Biological Information Needs Process

Office of the Regional Executive for Biology - Central Region

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Biological Information Needs Process (prior to Fiscal Year 1999)

A critical step in science planning and integration is the use of the Biological Information Needs (BIN) process to determine the priority information requirements of resource managers. This involves input from DOI resource management agencies regarding their needs for scientific information and local level interactions between BRD scientists and resource managers. The following four key elements ensure that such a system meets the future needs of the BRD and its partners:

Identification and prioritization of science information needs at local, regional, and national levels. There is substantial involvement by partner bureaus in this step. Broad participation reveals needs that are similar across bureaus, and situations where many smaller issues can be combined into a larger, more comprehensive scientific initiative.

Consulting with partner bureaus to identify means of addressing priority information needs. This step includes all organizational levels within the BRD, and consultation and regular communication with partner bureaus to ensure that BRD-planned activities addresses the needs originally identified by partners. Communication among individual scientists and appropriate partner bureau contacts is especially encouraged. Annual BIN meetings are held to prioritize Biological needs and to open communication between BRD and Bureau partners.

Presentation of results to partner bureaus. This step includes two components. Partner bureaus are provided with regular reports on BRD activities that are being conducted to address the needs they have identified. Secondly, the products of BRD scientific activities are provided to resource managers and other partners in a timely fashion and in a form that is useful to them.

Evaluation of the BIN Process. Partner bureaus, and others who have requested and received scientific information, are involved with BRD in evaluating the effectiveness of the BIN process in identifying, prioritizing and addressing scientific information needs. Evaluation of the quality and usefulness of specific scientific products is undertaken through the program planning and review process.

Biological Information Needs Descriptions and Reports

A full description and a report with a BRD contact is provided for each title. Click on the Bureau name below to jump to that section and on the individual titles for descriptions of the planned research.

In response to a series of DOI needs related to grassland birds the Central Regional Office sponsored an interagency workshop. The results of that workshop were documented in a report on Declining Birds in Grassland Ecosystems (HTML or Adobe).

Bureau of Land Management [Table Format]

Bureau of Reclamation [Table Format]

Fish and Wildlife Service [Table Format]

National Park Service [Table Format]

Office of Surface Mining [Table Format]

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U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://biology.usgs.gov/cro/BINpriorto99.htm
Page Contact Information: tlwilliams@usgs.gov
Page Last Modified: Thursday, March 1, 2007