Natural Resource Stewardship & Science
Partnership Program

The Natural Resource Stewardship & Science (NRSS) partnership program creates new relationships and sustains ongoing partnerships that increase the level of care given to preserve our natural heritage in national parks.

Why Partnerships?

The NRSS relies on partners to help carry out the important natural resource work that healthy parks depend on. We could not accomplish many of our most-needed programs and projects without the support of our many friends.

"The National Park Service recognizes that its most effective results come from engaging and collaborating with others, expanding awareness and understanding, discovering mutual goals, attracting resources and support, and building relationships, trust, and commitment to participation in collective efforts that extend the reach of all."
—Making Friends Handbook, National Park Service

Our Partners

National Geographic: Our relationship with National Geographic goes back to the inception of the National Park Service. Projects include: Geomapping: Originally begun with Trails Unlimited, this partnership allowed the NPS to further develop its trail database using National Geographic's Topo Maps. In collaboration with the National Interagency Fire Center, the National Park Service offered technical support and database maintenance in exchange for the rights to offer Topo Maps with trail overlays of National Park Service lands free to the public. BioBlitz: Leading up to the National Park Service centennial in 2016, National Geographic is helping to conduct one BioBlitz each year throughout the decade. A BioBlitz is a 24-hour event in which teams of scientists, volunteers, and community members join forces to find, identify, and learn about as many local plant and animal species as possible. Recent BioBlitz events have been done in Rock Creek Park, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, and Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. The 2010 event will be held at Florida's Biscayne National Park. Wild Cam Grizzlies: In 2006, National Geographic On-line began streaming live video of grizzly (coastal brown) bears in their native habitat along the border of Katmai National Park on the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary. This program allowed the general public to safely watch wild brown bears catch salmon, play, and interact with each other in the wild. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Alaska Wildlife Alliance, and the Pratt Museum also partnered with the National Park Service to make this program possible.

Other Partners: The NRSS also partners with many local, state, and federal agencies helping to facilitate on-going dialogue and cooperation. These partners include U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Geologic Survey.

Partnerships in Parks

If you would like to become a partner with the NRSS partnership program to support natural resource science and stewardship, please contact us using the information below. Or, use the contact form and select Partnerships as the category.

Linda Drees
Program Development and New Initiatives, Manager: 970.225.3595

Useful Resources

• Volunteer for the National Park Service
• Partner with the National Park Service
• Partner with the Department of Interior
• National Park Foundation
• National Park Service "Making Friends" Handbook