Glacier, Ireland partner their parks

A recent agreement in a virtual ceremony establishes Glacier National Park in Montana and Killarney National Park in County Kerry, Ireland, as “sister parks."

The arrangement furthers international cooperation between the two countries and facilitates collaboration related to the management of these cherished, protected places, according to a press release.

Killarney National Park, managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of Ireland’s Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Glacier National Park, managed by the U.S. National Park Service, have common issues including heavy visitation, controlling exotic and invasive species, outreach with local communities, ecological monitoring, and partnership agreements.

The parks will share best practices through the exchange of technical and professional knowledge, data, technology, training, and possible site visits.

“Given the natural and cultural resources protected and presented by both organizations, as well as our respective mandates, it is my hope that we use our arrangement as a joint and thus stronger voice to highlight the challenges not only in these two parks but across our nations,” said Ireland’s Minister of State for Heritage at the Department Malcolm Noonan.

“As the world’s first international peace park with Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada, Glacier National Park has a proud history of working with partners beyond our borders to exchange best practices and to learn from one another,” said Jeff Mow, Glacier National Park superintendent. “We look forward to adding to our history and collaborating with Killarney National Park.”

The agreement lasts for five years and may be extended or modified by the participants. The new sister park relationship joins more than three dozen that exist between U.S. national parks and national parks and protected areas in other countries.