National Natural Landmarks Program

National Park Service

The National Natural Landmarks (NNL) Program offers participants the opportunity to share information, solve problems cooperatively, and conserve important natural areas. For over 40 years, the NNL Program has involved private, municipal, state, and federal landowners, all working together toward the conservation of natural resources. Land acquisition by the federal government is not a goal of this program; NNLs are nationally significant sites owned by a variety of land stewards, and participation in the program is voluntary. Established in 1962, the program aims to encourage and support voluntary preservation of sites that illustrate the geological and ecological history of the United States, and to strengthen the public's appreciation of America's natural heritage. The NNL designation is made by the Secretary of the Interior after in-depth scientific study of a potential site; all new designations must have owner permission. The National Park Service (NPS) administers the program and regularly reports on the condition of the NNLs. The selection process is rigorous: to be considered for NNL status, a site must be one of the best examples of a natural region's characteristic biotic or geologic features. The NNL designation can only be removed if the values for which it was designated are lost or destroyed, or if there was an error in the evaluation or designation procedures for the site. The regulations that currently govern the NNL Program were revised in 1999 to better protect the interests of private landowners who participate in the program. The present 587 NNLs include public and private lands with a variety of uses, including ranching, agriculture, recreation, nature preserves, research areas, camps, conference centers, and commercial ventures. All of these uses can be compatible with NNL designation.