Highlights for January 29, 1999
USGS Center for Biological Informatics

I. Key Department News:

• USGS Kicks Off Vegetation Mapping of Three Arizona National Monuments: On March 10-12, the USGS Center for Biological Informatics will sponsor a scoping meeting in Flagstaff, Arizona, to plan for the vegetation mapping and classification of Sunset Crater, Wupatki, and Walnut Canyon National Monuments. Participants from the USGS Biological Resources Division, the National Park Service (NPS), The Nature Conservancy, and the Bureau of Reclamation will discuss issues relating to the assessment of specific park needs and the organization and implementation of the USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program at these three monuments. Possible applications of data developed by the Program include fire management, monitoring of rare plants and communities, and creation of an invasive plant inventory. The USGS Center for Biological Informatics provides management oversight and scientific guidance to the program. (Tom Owens, Denver, 303-202-4259)
  
• USGS Provides Scientific Advice to United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. During the week of January 18, Tom Owens, Remote Sensing Specialist with the USGS Center for Biological Informatics, provided Ben ten Brink of the Netherlands' National Institute for Public Health and the Environment with scientific advice on the application of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification Standard (NVCS) for assessing biodiversity. Dr. ten Brink is a member of the Liaison Group on Biodiversity Indicators of the United Nations Convention of Biological Diversity and is drafting a document on biodiversity indicators and assessment. The NVCS is a classification system designed to assess biodiversity in plant communities. The USGS has extensive experience in the NVCS through its Gap Analysis Program and the USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program. (Tom Owens, Denver, 303-202-4259)
  

II. Agency Works on Presidential Initiatives:

• BRD Y2K Team: On January 19-22, the USGS Center for Biological Informatics hosted a meeting of the BRD Y2K Technical Support Team in Denver. Team members include representatives from BRD Centers, Regional Offices, and Headquarters. Ivette Gosser of the Office of Biological Informatics and Outreach is the Team Coordinator. Topics include a review of Y2K needs and justifications to determine distribution of OMB funds generated from a Congressionally approved Presidential request. (David Duran, Denver, 303-202-4248)
  
  

III. Notable Congressional Activity: No report.

IV. Press/Media Inquiries: No report.

V. FOIA Requests: No report.