How Does This Designation Benefit Mammoth Cave National Park?
The ideal biosphere reserve is a large, contiguous land base which is securely protected and of sound ecological health (core) which can be used to assess the effects of human manipulations in other areas of the region. The park is surrounded by a multiple-use area under varied ownership where farming, light industry and tourism are the basis for the economy. Management of the core area is strictly committed to protect and preserve the natural environment of the park through complete cooperation with park neighbors. This is exemplified by a regional sewage treatment system developed through he cooperation of federal, state, and local agencies. This system is designed to not only provide for the treatment of effluent from the area, but also to protect the park’s resources and area groundwater quality. This system is necessary to enhance the region’s efforts to attract additional industry. An additional example is the multi-agency Special Water Quality Project begun by the Agricultural S
