National Geographic Magazine will publish an issue in 2016 dedicated to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

The Billings Gazette reported the issue emphasizes the country's oldest national park along. The same year will mark the centennial of the National Park Service. The details are in the park's draft progress report to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Committee.

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Required reports are needed from the park officials as a part of the conditions in the Yellowstone's 2003 removal from the List of World Heritage Danger sites.

One issue they face now is the bison over-population in Yellowstone. Authorities are evaluating the feasibility of a bison quarantine program. If animals under the program have negative results for disease, they are considered for relocation outside Yellowstone and possibly to tribal lands for conservation, cultural and commercial purposes.

There's approximately 4,900 bison and park biologists would like to keep the population between 2,500 and 4,500. About 600 bison are scheduled for slaughter or relocation to research facilities this winter.

Park officials continue to monitor overall changes to the geothermal system by measuring the amount of chloride that leaves the park via its rivers. Their data shows variations in chloride discharge could indicate changes, but no chloride values are outside the normal range at this time.

TagsNational Geographic Magazine, Yellowstone, Yellowstone ecosystem, bison herd, Ecosystem, national park