Inventory and Monitoring at American Memorial Park

Both a WWII historical park and a locally popular recreational area, American Memorial Park on Saipan Island in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands contains more than just sports fields and a state-of-the-art museum. Mostly obscured from view by overgrown trees and vines is a modest, but lively 30-acre wetland mangrove forest complete with vibrant native birds, plants, insects, and crustaceans.

What's Monitored Here

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  Climate

  Climate is widely recognized as a major driver for both terrestrial and marine ecosystems

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  Early Detection of Invasive Plants

  Early detection of invasive plant species is a key component in helping to curtail the spread of noxious weeds into surrounding areas

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  Established Invasive Plant Species

  Nonnative plant species invasions present a serious threat to Pacific island ecosystems

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  Focal Terrestrial Plant Communities

  Long-term vegetation monitoring helps us determine plant community health, ecosystem stability, and the effectiveness of management

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  Groundwater Dynamics

  In many Pacific islands, groundwater is the primary source of water for ecologically significant and often rare habitats

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  Landscape Dynamics

  Landscape dynamics monitoring in parks provides information on land use and land cover change

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  Water Quality - Fresh & Brackish

  Fresh and brackish water quality monitoring occurs in places like streams and anchialine pools