EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What Needs Will a Biological Survey for the Nation Address?
How Can a Biological Survey for the Nation be Created?
What Are the Necessary Functional Capabilities of the National
Partnership?
How Will the National Partnership and the National Biological
Survey Strengthen the Information Base for Planning and Operational
Decisions?
Performing Research
Making Information Useful
How Will the National Partnership Provide an Organized Framework
for Collaboration Among its Participants?
Organization and Coordination of the NPBS
Coordination within DOI
How Will the NPBS Provide an Organized Structure With Stated
Priorities for Acquiring Needed Information About Biological
Resources?
How Will the National Partnership Provide Improved Programmatic
Efficiencies and Economies of Scale?
Research
Information Management
How Should the National Partnership Be Implemented?
Near-Term Priorities (Within 1 year)
Intermediate-Term Priorities (Within 3 years)
Long-Term Priorities (Within 5 years)
What are the Limits to the National Partnership?
1 The Value of a Biological Survey for the Nation
Purpose of the National Partnership For Biological Survey
Participants in the National Partnership for Biological Survey
Major Issues to be Addressed by the National Partnership for
Biological Survey
Preserving the Nation's Biota
Sustainable Use of Biological Resources
Maintenance of Essential Ecological Services
Reducing Undesirable Effects Across Ecosystems
Management of Land and Water Habitats and Resources
Maintaining the Aesthetic Quality of Life
Anticipating Climate Change
Prospecting for Biological Resources
Restoring Degraded Environments
Desired Characteristics of the National Partnership for Biological
Survey
Ability to Conduct Credible Science
Ability to Conduct and Stimulate Appropriate Research
Organization for Program Continuity
Ability to Provide Useful Information
Benefits of the National Partnership for Biological Survey
The Limits to the National Partnership for Biological Survey
2 Science in the Service of Biological Survey
Setting Priorities
Scientific Research on the Status of Biological Resources
What Species Occur in the U.S.?
Where Do They Occur?
How Are They Related?
Why Do Species Occur Where They Do?
What Communities And Ecosystems Occur in the United States?
Where Do They Occur?
Why Are Ecosystems Found Where They Are?
Interactions Among Ecosystems
Detecting Trends in Biological Resources
Data Useful for Determining Trends and Their Causes
Data on Current Trends
Regional Collaborative Projects
3 Meeting the Information Needs of NPBS Clients
Information Needs
The Need for Spatial Data
Coordination and Management of Data and Information
A Federated Database Approach
Limits to Federation
Learning from Others
Custodianship
Data Archiving
Functional Requirements for NPBS Data Management
Information Management in NBS
Consolidation and Coordination of DOI Survey and Monitoring
Data
NBS Coordination of a National Distributed Database
Information Dissemination
Assessments and Communication of Results to Decision-Makers
Ensuring Scientific Quality
Achieving Widespread NPBS Product Communication
4 Coordination of the National Partnership for Biological
Survey
Role and Functions of NBS
Coordinating the NPBS
Mechanism for National Coordination
Coordination within the Department of the Interior
Field and State Coordination
Budgetary Considerations
Department Of Interior
Budget Prioritization
Non-DOI Federal Agencies
Relationship to Recommendations of Other Reports
5 Implementation
Strategic Implementation Plan
Implementation Priorities in Personnel and Administrative
Management
Near-Term Priorities
Intermediate-Term Priorities
Long-Term Priorities
Implementation Priorities in Research and Inventory Programs
Near-Term Priorities
Intermediate-Term Priorities
Long-Term Priorities
Implementation Priorities in Data Management
Near-Term Priorities
Intermediate-Term Priorities
Long-Term Priorities
Summary
Near-Term Priorities (Within 1 year)
Intermediate-Term Priorities (Within 3 years)
Long-Term Priorities (Within 5 years)
References
Appendix A: Biographical Information
Appendix B: Excerpts from FY 1994 Budget Justification