Research Catalog A comprehensive manual of natural and cultural study opportunities within Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks

Since its founding in 1916, the National Park Service has been charged with the task of preserving a remarkable wealth of forests, rivers, lakes, mountains, deserts, grasslands, and the plants and animals that live there. Within these landscapes are protected ecosystems that provide some of the finest natural laboratories on earth, offering unparalleled opportunities to study and learn about the effects of human activities on the resources around us. We are committed to providing responsible stewardship that will preserve this natural heritage for future generations.

Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks face increasing pressures from outside their boundaries. Declining air quality, introduction of non-native species, water pollution, incompatible uses of resources, and proximity to Puget Sound's growing urban development are among the challenges facing the ecosystems protected within the boundaries of the three parks. To meet such challenges, the National Park Service Omnibus Act of 1998 set forth a research mandate for the Secretary of Interior to provide for the highest quality science and its use in decision making. The Act promotes cooperative agreements with universities and colleges to obtain multidisciplinary research results and information products to improve park management at local and regional levels. The legislation also encourages scientific study in parks by a broad range of entities so long as that research is commensurate with park protection.

As the first step in implementing its mandate, and in concert with the Natural Resource Challenge, the parks have increased their inventory and monitoring programs to gather baseline data that document the status and trends of ecosystem processes. The next step is to increase and improve the research studies conducted in the parks. Over time, such research will provide a body of scientific knowledge that will increase our understanding of natural and cultural resources as well as ecological processes. This knowledge will help us make informed decisions and better fulfill our management responsibilities as stewards of these unique lands.

The National Park Service cannot accomplish these research needs by itself. Thus we must expand our collaborative partnerships with individuals as well as universities, public agencies, and non-governmental organizations. This research catalog is an important first step in that process. It contains descriptions of the major urgent research needs identified by the parks. It also contains information on the application process, permits, and administrative assistance that is available to researchers in the parks. This list is not intended to be exhaustive. Research proposals in areas other than those described are welcomed.

Jonathan B. Jarvis Mount Rainier National Park	William F. Paleck North Cascades National Park Service Complex	David K. Morris Olympic National Park