AY Honor National Parks and Heritage Sites - Advanced Answer Key
Skill Level
2
Year
2021
Version
25.04.2024
Approval authority
North American Division
1
2
2a
i
There are four major territories (the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and Micronesia), as well as several territories of other nations, in the North American Division, most of which have their own method of classifying national parks and heritage sites. The country's national park system that you choose will be different from the other countries in the NAD, so the answers to the questions later in the honor will vary depending on your choice. You can find information on the United State's National Park Service on their website here, and information on Canada's national park system Parks Canada here.
ii
In the United States, the process to create a new national park can be complicated. While the President of the United States can create a new national monument on government-owned land, it takes an act of Congress to create a new national park. First, someone needs to submit a proposal for the new park. The proposal is then evaluated to see if the proposed park would have national significance, and if it would even be reasonable to try to create the park. Then, once the proposal to create the park is approved, committees start to work to get the logistics of creating the new park in line, such as checking into who owns the land, the best routes to get to the new site, costs of land management, and more. The proposal is then submitted to Congress, which refines and edits the plan, then approves or vetoes the plan. If the plan is approved, an act of Congress is issued formally designating and protecting the new national park.
This process is similar to the one followed in the creation of new Canadian national parks. The process is posted explained well on the Parks Canada webpage, which you can find here
iii
The sites that can be designated as national parks or heritage sites depends on the rules and regulations of the country in which the site is located, but generally speaking, any area that is publicly owned by the government (or can be acquired buy the government), which has national significance due to the unique natural, historic, cultural, or architectural features found there, can be designated as a nationally protected site.
iv
In the United States, the national parks system is run and operated by the National Parks Service, though they have help from the National Forest Service and other agencies. Parks Canada is responsible for the management and maintenance of Canadian national parks.
v
There are currently 38 National Parks in Canada, with an additional 10 National Park Reserves, and one National Urban Park. However, according to Parks Canada, there are nearly 1,000 national historic sites across Canada. The United States has 63 National Parks, included in the total of 423 sites (as of November, 2021) including national parks, historic sites, monuments, and all the other designations used by the National Parks System. The number changes fairly regularly.
vi
The most recent Canada Parks addition was the Thaidene Nëné Reserve (established August 21, 2019). The most recent United States National Parks System addition was the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve (established December 27, 2020).
2b
i
To be considered for a UNESCO designation, a potential site must first have "outstanding universal value," making it valuable to more than just those who live in the nation or nations surrounding it. In addition, there are ten requirements, for which the site needs to qualify for at least one. According to the UNESCO "Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention" these include:
- to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;
- to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design;
- to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared;
- to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history;
- to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change;
- to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria);
- to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance;
- to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features;
- to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals;
- to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.
ii
UNESCO sites focus on the natural and cultural features that affect the world as a whole. Sites that are significant naturally may include natural wonders like the Grand Canyon or the Yellowstone Geysers in the United States and Yoko National Park in Canada, or may include sites of international cultural significance such as Quebec City in Canada, or the Statue of Liberty and Independence Hall in the United States.
iii
There are currently 1,154 UNESCO sites worldwide, though more sites are added fairly regularly, and others are considered in danger.
iv
The UNESCO organization voted to approve 34 new sites in 2021, including:
- Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island (Japan)
- Arslantepe Mound (Turkey)
- As-Salt - The Place of Tolerance and Urban Hospitality (Jordan)
- Chankillo Archaeoastronomical Complex (Peru)
- Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands (Georgia)
- Colonies of Benevolence (Belgium)
- Cordouan Lighthouse (France)
- Cultural Landscape of Hawraman/Uramanat (Iran)
- Dholavira: a Harappan City (India)
- Frontiers of the Roman Empire – The Danube Limes (Western Segment) (Austria)
- Frontiers of the Roman Empire – The Lower German Limes (Germany)
- Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats (Korea)
- Ḥimā Cultural Area (Saudi Arabia)
- Ivindo National Park (Gabon)
- Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan (Japan)
- Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex (Thailand)
- Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana (India)
- Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt (Germany)
- Nice, Winter Resort Town of the Riviera (France)
- Padua’s fourteenth-century fresco cycles (Italy)
- Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro, a landscape of Arts and Sciences (Spain)
- Petroglyphs of Lake Onega and the White Sea (Russia)
- Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China (China)
- Roșia Montană Mining Landscape (Romania)
- Settlement and Artificial Mummification of the Chinchorro Culture in the Arica and Parinacota Region (Chile)
- ShUM Sites of Speyer, Worms and Mainz (Germany)
- Sítio Roberto Burle Marx (Brazil)
- Sudanese style mosques in northern Côte d’Ivoire (Côte d'Ivoire)
- The Great Spa Towns of Europe (Austria)
- The Porticoes of Bologna (Italy)
- The Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales (United Kingdom)
- The work of engineer Eladio Dieste: Church of Atlántida (Uruguay)
- The works of Jože Plečnik in Ljubljana – Human Centred Urban Design (Slovenia)
- Trans-Iranian Railway (Iran)
3
Be creative in your presentation of what you saw and learned during your visits. Consider using videos, slideshows, displays, or other creative means to share your experience.
3a
What would be the use of studying a national park or heritage site without actually visiting a few? This is a chance for you to apply the knowledge you've learned in this honor in a real way! Consider researching the site before your visit so you can understand the features of the site even better while you are there!
3b
A natural site is a site that was created to protect a specific natural landform or phenomenon. For example, Yellowstone National Park and Arches National Park in the United States, and Jasper National Park in Canada all protect naturally-occurring landforms or phenomena that could be damaged if left unprotected. On the other hand, Kejimkujik National Park in Canada and Mesa Verde National Park in the United States both protect ancient petroglyphs and dwellings important in the study of the cultures of ancient civilizations. In contrast, historic sites such as Chimney Rock, the homes of many founding fathers, and many of the attractions along Pennsylvania Avenue in the Capitol of the United States serve to commemorate a specific time, event, or person in the history of the nation. Finally, mixed-use parks, such as Banff National Park in Canada and Grand Canyon National Park in the United States serve both as a means of protecting a valuable landscape or landform, but also to give recreation opportunities!
Many national parks or heritage sites require a purchased pass to use the site. The money made from the sale of passes helps to keep the site in good shape. The cost is usually fairly low. Other sites are free, and rely on donations and government funding to operate and provide maintenance.
3c
The visitor center may have brochures, displays, or stuff who are usually more than happy to tell you about the history of their site and answer any other questions you might have.
i
When was the idea to preserve the park created? When was it officially protected by law?
ii
Were there any specific people who were instrumental in the creation of the park or heritage center? What about organizations? How did these make a difference in the preservation of the site?
iii
What was the goal or goals in creating the site? Was it to be a memorial to certain people or events? To protect an area of unique natural landforms? What about to create recreation areas?
iv
Was the site used for lumber or mining? If the site is a building, was the building a school or home? Did anything else interesting happen at that site?
v
Most parks in the United States are measured in either acres or square miles. In Canada, this would typically be measured in square kilometers. What can you compare the size of the park to if you were going to describe it to someone? Would it be the size of your city or county? Maybe half the size of a specific province or state?
vi
If the site was protected, obviously it was considered to be nationally important. What reasons were given for creating the park? Were the reasons to protect something of historic significance? If the park wasn't protected, would natural features be damaged? What cultural features would be in danger without protection?
vii
Many national parks support recreational activities such as hiking, biking, canoeing or boating, and sightseeing. Some also provide tours, horseback rides, rock climbing, sailing, and other activities. National historic or cultural sites often have displays, movies, or interactive experiences that help visitors understand the significance of the site better.
3d
i
Do any of their duties involve directly working to maintain the park or heritage site? What about raising awareness? Are there any duties that the employee considers the most important?
ii
What makes the duties that the employee enjoys most so enjoyable? What makes their least favorite duties distasteful? Which duties are the most difficult?
iii
Are there any features that are unique about the park that require special protection? What would happen to the park if the features were not carefully maintained and preserved?
iv
Getting involved in the protection and preservation of our world is the entire purpose of this honor. There may even be some projects that you and your group can work on while you are there visiting the park or heritage site!
References
UNESCO Site criteria for selection here
UNESCO Sites added in 2021 here
