FOR RELEASE: April 20, 1994 CONTACT: Trudy Harlow 202-482-3048
Asheville, NC--The National Biological Survey (NBS) will join with federal, state and private organizations to improve the understanding of ecosystems in the southern Appalachian region. The initiative was announced today by NBS Deputy Director F. Eugene Hester at a meeting of the Southern Appalachian Man and the Biosphere Cooperative (SAMAB), a partnership of federal and state government agencies founded to further conservation and development of the natural, cultural, and economic resources within portions of North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia and Alabama. [Map attached.]
"The Southern Appalachian region is a treasure trove of biodiversity, unique cultures, and vital development," said Dr. Hester. "The NBS is uniquely situated to address cross- jurisdictional research issues in this region. We will build on the fine efforts to date of SAMAB and will link data together to create a more complete 'picture' of how this region functions ecologically."
The National Biological Survey gathers, analyzes and disseminates biological information helpful for good stewardship of natural resources. The information is useful to wildlife, fisheries and land managers interested in protecting resources and avoiding costly environmental "train wrecks" that can stymie development projects. The Survey is designed to serve as an information clearing house for use by local communities, development interests, wildlife managers, land owners and private and nonprofit groups.
The NBS initiative will focus on regional data sharing and coordination. A full-time NBS information coordinator position will be established to work in partnership with the SAMAB Executive Committee to identify information sources, make data more available, and identify and fill key information gaps. At today's (April 20) meeting, Dr. Hester signed a Memorandum of Understanding formalizing NBS's participation in SAMAB. The NBS initiative will be coordinated from the bureau's National Fisheries Research Center in Gainesville, Florida.
SAMAB was established in 1988. Its membership includes the National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Tennessee Valley Authority, Economic Development Administration, Department of Energy, and the States of North Carolina and Georgia. Associated with the public-sector SAMAB Cooperative is a private non-profit foundation with representation from Chevron, Georgia Power, Duke Power, and several regional universities.
The SAMAB program is the only regional program recognized by both the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the U.S. Man and the Biosphere Program. At the heart of each biosphere reserve program is one or more biosphere reserve units. SAMAB started with two units (Great Smoky Mountain National Park and Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory in Franklin, North Carolina), and since 1988 has added three more units (Mount Mitchell State Park and Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina, and the Oak Ridge National Environmental Research Park in Tennessee). SAMAB expects to add another three units before the end of this 1994. Lessons learned about natural processes in these areas can be used to influence the surrounding communities.
Since its establishment, SAMAB has conducted a variety of public information and education efforts focusing on air quality, threats to Southern Appalachian forests, forestry management practices, neotropical migratory birds, dogwood diseases, and assisting communities in identifying development strategies.
NOTE TO EDITOR: A fact sheet on the initiative is attached.
SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REGION ECOSYSTEM INITIATIVEThe Southern Appalachian Region is a unique mix of scenic beauty, rich biodiversity, traditional mountain cultures, and modern development. The region's rich variety of habitats range from remnant prairie grasslands and swamp forests to high elevation spruce-fir forests and grassy meadows. The ecological integrity of the Southern Appalachian Region is being threatened by air quality declines, non-indigenous pest species, and habitat loss due to increased pressure from human land use practices.
Many of the environmental issues are cross-jurisdictional and require ecosystem-scale interdisciplinary solutions. The goal of this initiative is to provide information that can support coordinated resolution of regional issues with biological or natural resource components. An existing program, the Southern Appalachian Man and the Biosphere (SAMAB) Cooperative is made up of a consortium of agencies in the region with research networks and related databases. The mission of SAMAB is carried out through interagency projects that use the social, physical, and biological sciences to resolve problems in ecosystem management and economic development in the Southern Appalachian Region.
NBS activities in the SAMAB RegionNBS will work with SAMAB and others in the preparation of a regional inventory of databases and design of a system for sharing data, and by providing information to local communities. The NBS has formed a partnership with the SAMAB Executive Committee, which includes the following federal and state cooperators: the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Tennessee Valley Authority, U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Economic Development Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, and the States of North Carolina and Georgia. A full-time information coordinator position will be established as the first step in the partnership.
The coordinator will identify historical and current knowledge sources relevant to conservation in the region, and build a computerized matrix showing historical and existing data, and gaps in knowledge. The coordinator will work with SAMAB cooperators to develop mechanisms for sharing information and linking databases. This person will act as an information resource for state and federal agencies, local governments, groups, and landowners. NBS will also provide seed money for additional data access/acquisition/research work in the region.
This new initiative supplements and enhances ongoing NBS research in the Southern Appalachian Region totaling nearly $635,000 in FY 1994. Ongoing activities include air quality research concerning the extent, severity, and frequency of acidic episodes and the effects on fish in the Shenandoah National Park. Other studies include development of a prototype ecosystem monitoring design in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and investigations of selected Southern Appalachian fishes to establish criteria for monitoring potential biological effects of climate change.
The SAMAB consortium represents one of forty-seven "biosphere reserves" in the United States. Biosphere reserves are organized under the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) Man and the Biosphere Programs. Biosphere reserves generally contain a core protected area (in this case, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and several other areas) surrounded by areas with greater human use. SAMAB is the only regional biosphere reserve program recognized by both UNESCO and the U.S. Man and Biosphere Program.
Technical Contact: Dr. James Weaver, NBS, 904/378-8181
Hubert Hinote, Exec. Director, SAMAB