Highlights for November 8, 2001

I. Key Department/Bureau News
Nothing to report this week.

II. Agency Work on Presidential Initiatives

• NBII Named to IBOY 2001-2002: The National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) www.nbii.gov was recently endorsed for acceptance as an important project for the International Biodiversity Observation Year (IBOY). IBOY is sponsored by DIVERSITAS, an international scientific body dedicated to supporting and coordinating biodiversity studies across all levels of biodiversity organizations. IBOY, which is endorsed by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the XVI International Botanical Congress, brings together and showcases a range of initiatives dedicated to understanding and monitoring diversity in biological systems worldwide. The NBII is a Web-based system coordinated by the U.S. Geological Survey that provides data and information on the nation’s biological resources. The NBII is also the U.S. node for the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), an interoperable network of biodiversity databases and information technology tools that will enable users to navigate and put to use the world’s vast quantities of biodiversity information. (Ron Sepic, Reston, VA, 703/648-4218)

III. Notable Congressional Activity
Nothing to report this week.

IV. Press/Media Inquiries
Nothing to report this week.

V. Key FOIA Requests
Nothing to report this week.