Highlights for July 3, 1998
USGS Center for Biological Informatics

I. Key Department News:

• GAP Biodiversity Expert Systems Tool: Second Pilot Project: Sublette County, Wyoming, has agreed to participate in the second pilot project of the Gap Analysis Program's BEST (Biodiversity Expert Systems Tool) software program. BEST was originally developed as a research pilot for neighboring Teton County and has garnered considerable interest around the country. Joanne Garnett, Sublette County planning director, is also the president-elect of the American Planning Association. BEST is designed to identify potential conflicts between development proposals and biotic resources early in the permitting system. It operates through a simple custom interface with ArcView to link county parcel and zoning data with Gap Analysis Program (GAP) and other biotic distribution maps. No knowledge of biology or geographic information systems is required to use the system, which furnishes detailed reports to allow scientific review of the results. For more information about BEST, visit <www.sdvc.uwyo.edu/wbn>. GAP is a proactive geographic approach to protecting biodiversity. Satellite remote sensing and geographic information systems technologies are used to identify unprotected "gaps" that may be filled by applying alternative conservation strategies. The program is coordinated by the USGS and is managed by CBI. (Patrick Crist, Moscow, ID, 208-885 3901)
  
• LUHNA Added to University Course: On June 29, San Jose State University professor Stephanie Brooks (Nutrition Food Science Department) requested premission to add the Land Use History of North America (LUHNA) Web pages <http://biology.usgs.gov/luhna/> to a course she teaches. Understanding the relationship between human land use and land cover change, and assessing implications for the future, is the goal this national program. LUHNA is exploring approaches for fostering cross-disciplinary work and developing data products and analytical tools for researchers, resource managers, educators, and the general public. BRD has been serving as convener, organizer, and "home base" for the project, providing a forum for discussion and communication for developing the interdisciplinary relationships that the project requires. CBI serves and updates the LUHNA WWW Home Page, integrates incoming datasets from cooperators, and facilitates tools development for data synthesis and presentation. (Susan Stitt, Denver, 303-202-4234)
  

II. Agency Works on Presidential Initiatives: No report.

III. Notable Congressional Activity: No report.

IV. Press/Media Inquiries:

• GAP Provides Information to Seattle TV Station: On June 26, Mike Jennings of the Gap Analysis Program (GAP) responded to a request by Sonja Shin of KIRO-TV (Seattle) for information on technology developments. The USGS Gap Analysis Program (GAP) is mapping natural communities and species distributions using geographic information systems and remote sensing technology. Several significant breakthroughs have been made in mapping the Nation's biological diversity ("high-tech-comes-to-conservation"). GAP is managed by the Center for Biological Informatics. (Mike Jennings, Moscow, ID, 208-885 3555)
  

V. FOIA Requests: No report.