Yellowstone National Park, the first national park in the United States, was established on 1 March 1872 after a series of reports on Yellowstone's wonders-previously held in disbelief and derision-were finally confirmed by special government expeditions (Establishment of Yellowstone National Park 1872). Yellowstone was "dedicated and set apart as a park or pleasuring ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people," to be preserved "from injury or spoilation of all timber, mineral deposits, natural curiosities, or wonders, within the park, and their retention in their natural condition." This pattern has been followed in more than 375 units of the national park system in the United States and copied in more than 140 countries around the world. Yellowstone National Park was further designated as a UNESCO international biosphere reserve in 1972 and a world heritage site in 1978, in recognition of its world class values. Yellowstone has been recognized as having set the pattern for the National Park System in the U.S., a pattern that has now been adopted worldwide. The park has long been looked to for leadership in protected area management programs. It has been a leader in addressing critical issue management programs and working with other entities interested in Yellowstone and its surrounding areas. Science has long played a role in the protection and in the management of Yellowstone Park, its surrounding national forests, and other protected areas. Geographic information systems (GIS) are increasingly being employed to solve management concerns.
