For Release: March 1, 1995 Contact: Duncan Morrow 202-482-3048
or Mary Ann Young, 202-482-3188
NATIONAL BIOLOGICAL SERVICE
ANNOUNCES
STATE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
Dr. H. Ronald Pulliam, director of the National Biological Service, today announced the funds available for the NBS State Partnership Program.
States are invited to submit proposals for cooperative efforts that contribute to making accurate, accessible and comprehensible natural resource information more readily available to the public and decision-makers.
"Although NBS's primary mission is to serve the biological research needs of the Department of the Interior, we are also committed to helping States meet their research goals and build their scientific capabilities, and to provide increased access to the scientific findings of both State and Federal studies," Dr. Pulliam said. "Specifically, NBS will work with States to establish common protocols and standards for data collection, analysis, and dissemination."
A major component of NBS's strategy is the development of strong working arrangements between NBS and State governments for conducting biological science and sharing the resulting data. NBS seeks to build capacity for locating, organizing, integrating and delivering biological information for each State. In doing so, NBS is the facilitator, with the goal of preserving State control and building State capability.
"We seek interest from the full range of State organizations that are involved in biological research and analysis," Pulliam, said. "We expect to receive proposals from State fish, game and wildlife, parks or forestry agencies, Heritage programs, environmental quality agencies, museums, and universities."
In late 1994, NBS awarded funding for pilot partnership projects to Maryland, Illinois, North Carolina, Arizona and California.
The pilot projects in progress are intended to:
enable Maryland scientists to establish better base-line data on reptiles and amphibians, providing a greater understanding of the distribution of natural populations in the eastern United States;
assist Illinois in providing better computerized access to the State's historical data on biological resources;
integrate fragmented data and research on North Carolina's fragile coastal longleaf pine and Green Swamp ecosystems;
review, consolidate, and broaden access to Arizona's Biodiversity Team Assessment Project (BIOTA) to serve public and private decision-makers regarding potential effects on the State's natural, biological resources;
assist in the development of the California Environmental Resources Evaluation System (CERES), designed to enhance availability of relevant technical and scientific information.
The National Biological Service works with others to provide the scientific understanding and technologies needed to support the sound management and conservation of our Nation's biological resources.
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Note to reviewers: The NBS State Partnership Office will accept proposals for funds from State agencies until March 22, 1995. Application packages can be obtained by calling 202/482-3409, or writing:
NBS State Partnership Program
(Attn. Mr. Robin O'Malley)
Mail Stop 3660-MIB
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20240