USNPS International Affairs

Iceland Hosts Glacier Staffer to Learn about Visitor Use Management
Dr. Susan Sidder, Visitor Use Program Manager at Glacier National Park, traveled to Iceland to speak at an annual conference organized by the Icelandic Tourism Association and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in October.

The symposium brought national park speakers from Iceland, the US, Scotland and New Zealand together to explore strategies to address overcrowding and preventing impacts to resources. Iceland’s national parks have faced a dramatic increase of visitors in the last ten years and its understaffed national parks have struggled to deal with large numbers of cruise ships and tour groups

Congratulations to our friends and colleagues at World Heritage USA on celebrating their 60th anniversary! -

A New Year Message from President Douglas C. Comer - World Heritage USA A New Year Message from President Douglas C. Comer. The United States led the global effort to respect and preserve heritage values the world over. The United States established the first ICOMOS national committee 60 years ago. We would be remiss not to step forward to prevent the impairment of heri...

Another wonderful development at one our American World Heritage Sites - San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

🎉 Exciting News! 🎉

Save the Date for the grand opening of the World Heritage Center! Join us on Friday, February 7, 2025, from 10 a.m. to Noon to celebrate the highly anticipated World Heritage Center. The event features a ribbon-cutting and Tricentennial Legacy Gift dedication.

✨ Highlights include:
- Ribbon cutting ceremony 🎀
- Blessing of the World Heritage Center 🙏
- Stunning exhibits 🖼️
- A reception 🎊
-And more festivities

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the mission community in a vibrant new space. We can’t wait to welcome you!

An academic colleague brought to our attention this excellent site that provides colorful and brief summaries about national parks around the world by the Global Alliance of NationalParks - https://national-parks.org/

Great to see one of America's World Heritage Sites welcoming visitors to start off the New Year!

A massive thank you to everyone (all 800+ of you) who attended the first day of public access at the Octagon Earthworks! Your presence and energy made a special day even more meaningful. Thank you for being part of this incredible milestone in our World Heritage journey. The grounds are now officially open daily during daylight hours, so please stop by!

Want to learn more about the Octagon and the early Native Americans who built it? We’re now offering free guided tours Wednesday-Sunday at Noon, starting at the Octagon Visitor Center. Don't miss the chance to explore this remarkable place with our knowledgeable guides!

We’re so grateful for your support and excited to continue sharing the beauty and significance of the Octagon Earthworks with our community and beyond. Stay tuned for more opportunities to engage and explore!

Long time NPS senior leader Doug Morris recently visited Beijing China to speak at a meeting of the National Committee on US-China Relations. Through the NPS retiree NGO Global Parks, Doug has worked with us at USNPS International Affairs and The Paulson Institute over the past 20 years to share lessons learned and best practices in national park management with various Chinese counterparts, which he describes in this interview -

How China's national parks are changing the game globally? For more:https://www.cgtn.com/videoWhat do Walden Pond and China's Sanjiangyuan have in common? A shared vision of conservation and connection. This video t...

Just before the holidays we received sad news that a long-time National Park Service colleague had passed away, Anne Hitchcock - https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/washingtonpost/name/ann-hitchcock-obituary?id=57056821&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=obitsharebeta&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1LdYEY88vQ1Ja1iAtQQy4DKnI4Z5wYuiF1fwjUTUo_9zoG6MHZ6VL6XZ8_aem_gUYO3Ey-jErU1l7BJA8Rzg

Ann - had undertaken an international mission or two for the NPS and also had worked overseas during her long career.

Ann Hitchcock Obituary (2024) - Washington, DC - The Washington Post View Ann Hitchcock's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

As the program lead for the U.S. World Heritage Program, the USNPS International Affairs has been working with our colleagues in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the effort to nominate Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The nomination was formally announced last Friday -

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge to be Nominated to Join UNESCO World Heritage List | U.S. Department of the Interior The Department of the Interior today announced that Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge will be nominated to join the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Another great reminder that Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is recognzied by DarkSky International as an International Dark Skies Park

Half the park is after dark, even in winter! The lack of light pollution, high elevation, and extra dry winter air allow for some spectacular stargazing in this . Here are some to experience the night in winter:

· The Sun sets early, so you don’t have to wait until 10:00 to see stars. In December, the Sun sets before 5:00, and it is usually fully dark by 6:30pm.

· The brightest part of the Milky Way is below the horizon in winter, so only a faint portion is visible. However, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are all visible at various times of the evening this December. The most recognizable winter constellation besides the Big Dipper is Orion (pictured), viewed as a hunter with a bow in
many cultures throughout the world. Download a free phone app to point out constellations and planets.

· Temperatures drop quickly once it gets dark. It’s not uncommon for there to be a 25°F temperature swing between day and night, so dress in warm layers. The average low temperature in December is 11°F at the dunes elevation, with single digits commonly occurring. However, the coldest air settles on the San Luis Valley floor, with subzero temperatures common. Check the forecast on our weather page before visiting.
https://www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/weather.htm

· To see the most stars, plan for a night with no moon or a later moonrise time. A link to a moon calendar and many other general nighttime tips are on our Experience the Night page:
https://www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/experiencethenight.htm

Photo: NPS/Patrick Myers

Image description: The constellation Orion is a grouping of stars generally outlining the figure of a hunter with a bow. A tall dune is illuminated in soft moonlight below.

Our National Park Service National Tourism Program lead and I enjoyed a discussion with colleagues from the Embassy of Japan regarding how our respective countries and agencies promote visitation to our national parks. Many insights from both sides were shared. We look forward to continuing this dialogue.

What a perfect Christmas gift our colleagues in the National Park Service Submerged Resources Center have helped create for us - a storymap about National Park Service international activities and our USNPS International Affairs office - https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/8f68e95421dd4a0aba5229e9da6b6e93

We were delighted to select a dynamic interpretation ranger from Shenandoah National Park to represent the National Park Service at this year's Sondrio Festival in northern Italy. Ranger Margo Roseum served on the Sondrio Film Jury, visited local Italian schools, visited Stelvio National Park and promoted U.S. National Parks to an international audience that attended the screenings of environmental films.