Monitoring Appalachian Trail corridors: an example of volunteer land management

Abstract

The management relationship between the Appalachian Trail Conference (ATC) and various land management agencies such as the National Park Service (NPS) is a prime example of the Partnerships prescribed by the President's Commission on Americans Outdoors. The Appalachian Trail is one success story of bringing public and private resources together to help plan and manage public protected areas. The monitoring program initiated by the ATC has saved taxpayers many thousands of dollars by enlisting the help of volunteers to serve as the eyes and ears of the National Park Service and other agencies for the public AT lands. This paper illustrates the essential elements of public land monitoring including the steps necessary to implement such a program. It will identify the problems and pitfalls, as well as highlight the successes and enjoyment offered to the volunteer monitor.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the 1997 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium

Citation

Bristow, Robert S.; Knoettner, Greg; Wagner, Rick. 1998. Monitoring Appalachian Trail corridors: an example of volunteer land management. In: Vogelsong, Hans G., comp, ed. Proceedings of the 1997 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium; 1997 April 6 - 9; Bolton Landing, NY. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-241. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 268-271.