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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 the release of the Rota Special Resource Study, evaluating 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, the NPS conducted a study of Rota's prehistoric and historic resources and limestone forests. The study evaluated 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).

The study finds that the prehistoric, historic, and limestone forest resources of Rota are nationally significant and that areas of the island are suitable for inclusion in the national park system. The study additionally finds that limestone forest and Chamorro archeological sites within the study area are conditionally feasible for inclusion in the national park system, dependent on support from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) government and the development of a management agreement, support from Rota and CNMI residents, and sufficient funding for park operations.

However, analysis of existing management and several additional management frameworks does not demonstrate a clear need for direct NPS management at this time. The people of Rota have protected their resources for generations through cultural practices, local laws, federal financial assistance, and the dedicated efforts of CNMI agencies. The exceptional integrity of Rota's cultural and natural resources is evidence of the community's impressive and centuries-long tradition of stewardship. The CNMI government is continuing this tradition of resource stewardship while also providing visitor access and information about Rota's significant sites. Because NPS management is not needed, the special resource study concludes that Rota does not meet all criteria necessary to be considered eligible for designation as a new unit of the national park system.

At the conclusion of a special resource study process, the National Park Service, through the Secretary of the Interior, submits its findings to Congress. The study was completed and transmitted to Congress on October 5, 2023. Please click on the "Document List" tab for a PDF copy of the study. A Chamorro language executive summary is also posted on the "Document List" page.

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Man sen mågof i Nasionåt Paseo nå Sitbisiu (NPS) påra u må anunsia nå munhåyan esta i Luta Espisiåt Nå Inestudian Frenkas, annai må ebaluå i uniku nå naturåt yan frenkas kutturā gi islan Luta gi San Kattan na islas Marianas (CNMI).

Kumo må dinerihi nu i Kongresun Estådos Unidos, ginen i finaisin i Reprisentånti as Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, i NPS hå konduktā inistudia put i naturåt antis yan antigu na frenkas yan i åcho' hålom tåno' kaskåo gi islan Luta. I inestudia påra u må ebaluå i nasionåt siknifikåsion i lugåt yan kåo siña omlåt påra må disiknā i lugåt kumo uno gi sistēman nasionåt paseo (P.L. 113-291 Seksionā 3051).

Sigun ginen i inestudia, må sodda' nå i naturãt frenkas antis, antigu yan i frenkas gi åcho' hålom tåno' kaskåo gi islan Luta guaha nasionåt siknifikåsion ña i lugåt ya omlåt påra u måna' hålom ya u må inklusu gi sistēman i nasionåt paseo. I inestudia lokkue' hå sodda' nå i åcho' hålom tåno' kaskåo yan i Chamorro (archeological) nå lugåt gi hålom i må estudia nå lugåt siña guaha kondision ya siña måna' omlåt gi sistēman nasionåt paseo, yan lokkue' dependi kåo guaha supottåsion ginen I gubietnamentun i San Kattan nå Islas Marianas, CNMI yan lokkue' i tratus annai påra u må manēhā, suppottåsion ginen i residentin Luta and CNMI, yan lokkue' kåo sufisienti fundu påra operåsion i paseo.

Låo sigun ginen i må analisa put i prisenti nå minanēha yan i otro siha nå klasin minanēhan i lugåt, ti annok nå guaha klåru nå nisisidåt påra u direktåmenti u minanēha nu i NPS gi prisenti nå tiempo. I tåotåo Luta hagagas ha' må protetēhi i frenkas ginen antis nå hineråsion esta på'gu, ginen i prinaktikan kutturā, i lai CNMI, i asistimentun fundu ginen i fidiråt, yan i che'cho' i ramas ofisinan gubietnamentu, CNMI. I mås måolek yan i ti må estotbā nå frenkas kutturå yan naturåt siha nå frenkas giya Luta, ebidensia esti nå i kuminidåt måtto chiña gi siklus yan siklus inanako'ña i tradision pruteksion gi lugåt. I gubietnamentun CNMI hå kontinunua ha' esti nå tradision proteksion frenkas yan lokkue' hana' guagua ha' opotunidåt påra u må bisita i lugåt put i siknifikåsion ñå gi islan Luta. Put ti nisisårio nå i NPS påra u minanēha i lugåt, i espisiåt nå inestudian frenkas, put uttimu, i islan Luta ti hå kompli todu i eskalera påra u må konsidera kumo elihipbli påra må desikna kumo uno gi nasionåt paseo na sistēma.

Gi uttimon esti nå aktibidåt, i espisiåt nå inestudian frenkas, i Nasionåt Paseo na Sitbisiu, ginen i Sikritårian i Depattåmentun Interior, hana' hålom esti nå sinedda' guato gi Kongresun Estådos Unidos. Esti nå inestudia, måna' funhåyan yama transferia guato gi ofisinan Kongresu gi Oktubri Dia 5, 2023. Pot fabot, deka' i "Listan dokumentu" påra i (pdf file) nå kopia. I lingguåhin Chamorro, I exikitibu nå rinipåsa, lokkue' gumaigi gueni nå "post": atan i må "lista nå dokumentu" gi båttunis.

Contact Information

NPS Rota Study Team
Rota_Study@nps.gov