Debbie Croft: Yosemite gains sister park in Germany

Berchtesgaden National Park in Germany recently become a sister park to Yosemite.

“Sister park arrangements are typically established between parks with similar ecosystems or shared management concerns,” said Kari Cobb.

Cobb is the public affairs specialist with Yosemite and co-manager of Yosemite’s International Affairs Program.

She continues, “These partnerships increase information sharing and direct park-to-park contact among staff.”

At Yosemite, a wealth of knowledge on conservation, wilderness management, and keeping America’s land available to the public has been gathered.

Because the expertise of conservation efforts at Yosemite are widely recognized, management at the park feels a duty to help other conservation areas around the world protect wild lands, according to Cobb.

The arrangement was signed by Yosemite National Park Superintendent Don Neubacher and Dr. Michael Vogel, Berchtesgaden National Park director, in October.

“We are honored and excited to begin this relationship with Berchtesgaden National Park,” said Neubacher.

“We are confident this will produce a myriad of benefits for both parks.”

Berchtesgaden National Park is one of the leading parks in Europe, and is currently working with other protected areas.

“Being the only high mountain national park in Germany, we are dependent on international cooperation,” Vogel said. “We also feel honored to have the opportunity to interact with Yosemite National Park, and to share common knowledge and experiences.”

Yosemite has three other formal international sister park arrangements: Huangshan and Jiuzhaigou national parks in China, and Parque Nacional Torres del Paine in Chile.

Cobb also said the working relationship with Berchtesgaden will probably include search and rescue, and fire management.

The two parks share similar (and gorgeous) landscapes: alpine scree fields; alpine grassland and scrub; subalpine, montane and submontane forests; mountain meadows and lakes. They also share a diversity of wildlife, including deer, eagles and marmots.

Yosemite and Berchtesgaden National Parks have identified common issues, including resource management techniques, environmental education and youth engagement programs, management of visitor use, work with indigenous people, wildlife management, and partnerships with nonprofit groups and local communities, according to Yosemite officials.

Staff exchanges between the parks are planned. Vogel visited Yosemite in July to tour the park and discuss the potential for collaboration.

Staff from Yosemite hopes to visit Berchtesgaden National Park next year.

Berchtesgaden represents a small, bitter slice of Germany’s World War II history as the site of Adolf Hitler’s retreat, the Kehlsteinhaus – also known as the Eagle’s Nest. Yet because he spent so little time there, the structure remained intact after the war. Today the building is part of a trust, with proceeds used for charitable purposes.

At just more than 6,000 feet in altitude, the Kehlsteinhaus sits on a mountain peak, perched above the charming village. It overlooks one of the most scenic landscapes in Europe.

One might assume Bavarian residents would want tourists to visit their state for the spectacular scenery and recreation. And there is plenty to enjoy.

Berchtesgaden is known for several lakes, including the emerald green Königssee.

This clear alpine lake is situated at the base of and surrounded by mountain peaks, and is the deepest, cleanest and most peaceful in Germany.

Visitors can take a tour on an electric boat to view wildlife, waterfalls, vegetation and the pristine beauty of the Alps.

In or around the park, residents and tourists can enjoy winter skiing, hiking among edelweiss and wildflowers, listening to cow bells clanging in the pastures, mountain biking and cycling, shopping and dining in town and during the annual Christmas Market, touring the ice cave and salt mine, as well as learning about local traditions and folklore.

American military personnel stationed in Germany often visit the area. And of course, Americans have the opportunity to visit any one of our sister parks to discover what they have to offer.

“Each park contains a display depicting their relationship with Yosemite,” says Cobb. “Additionally, Yosemite strives to provide information to visitors on each of our sister parks. The most beneficial outcome of these relationships is a shared heritage that will protect special places across the entire world for future generations.”

To learn more about Berchtesgaden National Park, visit http://www.nationalpark-berchtesgaden.bayern.de/00_englisch/index.htm.

This story was originally published December 12, 2014 at 4:38 PM with the headline "Debbie Croft: Yosemite gains sister park in Germany."