What is VERP (Visitor Experience and Resource Protection)?
The Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP) framework is a tool developed by the National Park Service to address user capacities. It protects both park resources and visitor experience from impacts associated with visitor use, and helps managers address visitor use issues. The VERP framework consists of nine elements, four of which are key: (1) determination of desired conditions, which are part of the management zoning prescriptions; (2) selection of indicators and standards that reflect the desired conditions; (3) monitoring of the indicators and standards; and (4) implementation of management action when the desired conditions are violated or when conditions are deteriorating and preventive measures are available. Together, these elements will help park managers make decisions about visitor use and resource protection.
