CIP Resource Management & Preservation 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal agency administers the National Register of Historic Places?
- U.S. Forest Service
- National Park Service (Correct answer)
- Bureau of Land Management
- Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
Correct answer: National Park Service
The National Park Service, through its National Register Programs, maintains the National Register of Historic Places under the authority of the National Historic Preservation Act.
Question 2: Invasive species management is relevant to interpretive planning because invasive species:
- Are always beneficial to local food webs
- Can degrade native ecosystems, diminishing the resources that make a site interpretively significant (Correct answer)
- Only affect agricultural lands, not natural areas
- Are protected under the Endangered Species Act
Correct answer: Can degrade native ecosystems, diminishing the resources that make a site interpretively significant
Invasive species displace native plants and animals, alter ecological processes, and can fundamentally change the character of the resources interpreters seek to highlight.
Question 3: In the context of resource management, what does 'adaptive management' mean?
- Changing interpretive themes to match seasonal visitor demographics
- Using monitoring data to adjust management strategies based on observed outcomes (Correct answer)
- Adapting historic structures to meet modern building codes
- Allowing resources to change naturally without human intervention
Correct answer: Using monitoring data to adjust management strategies based on observed outcomes
Adaptive management is a systematic, iterative approach where managers use monitoring results to evaluate whether actions are achieving desired outcomes and adjust strategies accordingly.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of 'in situ' resource preservation?
- Moving artifacts to a climate-controlled museum storage facility
- Preserving archaeological remains at their original location rather than excavating them (Correct answer)
- Creating digital replicas of fragile petroglyphs for visitor viewing
- Replicating historic buildings at a different site for easier visitor access
Correct answer: Preserving archaeological remains at their original location rather than excavating them
In situ preservation means protecting resources in their original location, maintaining contextual relationships that contribute to their significance.
Question 5: A site manager is considering allowing a film crew to shoot a commercial at a historic battlefield. This decision should primarily be guided by:
- The potential revenue to fund interpretive programs
- Whether the activity is consistent with the site's purpose and will not harm the resource's integrity (Correct answer)
- The fame of the production company involved
- The opinions of the nearest city government
Correct answer: Whether the activity is consistent with the site's purpose and will not harm the resource's integrity
Commercial uses of historic sites must be evaluated against the site's mission and potential impacts on the physical fabric and interpretive integrity of the resource.
Question 6: The 'precautionary principle' in resource management suggests that when scientific uncertainty exists about potential harm, managers should:
- Proceed with activities until harm is proven
- Take protective action to prevent potential damage even without full scientific certainty (Correct answer)
- Wait for peer-reviewed studies before making any decisions
- Defer all decisions to higher administrative levels
Correct answer: Take protective action to prevent potential damage even without full scientific certainty
The precautionary principle prioritizes resource protection when outcomes are uncertain, recognizing that some damage may be irreversible if action is delayed.
Question 7: Which of the following BEST describes the role of Traditional Cultural Properties (TCPs) in resource management?
- Properties owned by Native American tribal governments and used for commerce
- Places that are eligible for National Register listing due to their role in the cultural practices and beliefs of living communities (Correct answer)
- Archaeological sites that have been fully excavated and documented
- Historic buildings constructed before 1900 by indigenous peoples
Correct answer: Places that are eligible for National Register listing due to their role in the cultural practices and beliefs of living communities
TCPs are places that are associated with the cultural practices, beliefs, and identity of living communities, and their significance is rooted in ongoing cultural traditions rather than purely historical events.
CIP Resource Management & Preservation 4
Which federal agency administers the National Register of Historic Places?