Programming supports a comprehensive network of cooperative study units to facilitate cooperative research technical assistance education and training to inform sciencebased management of the national…

Programming supports a comprehensive network of cooperative study units to facilitate cooperative research technical assistance education and training to inform sciencebased management of the national park system. The study units facilitate multidisciplinary science and integrated information products across multiple geographic regions of the national park system. The heartland inventory and monitoring network htln is a field office of the natural resource stewardship and science nrss directorate of the national park service NPS located in springfield MO. The htln has traditionally provided student and nonstudent employment opportunities through its cooperative relationships with missouri state university MSU in an effort to provide practical work experiences in federal land management applications and information systems. Because of the close proximity of MSU to the htln offices student interns and nonstudent data scientist can both attend college classes and work with the NPS. Beneficiaries include state and local governments federally recognized indian tribal governments public private nonprofit organizations nonprofit institutions of higher education and the general public.