corea Magdalena La Gu ajira R i v e r D o n Dieg o River noD Dieg o Alt o Ma m a n c a n a ca D o n Diego Chiq u ito Don Diego Valley Pico Cristobol Colon 5775m Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Natural Park 90 distance elevation
Asi
Keyi
Natural Environmental Park is in the southwestern portion of Yukon, Canada, within the St. Elias Mountains Ecoregion, which is characterized by large regions of ice fields and high mountain ranges. Established in 2003 by the Kluane First Nation Final Agreement be tween the Kluane First Nation, the White River Nation, and the Government of Yukon, Asi Keyi is a remote park protecting a natural area that includes significant physical, biological, and cultural features. The Park is bound to the west by the Yukon-Alaska border and by Kluane National Park to the south. The Kluane Wildlife Sanctuary, which once included Asi Keyi, is located to the north and east. In total, the Park encompasses 2,984 square kilometers.
Much of the landscape of occurs at the northern edge of the Icefield Ranges physio graphic region, which includes the St. Elias Mountains and some of the largest permanent snowfields within continental North America. Mount Wood, located along the southern boundary, is the highest elevation at 4,845 meters. Asi Keyi’s largest glacier, the Klutlan, cuts through the center of the park and feeds the Generc River.
The geology of Asi Keyi is comprised of sedimentary rock that formed initially as ocean sediment and volcanics from the collision of the Pacific and North American plates. Major glacial events, both past and present, have shaped the main valleys. A layer of White River ash deposited approximately 1,200 BP covers much
of the landscape, reaching depths of up to two meters in some areas. The Klutlan Glacier was once covered by a thick layer of ash, which in sulated the ice and allowed for the development of soils and vegetation, establishing a unique ecosystem of white spruce forest. Melting ice has resulted in large, slumped areas, causing trees and moss to exist at jaunty angles.
The Park is within the rangeland of the Chisana caribou herd, a small population of Northern Mountain caribou that traverse across the Yukon-Alaska border. Designated a species of special concern, caribou are an important prey species for many predators, scavengers, and First Nations peoples. The region also supports the habitats for moose, Dall sheep, mountain goats, grizzly bear, wolves, small mammals, birds, and insects.
Asi Keyi, which translates to Grandfather’s Land, is the traditional home land of the Kluane First Nation and the White River First Nation peoples. Traditional land use and subsistence practices, family ties, and oral histories of both First Nations connect people to the landscape, both past and present. A Steering
Committee composed of delegates from Kluane First Nation, White River Nation, and the Gov ernment of Yukon guides the planning process, as well as outlining park and First Nation Peo ples objectives.
Accessing Asi Keyi is exceedingly difficult. No roads or maintained trails exist inside. Although portions of the Park are only 25 kilometers from the Alaska Highway, at least two days of extreme hiking or a helicopter flight is required to gain access. As such, visitor numbers to the park are exceedingly low. Several traditional pack-trails crisscross the Park, which were used by First Nations Peoples for subsis tence practices.
The Park is surrounded by Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, the Kluane National Park and Preserve, and the Kluane Wildlife Sanctuary. These parks, along with other protected areas that span international borders, form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although it is currently not listed, Asi Keyi is geographically central to this location and shares ecosystems, wildlife ranges, and cultural history across the region.
Torres Del Paine National Park is in southern Chile and is known for be ing beautiful yet hostile. It typically has sandy soils but is full of biodiver sity. The park has four eco zones: Andean Desert, Magellanic subpolar forest, Pre-Andean shrubland, and Patagonian steppe. The park has four main valleys, French Valley (Valle del Frances,) Bader Valley (Valle Bader), Ascension Valley (Valle Ascencio), and Valley of Silence (Valle del Silencio). Within those valleys there are three main peaks, Torres d’Agostini, Torres Central, and Torres Monzino. The park is abundant in wildlife such as cougars, foxes, guanacos, Chilean Huemul (endangered), 15 birds of prey (Andean condor), Chilean fla mingo, Magellanic woodpecker, coscoroba swan, and Magellan geese. Lastly, the area has vast water features including, lakes (Grey, Pehoe, Nordenskiold, and Sacmiento), glaciers (Grey, Pingo, Tyndall), and the Paine River. Archaeological findings date back to 8000 B.C. of the Mapuche Indians. The Mapu che People had inhabited much of south central Chile to Argentina as early as 500 BC. There is much more archaeological work to do in Patagonia to fully understand its past. They fought hard against European colonization, but unfortunately the land was eventually taken. Before the park was created it, it was used for sheep and cattle farming and as a rest area for ships going
through Drakes Passage. Torres del Paine Na tional Park was created in 1959 and is currently managed by Chilean government organization Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF). The park was originally named Grey Lake but was changed in 1970 to its current name. In 1978, UNESCO designated it as a World Reserve Bio sphere.
Today, the park is well known for incred ible hiking and trail running. More than 250,000 visitors travel there each year, many are foreign. The nearest city most used for tourists is Puer to Natales. The city has a small airport but has a community built for tourists. National Geo graphic has rated the park as the 5th most beautiful place in the world. There is an epic trail race that occurs every year in the park, consisting of 8 races from 7k all the way to 125k. Many tourists come for the incredible hiking that can be found in the area. Of course, the park is a popular tour ist location receiving over 250,000 visitors.
The greatest challenge to conservation in Torres Del Paine is humans. The park is a popular tourist location, and the effects are showing. Erosion is the most apparent, but littering and human ignited forest fires are also present. The park is home to very fragile ecosystem types that
can take a very long time to recover due to the harsh environment. Forest fires have been hurt ing the native lenga tree forests. In fact, 45,000 acres have been destroyed by human caused for est fires.
There is hope though as there are active conservation projects occurring, particularly on reducing human impact in the park and protect ing the endangered Huemul deer and Guanacos. The park is now becoming more managed and protected, all while trying to preserve their part of the Patagonia region. Torres Del Paine is imple menting stricter Leave No Trace regulations and doing more trail work. In the future, they plan to improve waste management, better trail mainte nance programs, and recycling. Importantly, cli mate change is also affecting the park. The park has been experiencing effects such as melting glaciers, new weather patterns, decreased forest resiliency, and a change in precipitation patterns. There is research being done into the impact of grazing in the area and how to recover from the large cattle and sheep farms of the past. Lastly, there is work being done to better recognize the importance of the land to the Mapuche Peoples.
Galapagos National Park is located roughly 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, encompassing a remarkably bio diverse island chain known for the unique plant and animal life endemic to the region. The ter restrial park consists of nearly 8,000 square kilo meters of protected land, spanning all 13 of the major islands within the Galapagos Archipelago. Ongoing volcanic and seismic activity are responsible for the formation of the islands, most of which are the summits of volcanoes, with the tallest island rising to 5,600ft (1,707m) at the summit of Volcan Wolf. The terrain of the islands is characterized by uplifted marine lava flows and a vegetation gradient of coastal mangroves, arid lowland regions, and lush, humid highlands. Though the islands are in the tropics, cool ocean currents regulate conditions, result ing in the growth of desert-like vegetation at low elevations such as succulent cacti and leafless shrubs. Only the highest altitude regions receive enough annual rainfall to sustain the lush, green plant life characteristic of tropical environments. Because the Galapagos Islands experi ence this unique mix of tropical and temperate conditions, a complex and unusual composition of flora and fauna inhabit the land and surround ing oceans. There are nearly 9,000 plant and animal species found within the park, a large percentage of which are endemic to the Galapagos, meaning they’re found nowhere else on the planet. The most iconic of these species include the Giant Galapagos Tortoise, the Marine
Iguana, the Flightless Cormorant and the Gala pagos Penguin. The Galapagos Marine Reserve protects an additional 133,000 square kilometers of ocean area surrounding the islands, hosting a wide array of marine wildlife including whales, sharks, sea lions and sea turtles.
The Galapagos Islands were discovered inadvertently in 1535 and visited periodically over the following centuries. Pirates and whal ers frequented the area throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, utilizing the islands for strategic attacks and natural resource extraction. In 1835, scientist Charles Darwin famously visited the Galapagos on an expedition, studying the local species that would later inspire his theory of evolution and natural selection. Ultimately, 4 of the 19 islands were permanently colonized during the early 1900s, and modern populations in the Galapagos number around 30,000 individuals. Populated areas therefore account for 3% of the area on the islands, while the other 97% is maintained as national park.
In 1957, a scientific expedition backed by the IUCN and UNESCO evaluated the envi ronmental status of the islands and recommend-
ed immediate action to protect endangered spe cies, address invasive species, regulate fisheries and establish a research station. Following this report, Galapagos National Park was established on June 15th, 1959, encompassing all terrestrial land in the islands except for those owned by existing colonists. Defined as a site of outstanding universal value, Galapagos National Park was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.
Throughout the islands’ history, human impacts have resulted in the decimation of populations of many marine and terrestrial wildlife, the introduction of exotic species, and large-scale changes to near-shore marine and highland eco systems. Despite these conservation challenges, the park has been successful in restoring and protecting endangered populations of Giant Tor toises and Marine Iguanas. The establishment of the Galapagos Marine Reserve was also a ma jor victory for conservation efforts. Nonetheless, modern threats from demographic growth and unsustainable tourism will have considerable impact on the future health of the Galapagos Is lands if current conservation efforts are unsuccessful.
The Gran Sasso and Monte della Laga Ntional Park is located in central Italy, spread over the regions of Abruzzo, Lazio, and Marche. The park is one of the largest in Europe with an area of 1,433.11km2 /553.33mi2. It covers three mountain ranges and shifts in elevation from 130 meters above sea level to nearly 3,000 meters, preserving a glacially carved steppe plateau as well as rugged mountainsides and undulating hills of old growth forests. Two distinct biogeographical regions exist within the park. The northern region maintains a Euro-Siberian temperate, oceanic climate, while the southern expanse of the park is considered Mediterranean subtropical highlands. The park was first drawn out in 1991 but the final perimeter was not established until 1995. Its majestic landscape is peppered with numer ous sites of rich cultural and historical value such as archeological sites, castles, fortified villag es, mills, and churches. Settlements have come and gone in the region for millennia, beginning with Neolithic shepherds and today forty-four municipalities continue to reside inside the park. Over half of the park is covered by woods and forests, primarily in the northern area. Much of the forests were used heavily by local inhabitants for timber and coal production. However, the sprawling woods still retain old chestnut trees, maples, large silver fir, and mountain elm, some dating beyond medieval times. The three mountain chains within the park’s
perimeter are the Gran Sasso d’Italia chain, the Gemelli Mountains, and the Monte del la Laga. The former two are composed of carbonate limestone and dolomite while the latter is made up of sandstones and marl. Twenty peaks within the protected area exceed an altitude of 2000m with the highest peak, Corno Grande, towering at 2,912m/9,554ft in elevation. The Gran Sasso formation is rich in well preserved glacial activity including cirques, moraines, and large U-shaped valleys. The limestone of the Gran Sasso formation is extremely permeable and prone to water erosion. Streams in the area commonly terminate before reaching major tributaries. This leaves the landscape covers in dried stream beds full of eroded limestone. The Monte della Laga mountain chain has a marble and sandstone composition that is more resistant to water erosion. This results in many surface flows and waterfalls throughout the northern region of the park.
The high altitudes of the Gran Sasso chain are the original home of the Abruzzo Chamois (an alpine antelope-goat hybrid). Due to overhunting practices, the chamois that once roamed freely in the area disappeared from the region around 1892. However, thanks to conservation efforts, and after a hiatus of over 100 years, the chamois were successfully reintroduced into the area. As a
result, they have been chosen as the symbol of the park and today there are several herds roaming the higher altitudes of the Gran Sasso region.
Two ten-kilometer tunnels have been bored through the Gran Sasso massif. Along side those tunnels, and underneath the national park, a subterranean physics laboratory was constructed. The laboratory primarily conducts research pertaining to neutrino physics but also studies other facets particle physics that require an absence of cosmic radiation. It is the larg est underground research center in the world.
The park is showcased by the network of museums and visitor centers scattered across the region. Tourists can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding during the warm er months. During the winter, four ski resorts operate within the park boundaries. Manage ment of the park is designated to the Park Authority who oversees the eleven districts within the park. These separate delegations promote effective planning of infrastructure and en vironmental maintenance within the national park. Hospitality can be found in the numer ous villages and hamlets scattered throughout the park in addition to a plethora of hostels and alpine huts located in more secluded areas.
Kluane National Park and Reserve was established in 1976 in Canada- Yukon Territory, in the traditional territory of the Champagne and Aishihik and Kluane First Nations. The park area is 8,518 mi²; 21,980 km². Kluane abuts three other large, protected areas: Wrangell-St. Elias and Glacier Bay National Parks in Alaska and British Columbia’s Tatshenshini-Alsek Park. Together, the parks have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and they form the largest internationally protected area in the world. The park features the highest and largest coastal mountains in Canada (including Mount Logan, Canada’s highest peak, which is 5,959 m; 19,550 ft elevation). The park has the largest non-polar ice fields in the world, covering half of the park. Stream erosion and glacial scouring are evident across the park’s landscape, where steep slopes and cliffs, and outwash plains make up the remaining landforms in the park. The Donjek river flows into the heart of the park. A’ay Chu River flows into Kluane Lake on the north-central border of the park. Lakes and creeks are scattered in the Eastern corner of the park. The largest lake in the park, Kathleen Lake, reaches the northeastern border of the park.
T he park has a Dry Cool Continental/ Subarctic Climate, according to the Koppen Climate Classification. The biome varies from coastal mountains, arctic, alpine tundra, north ern prairie, ice fields, glaciers, lakes, rivers, wetlands, forests, and rivers. The park has a wide array of biodiversity, with the largest population of Dall’s sheep, an exclusive popu lation in Thecal Dhal. The park is also home to Duke Moose- the largest subspecies of moose
in North America, the most biologically diverse population of grizzly bears, mountain goats, over 150 species of birds, among many others.
Since the last Ice Age, Southern Tutchone people, which include Champagne and Aishihik First Nations and Kluane First Nation, have lived throughout the area that is now Kluane National Park and Reserve. Over thousands of years the people have developed effective methods for living in this land of ex tremes. Elders recall a rich history which details events and places spanning many generations. They once lived a nomadic lifestyle, travelling great distances, to take advantage of seasonal abundances of wildlife and plants throughout their traditional territory. This lifestyle required developing a superior skill set of hunting and travelling techniques in an area of harsh climat ic and geographic variations. The Kluane Lake People and the Champagne and Aishihik People have been working to revitalize their culture through reconnection to the land, teaching their youth, hunting and gathering, and passing on the stories of their country.
T he Alaska Highway was built in 1942, severing most of the vital connections of the southern Tutchone people. In 1943, the fed eral government set aside this area as a game sanctuary, to protect wildlife along the high way, which evicted the Tutchone people from their homeland. A portion of the Kluane Game Sanctuary became what is now Kluane National
Park and Reserve. In 1973, a delegation of Yu kon First Nation Chiefs presented a document to Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau, which initiated land claims negotiations in Yukon. The government of Canada signed comprehensive land claim final agreements with Cham pagne and Aishihik First Nations in 1993 and Kluane First Nation in 2003. These two final agreements identify specific rights and respon sibilities of the two First Nations, the Board and Parks Canada in the management of the park – a cooperative management regime based on shared responsibility. Parks Canada and the First Nations governments manage the park cooperatively.
A n outbreak of spruce bark beetles killed off 44 percent of mature white spruce trees (which previously dominated the forests in the park) from 1995-2015. This outbreak changed the composition of the forest, so deciduous willow is now the dominant tree species in the southern half of the park, which is outcompeting the regenerating spruce seedlings.
Glaciers and large ice fields cover 80 percent of the park. In the last 50 years, the gla ciers have reduced by 20 percent, and over 230 small glaciers have disappeared due to climate change. Parks Canada relies on independent researchers to understand the dynamics behind climate change and resulting impacts to the park. It is a large challenge that requires multiple collaborators to better understand.
Corcovado National Park sits on Corcovado bay in southern Chile, and spans from sea level to 7,500ft at the top of Corcovado Volcano. Due to the range of elevation, the 988,450 acre park hosts multiple biomes including tem perate rainforest, high mountain shrubland, and marine environments, all thriving with wildlife. Within the park there are two volcanic moun tains, Yanteles Volcano which reaches 6700ft, and the crown Corcovado Volcano which reach es 7546 ft and is the main attraction of the park.
The temperate rainforest contains 82 lakes and hosts a diverse wildlife of 18 mammal species, 64 bird species, and 133 floral species. The Corcovado and Tic Toc rivers flow through the park to the bay of Corcovado, where flour ishing estuaries exist. The park hosts a variety of endangered species including Pudu Deer, Chiloe Fox, Puma, Huillin (Southern River Otter), and Blue Whales, the largest mammals on earth that have a life span averagin 80-90 years that return each year to nurse in the Corcovado bay.
There is little known history about the park, though we know that the nomadic Chono people once navigated the land as well as the surrounding marine ecosystems in canoes, and hunted sea lions, fished, and gathered seaweed and shellfish along the coast. The Chono people are now claimed to be extinct, though there are people living near Corcovado that still practice Chono traditions.
Due to the lack of access to the park the area is mostly unexplored and entirely undeveloped, allowing nature to run its course as it would have for thousands of years. This gives the park a mysterious feeling of untouched beut ty and beckons exploration within thr park. The limited access to this park is available by flying in on a plane and water landing on one of the many lakes, or boating in from the Corvoado Bay. Areas with extremely limited access like this are becoming less common and it is import ant that we protect them.
Turning this area into a National Park took many years, and the main challenge was the acquisition of the land. The land was originally owned by the Chilean military, and the military was resilient to give it up. After the land was deemed not vital to the military, the Tompkins Conservation became interested in the pristine area. In 1994 the land was purchased from the military by the Tompkins Conservation along with Peter Buckley from the Chilean Armed Forces. This upset many local Chileans, as they saw this purchase as another white man coming in to claim land for development and profit.
In 2002, Doug Tompkins of the Tompkins Conservation made a proposition to give the land to the people of Chile, only if it were to be managed properly. Chilean President Lagos and Military General Juan Emilio acknowledged the idea, and in January 2005 the land was designat ed as a National Park of Chile. This area has remained untouched since, and the next challenge led by the Tompkins Conservation is to designate a marine sanctuary in the Corcovado bay, to protect the vital nursery for the endangered Blue Whale.
If you want to see stunning cinemetography of Corcovado National park, check out Chris Malloy’s film, 180 Degrees South, which documents Jeff Johnson’s journey from Mexico down to Chile, where he and a crew including Yvon Chouinard attempt to summit Corcovado Volcano after getting boated in to the Corcovado bay, but come up just short due to the lack of ice at the peak. The film interviews Doug Tompkins where he mentions how he acquired the land and his deep respect and the need to care for the park as well as the other areas within Patagonia.
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Bowron Lake Provincial Park located in Brit ish Columbia (B.C.)
Canada was established on June 6th 1961. The Bowron Lake Park is 1,397 km² shaped around a series of lakes separated by rivers, marshes, and mountainous landscapes. This park is important habitat to moose, grizzly bear, deer, caribou, timber wolf, mountain goat, marmot, and fox. Many fish also call these rivers and lakes home including the Rainbow Trout, Dolly Varden, Lake Trout, Rocky Mountain Whitefish, and Kokanee. Iden tified in the 2002 Bowron Lake management plan, plant species like the meadow arnica, hall’s willowherb, small-flowered willowherb, slender mannagrass etc. are considered rare and endangered to the park.
Mount Amos Bowman is the tallest peak at 2,578m and the lowest elevation is 869m. The mountains and surrounding areas of the lake are dominated by western hemlock and western red cedar. The areas Köppen climate classification is a mix between subarctic and tundra within the Boreal Forest Biome.
Managed by the B.C. Government, the Bowron Lake Provincial Park was originally established as a game reserve in 1925. In 1961 Bowron Lakes was reclassified as an official park by BC. Before Bowron Lakes was used for recreation, and its exceptional hunting, it was believed that the Shuswap and Carrier people were the first to use the area. Historically, there
would be 9 to 11 keekwillee houses and 100 peo ple at Bowron Lake. The village was devastated in the 1860’s by smallpox and in 1964 the vil lage disappeared into the lake. This event was believed to be caused by an earthquake or mud slide. Due to the lack of documentation the true cause is unknown. Throughout the park 20 other cultural sites have been found revealing buried campfires, cache pits, and projectile points.
In the mid 1800’s the area around Bow ron Lakes attracted the attention of gold miners. The town Barkerville became one of the greater forces in leading the forward charge to gold. The town today has 125 heritage buildings and has the oldest Chee Kung Tong buildings in Canada. In the 1880s Chinese residents made up half of the Cariboo regions population. The area surrounding Bowron Lakes have evidence of indig enous settlements up to 10,000 years ago. Other nations like the Lhatko, Nazko, Lhoosk’uz, Ulk atcho, ?Esdilagh, Xatśūll, Simpcw, and Lheidli have a historical presence in the area.
B.C. Parks objectives are to mitigate and adapt to climate change, maintain and restore ecosystems, protect and recover biodiversity, and create connections (First Nations). B.C.
parks are protected areas managed for important conservation values and are dedicated to the preservation of their natural environments, and the enjoyment of the public. The park has sever al natural disturbance factors like mountain pine bark beetle infestations and wild fires that chal lenge forest managers.
Much of the park is managed as wilder ness. This is important for recreation, hunting, and fishing, and protection of its ecological im portance. The park is known for its 116 km ca noe/kayak circuit, 25 front country campsites at the parks entrance and 48 wilderness campsites. When the lakes are frozen the circuit can be completed by ski. The canoe circuit takes rough ly 6-10 days to complete between portages and paddeling.
Bowron Lake Provinvial Park shares a border with the Cariboo Mountains Provincial Park which shares a border with the Wells Gray Provincial Park. These three parks together cre ate a 7947 km² cordior for migratory mammals. Roughly 12,000 years ago the glaciers that once exisisted in the park retreaded forming the parks unique rectangular look. Much of the glaciers have since diminished into nothing however in the higher elevations reminents of the glaciers can still be seen.
Shirvan National Park. located in Azerbaijan, was the first nation al park of the country. The park was first established as Shirvan State Re serve in 1969 before being established as a national park on July 5, 2003. The park’s pur pose of creation was for the protection and re production of the Goitered or Black-tailed Ga zelle. This gazelle is native to Azerbaijan and the Caucasus region and is the park’s success story. In the 1960s the goitered gazelle population had declined to only 171 individuals from an original population count of 60,000 a mere 60 years earlier. Of the remaining 171 gazelles in the Azerbaijan and Caucaus region, only 77 were found in the Shirvan Steppe. This sharp decline in population was the result of hunting and habitat loss. Through the focused and continued ef forts of the park’s conservation and the breeding program, the gazelle population has rebounded and is currently estimated to be between 7,000 - 8,000 animals. Shirvan National Park has been instrumental in the goitered gazelles’ reintroduc tion to other parks throughout the Caucasus in recent years. The park is also the native habitat to numerous other unique fauna, including foxes, jackals, hares, snakes, caspian turtles, and the Cuacasian leopard (another testament to wildlife conservation efforts).
Roughly rectangular in shape, Shirvan National Park encompasses 543 km2, a semi-des ert at the park’s entrance in the west through arid steppe terrain with scattered vegetation down to
its eastern border the Caspian Sea. The park’s territory, which used to be at the bottom of the Caspian Sea, is presently an accumulative plain which sits 20-25 meters below sea level with a slight increase in relief westwards. From the entrance, the park continues to a steppe lake (semi-artificial in origin). Here the shallow lake, bordered by marsh areas, with its bottom overgrown with submerged plants and ringed by reeds provides important wetland habitat for breeding, resting, and wintering sites along the Caspian coastline bird migration path. Shirvan National Park possesses a rich ornithological abundance with over 270 individual species, including the imperial eagle and flamingos. Of these 270 species, 14 are listed in the Azerbaijan Red Book (official state document on endangered species). Mountains sit to the parks north, west, and east with one mountain, Mt. Bandovan, located within the park. These mountains are the sites of mud volcanoes and offer a unique landscape devoid of any vegetation.
Shirvan National Park has not always been a protected place. Before the establishment of the park, locals used the land for livestock grazing and farming. Their farming system uti
lized a planned irrigation system including the lake. Though the locals are now prohibited from using the park as grazing pasture, the canals that criss-cross the park’s landscape remain a central part of their farming network carrying water to the agricultural fields and villages which border the park on all but the eastern side. These ca nals bear living witness to the link between park, people, and livelihood. Apart from the irrigation needs of the locals, there are still a multitude of various land uses taking place within the park. The city of Shirvan used to be a center of local and foreign trade, and today the park is sur rounded by major roads which connect Russia with Persia. Active oil drilling still takes place within the park, though prohibited, hunters still cross into the park, and both industrial and mil itary scrap metal is scattered within the park. Research has been done into promoting sustainable tourism within the park but progress is slow and will include the monumental task of coordinating with all levels of stakeholders. However the future of Azerbaijani Conservation appears bright with the President of Azerbaijan taking active steps to set conservation of biodiversity as a focus and priority within the country.
REFERENCES
Forward: Island Biogeography, Big Island, Hawai'i
Cartographer: Kevin McManigal
Projection: NAD1983 State Plane, Hawaii
References: planning.hawaii.gov/gis/download-gisdata-expanded
Nelson, Dorothy. 1966. Hand painted shaded relief. shadedreliefarchive.com/ hawaii_big_island.html
Chadwick, Douglas. 2021. “Four Fifths a Grizzly: A New Perspective on Nature that Just Might Save Us All.” Patagonia Works. science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.1603080 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC6468070 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insular_ biogeography sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/ S2351989421003978 teara.govt.nz/en/extinctions/page-4
washingtonpost.com/national/health- science/is-hawaii-the-extinction-capitalof-the-world-exhibit-a-the-alalabird/2016/04/25
abcbirds.org/blog/five-rarest-hawaiian- birds dlnr.hawaii.gov/ecosystems/rare-plants/ species
hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2021 09-29/23-birds-fish-and-plants-have- been-declared-extinct-9-are-from-hawaii en.unesco.org/courier/2021-3/islandsfragile-showcases-biodiversity
rewild.org/news/trouble-in-paradisethe-worlds-islands-are-home-toextraordinary-speciesand-face-alarmingextinction-rates
y2y.net
Park: Farallones de Cali, Colombia
Cartographer: Forrest D. Bauer Projection: Mercator References: worldspecies.org/protectareas/ display/24820
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farallones_de_Cali sula.com.co/blog/farallones-de-cali/ parquesnacionales.gov.co/portal/es/ ecoturismo/parques/region-pacifico/ parque-nacional-natural-farallones-decali/
mapcarta.com/N4001249859 mapcarta.com/N1029256624 mapcarta.com/N4001242256 mapcarta.com/N4001249865 mapcarta.com/N6316719349 doc.arcgis.com/en/insights/latest/analyze/
calculate-z-score.htm
Diva-gis.org
wbwaterdata.org/dataset/rivers-colombia/ resource
Park: Huatulco National Park, Mexico
Cartographer: Patrick Benson
Projection: NAD 1927 Contiguous USA Albers
References: upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ commons/6/62/Mujerpopoloca.jpg
files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/ images/ Sea_Turtle_Hol_Chan_Marine_ Reserve_W
W1105958/story_full_width/11e3bxo822_ Sea_Turtle_Hol_Chan_Marine_Reserve_ WW1105958.jpg rsis.ramsar.org/ris/1321
gob.mx/conanp/documentos/parquenacional-huatulco geohack.toolforge.org/geohack. drecp.databasin.org/datasets/ e65320a0f09f46a8b0d8146146985c3a/ dwtkns.com/srtm30m/
Park: St. Katherine Protectorate
Cartographer: Alex Butler
Projection: Transverse Mercator
References:
Shaded Relief Archive: Sinai PeninsulaCIA protectedplanet.net. britannica.com/topic/Saint-CatherinesMonastery#/media/1/516893/122217
Naturalearth.com Openstreetmap.org thenounproject.com sacredsites.com
Park: Nuristan National Park, Afghanistan
Cartographer: Tyler J. Carl
Projection: Asia South Lambert Conformal Conic References: protectedplanet.net/15504 dopa-explorer.jrc.ec.europa.eu/wdpa/15504
oneearth.org/ecoregions/east-afghanmontane-conifer-forests/ earthexplorer.usgs.gov/ energydata.info/dataset/afghanistanperennial-rivers/resource/59ca5ebf-c3974abb-8275-ea2f4c55f1b0?inner_ span=True earthworks.stanford.edu/catalog.
Park: Urho Kekkonen National Park, Finland
Cartographer: Christian Ceraso
Projection: EUREF FIN TM35FIN
References:
asiointi.maanmittauslaitos.fi/karttapaikka/ kassa/2
diva-gis.org/gdata
land.copernicus.eu/acl_users/credentials_ cookie_auth/require_login?came_ from=https%3A//land.copernicus. eu/imagery-in-situ/eu-dem/eu-dem-v1.1/ fetch-land-file%3Fhash%3D9c3e8a4dfa943 bc2d7b04ee666b3db2e7e618749
nationalparks.fi/ documents/10550/56971912/UK_ historia_SuomujoenKolttakentta_ etusivu_LiisaVirta_1050.jpg/ af0e53d4-aabf-3ff8-06d8- 4d378f7d61a2?t=1541402926112
naturalearthdata.com
nationalparks.fi/ documents/10550/56971912/UK_ historia_SuomujoenKolttakenntta_ etusivu_LiisaVirta_1050. jpg/afoe53d4-aabf-3ff806d8- 4d378f7d61a2?t=1541402926112
responsibletravel.com/ imagesclient/L_248069.jpg
syke.fi/en-US/Open_information/Spatial_ datasets/Downloadable_spatial_dataset
Park: Río Simpson, Chile
Cartographer: John Copriviza
Projection: WGS 1984 UTM 19S
References:
Conaf.cl/parques/reserva-nacional-riosimpson
Conaf.cl/parques-nacionales/normativa-yreglamento/planes-de-manejo-reservasnacionales
Fishingwithlarry.com/cincorioslodge
Hatchmag.com/articles/pasture-raisedtrout/7714987
Lavaguada.cl/reportajes/rio-simpsoncoyhaique/simpson-river
Naturalearthdata
Openstreetmap.org/#map=5/38.007/-95.844
“Principales ríos, embalses, lagos y lagunas de Chile”. Panorama Económico Social: las regiones de Chile 1990 - 2005. MIDEPLAN, INE. (March, 2008)
Protectedplanet.net/9444
Simpson, E. “Esploraciones hechas por la Corbeta Chacabuco al mandi del capitán de fragata don Enrique M. Simpson en los Archipiélagos de Guaitecas
Chonos i Taitao”. Santiago. Imprenta Nacional. (1874)
USGS EROS Center. SRTM 1 ArcSecond Global Scenes: SRTM1S46W072V3 & SRTM1S46W073V3
Park: Vassfaret og Vidalen, Norway
Cartographer: Christine Forseth
Projection: Europe Albers Equal Area Conic
References: coe.int/en/web/bern-convention/emeraldnetwork diva-gis.org/gdata dopa-explorer.jrc.ec.europa.eu/wdpa/12290 facebook.com/Vassfaropplevelser/photos geonorge.no/en/ lifeinnorway.net/bears-in-norway/ protectedplanet.net valdres.no/ vassfaropplevelser.no/
Park: Khao Yai National Park, Thailand
Cartographer: Grace Friend
Projection: Asia South Albers Equal Area Conic
References: bangkokpost.com/life/social-andlifestyle/1910400/khao-yai-sees-new-life data.humdata.org/dataset/thailand-waterbodies-water-courses
Diva GIS khaoyainationalpark.com/en Natural Earth Protected Areas database Shaded Relief Archive
SRTM 30 meter, Derek Watkins
thainationalparks.com/khao-yai-nationalpark
thethaiger.com/news/national/living-withelephants-avoiding-problems-in-khao-yainational-park
whc.unesco.org/en/list/590/ multiple=1&unique_number=698
Park: Parque Nacional Los Glaciares
Cartographer: Matthew Gomez
Projection: South America Albers Equal Area Conic
References: diva-gis.org/datadown earthdata.nasa.gov naturalearthdata.com dwtkns.com/srtm30m/ whc.unesco.org/en/list/145/ newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Los_ Glaciares_National_Park
losglaciares.com/en/parque/planmane. html#2
worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/exploresites/wdpaid/2570 protectedplanet.net/2570 argentina.gob.ar/parquesnacionales/ losglaciares
Park: Ritsa Strict Nature Reserve, Georgia
Cartographer: Owen S. Helland
Projection: ETRS 1989 UTM Zone 38N
References: naturalearthdata.com/downloads/ protectedplanet.net/1654 dwtkns.com/srtm30m/
web.archive.org/web/20181126221614/ https://www.protectedplanet.net/ritsa-strictnature-reserve
tourister.ru/world/europe/abkhazija/city/ gagra/nationalparks/16745
apa.gov.ge/en/protected-areas/reserve georgiantravelguide.com/en/ritsis-tba
Park: Parque Internacional La Amistad
Cartographer: Matt Hrubesky
Projection: South America Albers Equal Area Conic
References: diva-gis.org naturalearthdata.com protectedplanet.net dwtkns.com/srtm30m/ costarica.org/national-parks/la-amistad/ whc.unesco.org/en/list/205/
costa-rica-guide.com/nature/national-parks/ la-amistad/ journeysinternational.com/destination/latinamerica/panama/la-amistad-
Park: Fjallabak Nature Reserve
Cartographer: Jordyn Jackson
Projection: ISN 1993 Lambert Conformal Conic
References: alltrails.com/explore/trail/iceland/southern/ blahnjukur?mobileMap=false&ref=sidebarstatic-map&u=i fjallabak.is/ gatt.lmi.is/geonetwork/ srv/eng/catalog.search#/search?facet.
iceland.org/geography/forest/fjallabak lmi.is/is/landupplysingar/gagnagrunnar/ nidurhal lmi.is/is/vefsjar/korta-og-loftmyndasofn/ kortasafn
naturalearthdata.com/downloads/50mphysical-vectors/
natural earth countries shapefile for Iceland Border https://www.pinterest.com/ pin/337066353336061838/ ust.is/english/nature/protected-areas/ south/fjallabak-nature-reserve/nature-andgeology/ worldheritagesite.org/blog/id/340
Park: Virunga National Park, Congo.
Cartographer: JP Kergosien
Projection: WGS 1984
References: Virunga.org Protectedplanet.net whc.unesco.org/en/list/63 wwf.org.uk/learn/wildlife/mountain-gorillas geologyin.com/2014/08/mount-nyiragongovirunga-national-park.html
Park: Kronotsky Nature Reserve
Cartographer: Kim Kresan
Projection: NGA 2014 References: earthexplorer.usgs.gov
kronoki.ru/ru/kamchatka/kronotskiyzapovednik
visitkamchatka.ru/en/about/kronotskynature-reserve siberiantimes.com/other/others/features/ f0275-one-of-the-worlds-greatest-natural wonderlands-in-rusisas-land-of-fire- and-ice pbs.org/edens/kamchatka/ring.html atlasobscura.com/articles/russian-valley-ofdeath
kamchatkaland.com/note/valley-of-geysers pbs.org/edens/kamchatka/ring.html
eugene.kaspersky.com/2021/11/16/ southern-kamchatka-two-moreking-canoes-kizimen-and-kronotsky
Park: Manaslu Conservaton Area, Nepal
Cartographer: Christina Leas
Projection: Transverse Mercator
References: diva-gis.org/data
dnpwc.gov.np/en/conservation-area-detail glims.org/maps/glims namasadventure.com ntnc.org.np/project/manaslu-conservationarea-project-mcap opendatanepal.com
outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/ everest/renowned-mountaineer-hilareenelsons-body-found-on-manaslu peakvisor.com/park/manaslu-conservationarea.html
snowleopardconservancy.org
Park: Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Belize
Cartographer: Dylan LeTavec
Projection: WGS 1984 World Mercator
References:
ambergriscaye.com/pages/town/ parkmountainpineridge.html
biodiversity.bz/ biological-diversity.info/GIS.htm cahalpech.com/wp-content/uploads/BelizeAdventures-Cahal-Pech-Resort.jpg dwtkns.com/srtm30m/ d1ay7qnb0dqwzm.cloudfront. net/319998.900.11fc7ab59e.jpg
worldspecies.org/geographics/ climate/183/214
parquesnacionales.gov.co/portal/en/ ecotourism/caribbean-region/sierra-nevadade-santa-marta-national-naturalpark protectedplanet.net/en openstreetmap.org alltrails.com/explore/trail/colombia/ magdalena/ciudad-perdida--2
opentopography.org
Park: Asi Keyi Natural Environmental Park
Cartographer: Emily Meick
Projection: NAD 1983 Yukon Albers
First Nation and The Government of the Yukon.
Meikle, J.C. and R. Rosie. 2013. Asi Keyi Natural Environment Park: Resource Report. Prepared for Yukon Parks. Whitehorse, Yukon.
mrlc.gov/data/nlcd-2016-land-cover-alaska yukon.ca/en/maps
open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/4e615eaeb90c-420b-adee-2ca35896caf6
pgc.umn.edu/data/arcticdem/ protectedplanet.net/555637725
Park:
Cartographer: William Lyon
Projection: South America Lambert Conformal Conic
References:
Guillermo E. Rodriguez-Navarro (2012). Sacred natural sites in zones of armed conflicts: the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia. In G. Pungetti, G. Oviedo, D.Hooke (Editors), Sacred Species and Sites: Advances in Biocultural Conservation (pp. 152-164). Cambridge.
remote-expeditions.com/wp-content/ uploads/2020/09/palomino-colombia-3.jpg. webp
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Koguis_ Shaman.jpg
References: asikeyipark.ca/the-park.html
Clarke, H., and M. Waterreus. 2012. Chisana Caribou Range Lichen Assessment, September 2011. Yukon Fish and Wildlife Branch Report SR-12-01. Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.
Cobbett, Rosie, Steve Israel, Jim Mortensen, Nancy Joyce, and James Crowley. 2016. Structure and kinematic evolution of the Duke River fault, southwestern Yukon. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjes-2016-0074
Jessica Elliot, Park Planner, Department of Environment, Parks Branch (Jessica. Elliot@ yukon.ca)
Kluane First Nation. 2003. Kluane First Nation Final Agreement among The Government of Canada and Kluane
Photo credit: Jessica Elliot Park Planner, Department of Environment, Parks Branch (Jessica.Elliot@yukon.ca)
Park: Torres Del Paine National Park, Chile
Cartographer: Carter Morley
Projection: South America Albers Equal Area Conic
References: theculturetrip.com/south-america/chile/ articles/a-brief-history-of-chilesindigenous-mapuche-people/ gochile.cl/en/torres-del-paine-national-park/
lonelyplanet.com/chile/southern-patagonia/ parque-nacional-torres-del-paine
nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/ south-america/chile/torres-del-painenational-park-photos/
national-parks.org/chile/torres-del-paine
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Natural Park, Colombia
pygmy-elephant.com/blog/the-history-oftorres-del-paine-park-the-crown-jewel-ofchilean-patagonia swoop-patagonia.com/chile/torres-delpaine/conservation
nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/ torres-del-paine-national-park-photos gochile.cl/en/torres-del-paine-national-park/ protectedplanet.net/89 torresdelpaine.com/en/puerto-natales/ thenounproject.com/icon/x-1891083/ tdfpatagoniatour.com/tours/torres-del-paine/ andbeyond.com/experiences/south-america/ chile/southern-patagonia/torres-guided-trek/ dwtkns.com/srtm30m/ earthexplorer.usgs.gov/ naturalearthdata.com/downloads/50mcultural-vectors/ naturalearthdata.com/downloads/10mcultural-vectors/ naturalearthdata.com/downloads/10mphysical-vectors/ naturalearthdata.com/downloads/50mphysical-vectors/ protectedplanet.net/89 mapcruzin.com/free-chile-country-city place-gis-shapefiles.htm
Park: Galapagos National Park
Cartographer: Anna Moser
Projection: World Mercator
References: galapagos.org/about_galapagos/history/ education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/ galapagos-islands
education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/ case-study-galapagos-marine-reserve worldwildlife.org/places/the-galapagos unesco.org/en/list/1/ dwtkns.com/srtm30m/ catalog.data.gov/dataset/galapagos-islandsecuador-1-sec-digital-elevation-model
naturalearthdata.com/downloads/10mphysical-vectors/ protectedplanet.net/country/ECU
Park: Gran Sasso e Monte della Laga
Cartographer: John T.G. Orton
Projection: Europe Albers Equal Area Conic
References: madeinsouthitalytoday.com/gran-sasso.php
peakvisor.com/park/parco-nazionale-delgran-sasso-e-monti-della-laga.html worldspecies.org/protectareas/display/18390
gransassolagapark.it/page.php?id=350
understandingitaly.com/gran-sasso.html
lifeinitaly.com/gran-sasso-park/ lifextra.it/index.php?option=com_ content&view=article&id=53&
Itemid=41&lang=en
lngs.infn.it/images/REIS/Annual_Report/ annual_report_2011.pdf
earthdata.nasa.gov/ sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/data/set/groadsglobal-roads-open-access-v1/datadownload#
download.geofabrik.de/europe/italy.html
Park: Kluane National Park and Reserve, Canada, Yukon Territory
Cartographer: Jessica N. Reyes
Projection: Canada Albers Equal Area Conic
References: UNEP-WCMC (2022). Protected Area Profile for Kluane National Park Reserve Of Canada from the World Database on Protected Areas, October 2022. Available at: protectedplanet. net mapservices.gov.yk.ca/GeoYukon
ftp.maps.canada.ca/pub/nrcan_rncan/vector/ geobase_nrn_rrn/yt/
nrcan.gc.ca/earth-sciences/geography/ download-geographical-names-data/9245
Personal Communication: Hayleigh Conway, Geomatics Technician for Kluane National Park and Reserve- hayleigh.conway@pc.gc.ca
canada.ca/en/environment-climatechange/services/national-wildlife-areas/ protected-conserved-areas-database. html#toc1 tbpa.net/page.php?ndx=63 arcgis.com/appswebappviewerindex. html?id=aff5fa8f5d5548c6bff
44cc8be385f61
Transforming Parks and Protected Areas Policy and governance in a changing world
Edited by Kevin S. Hanna, Douglas A. Clark, and D. Scott Slocombe. Published 2008 by Routledge
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ yukon cafn.ca/about/map-of-traditional-territory/ toppng.com/free-image/eagle-and-raventotem-side-view-PNG
Aerial view of the glaciers and mountains of Kluane National Park and Reserve, near Haines Junction, Yukon © Robert Postma/Plainpictur
Tutchone First Nations People of Kluane by Swanmill- download.pearltrees. com/s/pic/or/-61709600?pearlId=83798986
kindpng.com/picc/m/159-1590267_ transparent-totem-pole-png-totempole-transparent-background.png
Yukon flag: pixabay.com/vectors/flag- yukon-canada-civil-state-28545/
Canadian flag: pixabay.com/vectors/canada- flag-national-flag-nation-162259/
Park: Corcovado National Park, Chile
Cartographer: Dylan Rief
Projection: South America Albers Equal Area
References: protectedplanet. net/555543713rewildingchile.org/ en/projects/corcovado-national-park/
rutadelosparques.org/en/parque-nacionalcorcovado/ national-parks.org/chile/corcovado-chile lacgeo.com/corcovado-national-park-chile
wikiwand.com/en/Corcovado_National_ Park_(Chile)
lacgeo.com/corcovado-national-park-chile patagoniachileadventures.com/sea-lakesand-volcanoes-are-the-secrets-ofcorcovado/ thenounproject.com/
Park: Bowron Lake Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada
Cartographer: Alec Shingleton
Projection: Transverse Mercator
References:
barkerville.ca/history/ bcparks.ca/conserve/ bcparks.ca/explore/parkpgs/bowron_lk/ bcparks.ca/planning/ bcparks.ca/planning/mgmtplns/bowron/ bowron.html
cec.org/north-american-environmentalatlas/land-cover-30m-2015-landsat-andrapideye/ diva-gis.org/ dwtkns.com/srtm30m/ goldrushtrail.ca/journey/leg/barkerville-towells-to-bowron-lake/ landwithoutlimits.com/stories/how-to-dothe-bowron-lake-canoe-circuit/ BowronLakes. protectedplanet.net/18486 spacesfornature.org/greatspaces/bowron
Park: Shirvan National Park, Azerbaijan
Cartographer: Crystal Tafoya
Projection: Pulkovo 1942 CS63 Zone A4 References: activities.marriott.com/things-to-do/
V28Hi370u7n1pLL-shirvan-national-parktour agrigateglobal.com/wp-content/
uploads/2020/06/water.jpg - IDK
azerbaijan.travel/birdwatching-in-shirvannational-park azernews.az/media/pictures/shirvan.jpg azertag.az/en/xeber/Shirvan_National_Park1254588 caucasus-naturefund.org/our-program/ourparks/shirvan-national-park/ diva-gis.org/gdata dwtkns.com/srtm30m/ eco.gov.az/index.php?ln=az&pg=82
exploreazerbaijan.com/en/national-parks/ shirvan-national-park freetour.com/baku/shirvan-national-parktour
gsaz.az/ufiles/articles/20170420/ DSC_2770_721492634868807_586149263 486927689.JPG
itinari.com/meet-gazelles-in-shirvannational-park-nre4 protectedplanet.net/342505
Sustainable Tourism In Shirvan National Park, Azerbaijan: Infrastructure and Development, Basic Design Criteria. Fachhochschule (University of Applied Sciences) Oldenburg, Ostfriesland, Wilhelmshaven, 2007. travelinbaku.com/en/tour/58/ tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReviewg293934-d19529463-Shirvan_National_ Park_Tour-Baku_Absheron_Region.html
ulduztourism.az/en/azerbaijan/naturalattractions/shirvan-national-park
