About us

"The 'national park idea,' spawned and nurtured with the creation of Yellowstone National Park in 1872, has contributed to the creation of over 1,200 national parks and equivalent reserves worldwide. They have been referred to as 'Yellowstone's children.' It is not surprising then that many nations turn to the U.S. for advice and assistance on park planning and management and that park staff from around the world come in a regular flow to observe park operations in the U.S. and discuss problems of mutual interest... it is reportedly impossible for the National Park Service to keep up with the demand for American expertise."

- "National Parks in the World Community," Parks and Recreation Magazine, 1973

Since that article was written, the number of parks and protected areas globally has swelled to more than 100,000 sites. The National Park Service is recognized by the international community as a leader for its excellence in protecting and preserving America's heritage. In this leadership role, the Park Service has shared its diverse and varied talents, expertise, and experiences in mutually beneficial international partnerships. These partnerships are created to establish, sustain and strengthen parks, heritage sites, and other types of protected areas, both domestically and internationally. Through international cooperation, the National Park Service also continues to strengthen and improve its capabilities to achieve its domestic mission.

In its 1997 Strategic Plan, the National Park Service acknowledged its international role with the following mission statement:

The National Park Service is dedicated to conserving unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Service is also responsible for managing a great variety of national and international programs designed to help extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

The role of the Office of International Affairs is to serve the National Park Service by engaging more fully the talents and available resources of the Park Service for the implementation of its domestic and global missions. It evaluates opportunities and coordinates responses involving the National Park Service in international programs, projects, and activities. It also provides leadership in the fulfillment of U.S. foreign policy objectives through implementation of treaty obligations and other agreements.

The Office of International Affairs, utilizing its broad network of contacts, optimizes the Service’s efficiency, responsiveness, and accountability in collaborating with its international partners. OIA initiates projects and responds to requests for assistance by: utilizing appropriate NPS field and program expertise, navigating requirements of domestic and international laws and customs, and leveraging financing and resources from partners in the national and global communities.

The National Park Service has been involved internationally almost from the very beginning of the Service. The first director of the Park Service, Stephen Mather, frequently received requests from other countries seeking advice in developing their own national park systems. During the 1930s, the National Park Service sent one of its first international delegations to South America, where it reported on the major parks of that continent. After the second world war, the Park Service was asked to help develop and organize the Japanese national park system.

In 1962, following the first World Park's Congress, the Office of International Affairs was established. Some of the major activities in the 1960's included:

• A NPS employee served two years as an education officer at Kenya's Nairobi National Park--set up the park's Education Center and trained park staff in principles in interpretation.

• NPS team developed a comprehensive plan for the national park system of Ethiopia. A NPS park ranger served for two years at Simien National Park, as a game warden.

• NPS planning team wrote plans to help establish Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania. A NPS naturalist served for four years as an instructor in park conservation at the College of African Wildlife Management, Tanzania.

• A parks advisor and a team of park planners sent to Jordan for two years to assist in developing management plans for three major historical sites: Petra, Jerash and Amman.

• NPS team developed master plans for 10 protected areas in Turkey.

• A NPS planner prepared a master plan for Borivali National Park, India.

• The International Seminar on Administration of National Parks and Equivalent Reserves was initiated--ran annually through the 1980s and trained hundreds of international park professionals.

• NPS planning team prepared a master plan for Tikal National Park, Guatemala.

• NPS planning teams helped develop master plans for Canaima National Park, Venezeula.

• A NPS advisor helped the Greek government develop a master plan for its national park system.

• The United States took the lead in establishing the World Heritage Convention.

• The National Park Service worked closely with the Peace Corps to provide volunteers for park management positions in developing countries.

The international program of the National Park Service helps us meet our global obligations as well as our domestic legislative requirements. It is increasingly apparent that many NPS sites and the National Park Service are dependent upon cooperation with other nations for effective and beneficial park management and resource conservation.

The challenge faced by OIA and the Park Service is how to continue empowering park and conservation authorities and personnel, both domestically and internationally, in enhancing the protection of the world’s natural and cultural resources during times of fiscal constraints.