Private land within the boundaries of some of the nation's most beloved national parks is under growing pressure to be developed or sold.

And, according to a new report by an independent parks watchdog group, other sites--including Fredericksburg-area Civil War battlefields--are looking for funds to acquire important acreage as federal budget cuts have dried up available money.

In its "America's Heritage for Sale" report released yesterday, the National Parks Conservation Association says of the 391 sites in the National Park System, a significant and growing number face some development threat to wildlife habitat or the preservation of cultural areas.