Soil Resource Inventory in U.S. National Parks: Increasing Appreciation of Soils, Advancing Scientific Discovery

A comprehensive soil resource inventory across U.S. National Parks, including Redwood National and State Parks, has identified 19 new endemic soil species in Great Smoky Mountains alone, challenging prior assumptions about soil types supporting long-lived bristlecone pines in Nevada's Great Basin National Park. This study, conducted by the National Park Service since 1999, leverages partnerships with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and employs advanced geospatial tools like the Remote Area Soil Proxy (RASP) to map soils in remote or hazardous landscapes. The inventory not only enhances park management strategies but also contributes to scientific discovery by mapping organic carbon sequestration areas and exploring inorganic carbon dynamics in crystalline soils, while addressing climate change impacts on ecosystems like Sequoia National Park's ancient trees.

Makarushka, M. (2012). Soil Resource Inventory in U.S. National Parks: Increasing Appreciation of Soils, Advancing Scientific Discovery. Soil Horizons, 53(1), 3–5. Portico. https://doi.org/10.2136/sh2012-53-1-lf