Biotic Cultural Resources: Management Considerations for Historic Districts in the National Park System, Southeast Region

摘要

Existing National Park Service guidelines for the management of historic districts do not address the unique characteristics of biotic cultural resources. Biotic cultural resources are communities of plants and animals associated with human settlement and land use in historic districts. Some, such as pastures, have been classed as natural resources; others, such as gardens, have been classed as structures. The usual approach to their preservation has been to restore them to the general appearance of a historic scene. There are no guidelines or standards applying to this. As a result considerable attention has been paid to historical authenticity in some cases, while in others it has been neglected. The purpose of the report is to provide some considerations for preserving biotic cultural resources within the framework of the Service's 'Cultural Resources Management Guidelines' (NPS-28). The recommendations are based on a review of existing management issues and practices within the national park units of the NPS Southeast Region.