Natural Soundscapes

Soundscapes are the aggregate of all the sounds within a park, including those inaudible to the human ear. Some sounds are critical for animals to locate a mate or food, or avoid predators. Other sounds, such as those produced by weather and water, may be a consequence rather than a driver of ecological processes. Human-caused sounds, however, can mask the natural soundscape. The National Park Service goal is to protect or restore natural soundscapes where possible and minimize non-natural sounds, recognizing that they are generally more appropriate in and near developed areas. The quality of park soundscapes therefore depend on where and how often non-natural sounds are present as well as their levels. Management of a given park’s soundscape is important as it can greatly influence the quality of a visitor’s experience, as well as being an integral part of preserving our treasured resources.