Left: Mochong Latte Village site. Right: Serianthes nelsonii tree in limestone forest.

Rota Special Resource Study

Pacific West Regional Office » Rota Special Resource Study » Document List

The National Park Service (NPS) is pleased to announce a study of the unique natural and cultural resources of the island of Rota (Luta) in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

As directed by the U.S. Congress, at the request of Representative Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, we are conducting a study of Rota's prehistoric and historic resources and limestone forests. The Rota Special Resource Study will evaluate the national significance of the area and the suitability and feasibility of designating the area as a unit of the national park system (P.L. 113-291 Section 3051, December 19, 2014).

The NPS introduced the study to the public in 2017 through a newsletter, project website, and meetings with organizations, agencies, elected officials, and the public. The comments received were analyzed and informed the development of the study.

The preliminary findings indicate that Rota is a special place with significant cultural and natural resources. The Chamorro archeological sites, World War II Japanese defensive sites, and limestone forests appear to be nationally significant and suitable for inclusion in the national park system. The preliminary analysis also indicates that these sites would be conditionally feasible for inclusion in the NPS, requiring a partnership based approach for management because of land ownership restrictions on Rota. Based on these preliminary findings, NPS staff developed three alternative concepts for the preservation and public enjoyment of these sites including:

• Continuation of Current Management: This "no action" alternative focuses on continuing existing management and includes consideration of a National Historic Landmark on Rota.

• Rota National Historical Park Concept: This action alternative concentrates on partnerships to foster cooperative planning and management to protect and interpret Chamorro archeological sites. The NPS could assume management of Chamorro sites on public lands through a cooperative agreement or lease and provide interpretation and educational opportunities and maintain the sites. The preliminary analysis indicates this alternative could include approximately 1,300 acres of ancient and historic sites.

• Rota National Monument or Preserve Concept: This action alternative concentrates on partnerships to foster cooperative planning and management to protect and interpret the limestone forests, Chamorro archeological sites, and World War II sites. The NPS could assume management of these sites through a cooperative agreement or lease and provide interpretation and educational opportunities and maintain the sites. Preliminary analysis indicates this alternative could include approximately 4,400 acres of limestone forests, ancient, and historic sites.

To view maps of the preliminary alternatives, see the Newsletter #2, under the Document List section. A brief summary of public engagement and a list of selected references for the study are also located in the Document List section.

LUTA ESPISIAT NE INESTUDIAN FRENKAS GINEN I NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

I National Park Service (NPS) (Nasionat Paseo Na Setbisiu) sumen magof para uma anunsia i tinituhon-ña i inestudian i naturat yan kutturan guina-han frenkas gi tåno' Luta gi San Kattan Na Islas Marianas.

Ginen i otden I Kongressun Amerika, Estados Unidos yan lokkue' ginen i finaisen i Delagado as Gregorio "Kilili" Camacho Sablan, para uma kondukta inestudia pot asuntun guina-han frenkas gi hålom tånu' Luta. Esti na inestudia para uma ebalua kao guaha nasionat na siknifikasion gi lugat anai para uma disik-na kao propiu para uma-na' omlat gi papa' i aturidat i sisteman Nasionat Paseo na Setbisiu yan lai Amerika, Public Law 113-291, Seksiona 3051 Disembre Disi Nuebi, Dos Mit Katotsi (2014).

I NPS ha intrudusi esti na inestudia gi pupbliku gi Dos Mit Disi Sietti Na Sakan (2017) gi gaseta, gi che'cho' (website), gi hunta siha yan I kuetpon compani-ha, offisinan gobietnu, gi hålom I man ma ilihi siha, yan I hinerat pupbliku. I man ma resibi siha na mensåhi, man ma analisa ya patti guini na inestudia.

I primera na sineda' ñi-ha, uma anok na Luta espisiat na lugat anai guaha mas siknifikasion I naturat na frenkas kuttura. I lugat antigu na Chamoru, I lugat Chapanis gi geran dos, acho latte gi hålom tånu' uma anok na I siknifikasion- ña umaya para u hålom gi sisteman Nasionat na Paseo. Lokue' I primera nai ma analisa uma anok na debi u guaha kondision para u saonao gi NPS sa' hanisisita na u guaha ina tungno' pot asuntun manehantin l lugat yan asuntun dueñun tåno' gi papa' attikulu dossi (land alienation). Gi papa' esti I primera na sineda', I empleaun NPS, ma fa'tinas tres na ede-hun komparasion para I konsetba yan gossan I pupbliku entiramenti:

• Para ma kontinua I presenti na minane-han I lugat: Taya' aksion para u ma konsigi lao para uma kontinua-ha' I presenti na konsideraton gi papa' I Nasionat Historik Landmark giya Luta.

• I Luta Nasionat Estorian Paseo na ede-hu: Esti na aksion ma akompara I kompani-han dos kuetpo para u mas guaha maolek na ina-ayuda gi asuntun ma pla-ne-ha yan ma mane-ha kosa-ki ta prote-hi yan ta explika I lugat Chamoru gi tiempon antigu. I NPS siña ha asuma I minane-han i lugat Chamoru gi tånu' pupbliku gi hulo' ina ayuda na kontrata osi no ginen i atkilon nai siña nina' guaha oputunidat para ma eksplika yan para mana' besti i lugat. I premera nai ma analisa uma anok na esti siña ha embrasa pot lumenus (1300) hektaria na tåno' antigu.

• I Luta Nasionat na Munumentu pat Konsetba na ede-hu: Esti na aksion ma akompara yan I kompanihan dos kuetpo anai siña guaha mas maolek I planu yan mina neha kosaki ta prote-hi yan ta explika I hålom tåno' acho' latte, I lugat Chamoru gi tiempun antigu, yan I lugat geran dos. I NPS hana' siña para u mane-ha todu esti siha na lugat gi papa' fotmalidat na kontrata osino, siña ha atkila I lugat ya ha fa'tinas i tapblerun edukasion, I lugat siha ya gi mismu tiempo siña hana' gasgas I lugat siha. I primera na ma analisa, uma anok na esti na lugat gi komparasion, pot lu menus mas ki kuatro mit kuatro sentus ektaria (4,400 acres) na hålom tåno' acho latte, kaskao yan antigu na lugat.

Contact Information

NPS Rota Study Team
Rota_Study@nps.gov