Land areas designated as research sites and those designated as protected areas can share similar potential problems and basic needs. Both types of land uses require varying levels of management. In neither case can management be viewed as a passive activity. Though protected areas may not require large spatial scale manipulations or intensive inputs characteristic of research sites, these areas can not be managed simply as "islands" within surrounding landscapes of differing land uses. For example, protected areas can be impacted by numerous disturbances that originate off-site. In this sense, management of protected areas requires knowledge and technologies applicable to its local environment. In addition, management of protected areas requires technically skilled science-based personnel. A research program embedded within a protected area can synergistically service the knowledge and personnel needs required for land management. More importantly, an active research program can provide relevant information to users of land surrounding protected areas. Technology transfer activities resulting from on-site research can improve community-based support for protected areas and improve adoption of conservation practices.