ABSTRACT
This chapter examines current and future sequestration of carbon on lands within US National Park Service units in the continental USA. It demonstrates that a methodology that can be applied to other protected areas in the USA as well. While protected natural areas deliver many ecosystem services that have economic values, carbon sequestration is one that has not previously been quantified for the National Park Service (NPS) units as a whole. The chapter presents the first economic analysis of vegetative carbon sequestration services provided by lands within NPS units, projected to 2050. The potential future loss of carbon sequestration capacity points to the need for NPS managers to monitor vegetation and associated carbon sequestration. Congressional representatives and the NPS officials in eastern regions considering possible new protected areas in these regions should consider this additional national benefit of carbon sequestration in their decisions.
