SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- The Point Reyes National Seashore is celebrating Earth Day this year with its designation as a member of the Climate Friendly Parks Network.

The network is a collaboration between the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Parks Service.

The Seashore becomes one of only 35 other national parks, including the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, in the network that is committed to reducing its carbon footprint. Since 2005, Point Reyes has reduced its total emissions of greenhouse gasses to 5,953 metric tons from 7,663 metric tons and plans further reductions of 15 percent by 2016.

Solar power generates more than 14 percent of all park electricity and runs five park vehicles. The park also removes 30,000 metric tons of carbon from the atmosphere in its coastal forests, chaparral, grasslands and estuary eelgrass, park officials said.

Park officials also plan to conduct an experimental shuttle system this summer from Bear Valley to Limantour Beach to reduce private emissions, expand solar energy to other facilities, encourage bike to work days this year and convert incandescent lights to fluorescent or LED lights throughout the park.

The park also is exploring using methane digesters to convert manure from its six dairy ranches into electrical energy and heat.

Climate scientists predict melting glaciers and polar caps will raise the sea level between 0.6 feet to two feet in the next century. This could present serious consequences to the park's coastal landscapes, said William Shook, the park's chief of natural resources.

A 2005 report by the U.S. Geological Survey indicated Limantour Beach and Drakes Beach would experience the most drastic alterations if the sea level rises.