Highlights for April 16, 1999
USGS Center for Biological Informatics

I. Key Department News:

• USGS Scientist Discuss Fire Program Cooperation with NPS: On May 3-4, Tom Owens of the USGS Center for Biological Informatics will meet with National Park Service Fire Program and Inventory and Monitoring Program staff in Boise, Idaho, to discuss possible cooperation between the USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program and the NPS Fire Program. Because there are many common data elements that each of the programs collect, attendees will discuss ways to pool resources to maximize benefit to both programs. The USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program is managed by the USGS Center for Biological Informatics in cooperation with the NPS Inventory and Monitoring Program. (Tom Owens, Denver, 303-202-4259)
  
  
• IBOY Workshop Results in Proposal for International Cooperation: On April 8-10, Mark Fornwall, USGS Center for Biological Informatics director, attended a National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis workshop on the International Biodiversity Observation Year (IBOY). The purpose of the workshop was to discuss the current status of biodiversity monitoring efforts, identify possible opportunities for future work, and consider ways to highlight biodiversity during the year 2001. The 25 attendees -- representing academia, non-government organizations, and government agencies -- drafted a proposal to cooperate on the development of a global biodiversity information system that would integrate current biodiversity activities and provide data and information to facilitate analysis and decision making. (Mark Fornwall, Denver, 303-202-4215)
  

II. Agency Works on Presidential Initiatives: No report.

III. Notable Congressional Activity: No report.

IV. Press/Media Inquiries: No report.

V. FOIA Requests: No report.