Oregon Public Broadcasting

Conservationists are welcoming the news of Jon Jarvis' appointment to head the U.S. National Park Service. April Baer reports.

Jarvis is a known commodity in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, as the leader of the agency's Pacific West Region.  

Sean Smith is with the National Parks Conservation Association.

Sean Smith: "Both in Washington and Oregon, Jon has deep roots here. He was the former superintendent at Mt Rainier, and he's been the regional director since 2002, and he was able to select a number of the superintendents who run our Northwest parks."

Smith calls Jarvis a strong champion for getting national parks prepared for climate change. For that, and his opposition to snowmobiling in Yellowstone Park, he made few friends in the Bush administration.

Conservationists approve of his nomination.  They say Jarvis will face challenges with the considerable maintenance backlog in national parks, and budgetary conditions in the coming years.

His nomination must be confirmed by the Senate.