NAICS 712190 Quarterly Industry Report
Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 712190Sector: Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
Fair Market Value compiles this NAICS 712190 industry report using data from the U.S. Census Bureau[7], the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], and the Small Business Administration[8]. Our research team analyzes visitation patterns, program revenue, and land stewardship costs to build valuation benchmarks for nature park operations. This report on NAICS 712190 is updated quarterly to reflect outdoor recreation demand and conservation funding trends.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the nature parks and other similar institutions industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (NAICS 712190) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in the preservation and exhibition of natural areas, wildlife sanctuaries, and other similar outdoor spaces for public enjoyment, recreation, and education. These facilities include nature centers, wildlife refuges open to public visitation, nature preserves with trails and interpretive programming, and other outdoor institutions that focus on natural resource education and passive recreation.
Revenue models blend earned income from admissions, memberships, and retail with contributed income from government grants, foundation awards, and individual donations. Many nature parks operate under land trust or conservation organization management, with missions centered on habitat preservation and environmental education. Fee structures tend to be modest, with some facilities offering free admission and relying entirely on donations, grants, and programming fees. Seasonal patterns drive visitation, with spring through fall drawing the highest attendance at most locations.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service[4] manages the National Wildlife Refuge System, while state agencies operate nature preserves and wildlife management areas. The Census Bureau[5] tracks recreation revenue that includes nature park operations. Most Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] reports employment for park naturalists, environmental educators, and wildlife managers. Facilities are dispersed across rural, suburban, and urban settings, with nature centers in metropolitan park systems and larger preserves in rural areas with high ecological value. Volunteer labor supplements paid staff at many facilities.
What's Included in This Industry
- Nature center visitor programming and interpretation
- Wildlife sanctuary management and public access
- Nature preserve trail systems and outdoor education
- Environmental education classroom and field programs
- Bird watching and wildlife observation area management
- Nature photography and eco-tourism facilitation
- Habitat restoration and land stewardship projects
- Visitor center gift shop and concession operations
- Seasonal festival and outdoor event programming
- Wetland, forest, and prairie ecosystem interpretation
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 71 |
| Subsector | Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | 712 |
| Industry Group | Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | 7121 |
| NAICS Industry | Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions | 71219 |
| National Industry | Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions | 712190 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 712110 | Museums | Museums share educational missions and compete for the same school field trip audiences, grant funding, and family leisure time spending |
| 712120 | Historical Sites | Historical sites often include natural landscapes and share heritage tourism audiences with nature parks in the same geographic regions |
| 712130 | Zoos and Botanical Gardens | Zoos and botanical gardens offer curated natural exhibits that complement the wild habitat experiences nature parks provide visitors |
| 713990 | All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | Other recreation industries including outdoor adventure operators use nature park settings for guided hikes, kayaking, and ecotourism |
| 813312 | Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations | Environmental conservation organizations acquire and manage land preserves that overlap operationally with nature parks open to public visitation |
| 541690 | Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services | Environmental consulting firms provide ecological surveys and management plans that nature parks commission for habitat restoration work |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 10.6% | 78 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | 8.0% | 59 |
| 3 | New York | 7.1% | 52 |
| 4 | Texas | 6.9% | 51 |
| 5 | Florida | 6.3% | 46 |
| 6 | Connecticut | 4.1% | 30 |
| 7 | Michigan | 3.4% | 25 |
| 8 | Ohio | 2.7% | 20 |
| 9 | Arizona | 2.6% | 19 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | 2.5% | 18 |
% Of Establishments
0%
11%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of establishments fall under NAICS 712190?
NAICS 712190 covers nature parks, wildlife sanctuaries, nature preserves, nature centers, and similar outdoor institutions focused on natural area preservation and public education. Facilities range from urban nature centers to large rural wildlife refuges.
How is NAICS 712190 different from 712130?
NAICS 712190 covers parks preserving natural habitats for public access, while 712130 covers facilities exhibiting curated collections of captive animals or cultivated plants. Nature parks protect wild ecosystems; zoos house collected specimens, per Census Bureau classifications[12].
What is the SBA size standard for nature parks?
The SBA sets the size standard for NAICS 712190 at $8 million in average annual receipts. Facilities below this threshold qualify as small businesses for federal programs, per the SBA size standards table[9].
What NAICS codes are related to nature parks?
Related codes include 712110 (museums), 712120 (historical sites), 712130 (zoos and gardens), 713990 (outdoor recreation), 813312 (conservation groups), and 541690 (environmental consulting). Each connects through conservation, education, or visitor management.
What industries are closely related to nature parks?
Closely related industries include zoos (712130), museums (712110), outdoor recreation (713990), land conservation (813312), and environmental consulting (541690) for habitat management.
What activities are included in nature park operations?
Activities include trail management, wildlife sanctuary operations, environmental education, habitat restoration, visitor center management, seasonal programming, and eco-tourism facilitation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service[4] manages the federal refuge system.
Can nature parks get SBA loans?
Where are nature parks concentrated?
Facilities are dispersed nationwide, with higher concentrations near metropolitan areas for urban nature centers and in ecologically diverse regions for larger preserves. The Southeast, Pacific Northwest, and Great Lakes states support dense networks of nature parks and wildlife refuges, per Census Bureau County Business Patterns[13].
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fws.gov
- [5]Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [8]Small Business Administration sba.gov
- [9]SBA size standard sba.gov
- [10]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [11]SBA 504 loans sba.gov
- [12]Census Bureau classifications census.gov
- [13]Census Bureau County Business Patterns census.gov
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