The National Park Service's natural resource stewardship mission dates to the agency's founding in 1916, when the Organic Act charged the NPS with conserving "the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein" for the enjoyment of future generations. The NPS Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate oversees programs in biological resources, geologic resources, water resources, air quality, climate change science, and inventory and monitoring across more than 400 park units. These scientific programs produce peer-reviewed research that informs park management decisions and contributes to the broader scientific understanding of ecosystem health, biodiversity, and environmental change across the nation's most protected landscapes.
📚 Learn More at NPSHistory.com →At Natural Resource Stewardship, the natural world tells its own story. Decades of scientific observation have documented changes to this landscape — changes that are visible to every visitor who walks these trails. The interpretive materials now under review present this documented scientific record.
The administration has ordered revised content that includes the language: “With over 7 billion people on the planet, humans are affecting the climate.”, and “defined by significant human changes to the planet.”.
Why this matters: The environmental changes documented at Natural Resource Stewardship are based on decades of scientific observation and measurement. Visitors can see these changes with their own eyes. Removing references to documented science from interpretive materials doesn't reverse the changes — it only leaves visitors without the information they need to understand what they're witnessing.
Junior Palentologist Activity Book
p. 11“With over 7 billion people on the planet, humans are affecting the climate.” - remove yellow inset circle p. 23 “defined by significant human changes to the planet.” - remove yellow inset circle
At Natural Resource Stewardship, the natural world tells its own story. Decades of scientific observation have documented changes to this landscape — changes that are visible to every visitor who walks these trails. The interpretive materials now under review present this documented scientific record.
From the internal review records: “consequences. Rising temperatures, droughts, wildfires, sea-level rise, species extinctions, and extreme weather are but a few of the notable threats transforming once-familiar places in complex and novel ways. Changes that formerly occurred on geological timescales now occur within human lifetimes”
Why this matters: The environmental changes documented at Natural Resource Stewardship are based on decades of scientific observation and measurement. Visitors can see these changes with their own eyes. Removing references to documented science from interpretive materials doesn't reverse the changes — it only leaves visitors without the information they need to understand what they're witnessing.
The 2023 Climate Change Response report includes several references to human-caused climate change, including this paragraph on pg 5. Because this document is intented for NPS-internal use, it could be removed from the NPS.gov platform and located on Internal SP site or removed altogether.
But visions of tomorrow are increasingly troubling as human-caused climate change inscribes a new story in our national parks—a story of unintended consequences. Rising temperatures, droughts, wildfires, sea-level rise, species extinctions, and extreme weather are but a few of the notable threats transforming once-familiar places in complex and novel ways. Changes that formerly occurred on geological timescales now occur within human lifetimes
At Natural Resource Stewardship, the natural world tells its own story. Decades of scientific observation have documented changes to this landscape — changes that are visible to every visitor who walks these trails. The interpretive materials now under review present this documented scientific record.
The administration has flagged for review content that includes the language: “Human-caused noise has produced similar results in multiple bird species (Brumm 2004).”, “Increasingly, careful consideration of the impacts of human-generated noise on wildlife is a critical component of management for healthy ecosystems in our parks”, “To study the effects of human-caused noise on visitors, volunteers at Muir Woods National Monument cataloged all sounds they heard, day and night, for a year.”, and “visitors found increasing levels of human-caused sounds to be unacceptable and even annoying (Habib et al. 2007)”.
Why this matters: The environmental changes documented at Natural Resource Stewardship are based on decades of scientific observation and measurement. Visitors can see these changes with their own eyes. Removing references to documented science from interpretive materials doesn't reverse the changes — it only leaves visitors without the information they need to understand what they're witnessing.
Powerful World of Sound Cirriculum
pg. 8 “Human-caused noise has produced similar results in multiple bird species (Brumm 2004).” pg. 8 “Increasingly, careful consideration of the impacts of human-generated noise on wildlife is a critical component of management for healthy ecosystems in our parks” , pg. 9 “To study the effects of human-caused noise on visitors, volunteers at Muir Woods National Monument cataloged all sounds they heard, day and night, for a year.” pg 9 “visitors found increasing levels of human-caused sounds to be unacceptable and even annoying (Habib et al. 2007)” pg 14 "Sometimes human-caused sounds can mask the sounds of nature, so intentionally peeling away an outer layer of human-made sounds may allow students to hear other sounds that were hidden (or “masked”), resulting in a better awareness of the acoustical world that surrounds them."
Due to noise primarily being caused by humans, entire document would need to be removed.
At Natural Resource Stewardship, the natural world tells its own story. Decades of scientific observation have documented changes to this landscape — changes that are visible to every visitor who walks these trails. The interpretive materials now under review present this documented scientific record.
The administration has flagged for review content that includes the language: “increasing human-generated noise levels”, “Human-caused noise has produced similar results in multiple bird species [4]”, “Increasingly, careful consideration of the impacts of human-generated noise on wildlife is a critical component of management for healthy ecosystems in our parks.”, and “To study the efects of human-caused noise on visitors, volunteers at Muir Woods National Monument cataloged all sounds they heard, day and night, for a year.”.
Why this matters: The environmental changes documented at Natural Resource Stewardship are based on decades of scientific observation and measurement. Visitors can see these changes with their own eyes. Removing references to documented science from interpretive materials doesn't reverse the changes — it only leaves visitors without the information they need to understand what they're witnessing.
The Power of Sound Interpretive Handbook
Pg. 10 “increasing human-generated noise levels”
Pg. 11 “Human-caused noise has produced similar results in multiple bird species [4]”
Pg. 11 “Increasingly, careful consideration of the impacts of human-generated noise on wildlife is a critical component of management for healthy ecosystems in our parks.”
Pg. 12 “To study the efects of human-caused noise on visitors, volunteers at Muir Woods National Monument cataloged all sounds they heard, day and night, for a year.” pg.12,“In a related study at Muir Woods, visitors found increasing levels of human-caused sounds to be unacceptable and even annoying [7]” pg. 21 “Human noise masks natural sound....Natural sounds are increasingly threatened by human-generated noise.”
Entire handbook would need to be revised or replaced.
At Natural Resource Stewardship, the administration has flagged books and publications sold in the park bookstore for review under Secretary's Order 3431. Among the titles targeted: Jr Ranger Curriculum. These works, selected by park staff and partner organizations for their educational value, are now under scrutiny.
The administration has ordered replaced or removed content that includes the language: “Did any human-made sounds distract you from enjoying the natural ones?”, “Some species, such as fin whales, stop singing when man-made noise levels drown out (or mask) their calls.”, “During discussion, they’ll identify sounds that affect human health and wellness.”, and “Notify group that the clip you’re about to play represents a situation when human-made noise intrudes into the wild.”.
The administration has directed that this content be replaced or removed — 3 items in total, not merely revised but eliminated from the visitor experience at Natural Resource Stewardship.
Why this matters: The specific language being targeted at Natural Resource Stewardship — including “Did any human-made sounds distract you from enjoying the natural ones?” — is historically accurate content developed by professional historians and park staff. When this language is revised or removed, visitors lose access to the documented record of what happened here.
Young Sound Seekers - Jr Ranger Curriculum
pg 5. “Did any human-made sounds distract you from enjoying the natural ones?” pg. 34 “Some species, such as fin whales, stop singing when man-made noise levels drown out (or mask) their calls.” p.34 p. 38 “During discussion, they’ll identify sounds that affect human health and wellness.”
Includes activities:
Communicating in the wild, pg. 2 “Notify group that the clip you’re about to play represents a situation when human-made noise intrudes into the wild.” p2
Create a wind sock, pg 1. “Ask them to ponder how their park experience would be changed if the natural or cultural sounds in the park were drowned out by human noises, such as traffic or loud conversations.”
Would replace phrases about man made noise.
Natural Resource Stewardship in MA preserves a piece of American history that the public has trusted the National Park Service to protect and interpret. The visitor publications at this site have been developed over years by historians, subject-matter experts, and park staff — and are now being reviewed under Secretary's Order 3431.
From the internal review records: “pg. 3 Noise from various sources such as recreational vehicles, transportation, construction equipment, and energy development can detract from the overall enjoyment of their experience.”
Why this matters: Natural Resource Stewardship is part of a network of over 400 national parks that serve as America's classrooms. The interpretive materials here were developed by subject-matter experts to help visitors understand the full story of this place. When historically accurate content is removed, the public loses access to its own history.
Protecting National Park Soundscapes
pg. 3 Noise from various sources such as recreational vehicles, transportation, construction equipment, and energy development can detract from the overall enjoyment of their experience.
Suggest removing just this sentence.
Natural Resource Stewardship in MA is one of hundreds of National Park Service sites where interpretive content has been flagged under Secretary's Order 3431. This directive requires parks to review materials that could be considered negative about past or living Americans — a standard that threatens the factual historical record these sites were created to preserve.
The administration has directed that this content be replaced or removed, not merely revised but eliminated from the visitor experience at Natural Resource Stewardship.
Why this matters: The changes documented at Natural Resource Stewardship are visible to any visitor. Removing scientific information from interpretive materials doesn't change what people can see with their own eyes — it only removes the explanation.
Night Skies Jr Ranger Booklet
p6 graphic and text alluding to man-made light pollution
Natural Resource Stewardship in MA preserves a piece of American history that the public has trusted the National Park Service to protect and interpret. The visitor publications at this site have been developed over years by historians, subject-matter experts, and park staff — and are now being reviewed under Secretary's Order 3431.
The administration has flagged for review content that includes the language: “human-caused light”, “unnaturally large doses of light from human-made sources”, “the amount of outdoor light from human sources”, and “Anthropogenic light is human-caused light”.
Why this matters: The environmental changes documented at Natural Resource Stewardship are based on decades of scientific observation and measurement. Visitors can see these changes with their own eyes. Removing references to documented science from interpretive materials doesn't reverse the changes — it only leaves visitors without the information they need to understand what they're witnessing.
Power of Night Interpretive Handbook - would need to replace references to human-caused light pollution.
pg 6 Cites management policies 4.10 “human-caused light” pg. 14 “unnaturally large doses of light from human-made sources” pg 20. “the amount of outdoor light from human sources” pg. 48 “Anthropogenic light is human-caused light”
Natural Resource Stewardship in MA is one of hundreds of National Park Service sites where interpretive content has been flagged under Secretary's Order 3431. This directive requires parks to review materials that could be considered negative about past or living Americans — a standard that threatens the factual historical record these sites were created to preserve.
The administration has directed that this content be replaced or removed, not merely revised but eliminated from the visitor experience at Natural Resource Stewardship.
Why this matters: Natural Resource Stewardship is one of 466+ National Park Service sites where historically accurate interpretive content has been flagged under Secretary's Order 3431. Over 300 million people visit national parks each year. For many — especially schoolchildren — these visits are their first and deepest encounter with American history.
Groundwater poster that refers to human threats to ground water.
Need to remove from distribution.
At Natural Resource Stewardship, the natural world tells its own story. Decades of scientific observation have documented changes to this landscape — changes that are visible to every visitor who walks these trails. The interpretive materials now under review present this documented scientific record.
From the internal review records: “This printed brochure is no longer in print; however, could still be used by parks. Refers to fossil fuels and climate change. See photo. Need to direct parks to discontinue use of brochure.”
The administration has directed that this content be replaced or removed, not merely revised but eliminated from the visitor experience at Natural Resource Stewardship.
Why this matters: The environmental changes documented at Natural Resource Stewardship are based on decades of scientific observation and measurement. Visitors can see these changes with their own eyes. Removing references to documented science from interpretive materials doesn't reverse the changes — it only leaves visitors without the information they need to understand what they're witnessing.
Fossils of the National Parks
This printed brochure is no longer in print; however, could still be used by parks. Refers to fossil fuels and climate change. See photo. Need to direct parks to discontinue use of brochure.
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