U.S. Department of State
95/09/01 US MAB Bulletin, Volume 19, Number 2
Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs



                             U.S. MAB BULLETIN 
Volume 19, Number 2                                  September 1995 
 
     The U.S. MAB Bulletin is published by the U.S. MAB  
Secretariat, OES/ETC/MAB, SA-44C, U.S. Department of State,  
Washington, DC 20522-4401.  
 
     " The mission of the United States Man and the Biosphere  
Program (U.S. MAB) is to explore, demonstrate, promote, and  
encourage harmonious relationships between people and their  
environments building on the MAB network of Biosphere  
Reserves and interdisciplinary research.  The long-term goal  
of the U.S. MAB Program is to contribute to achieving a  
sustainable society early in the 21st Century.  The MAB  
mission and long term goal will be implemented, in the United  
States and internationally, through public-private  
partnerships and linkages that sponsor and promote cooperative,  
interdisciplinary research, experimentation, education and  
information exchange on options by which societies  
can achieve sustainability."  Adopted by the U.S. National  
Committee for the Man and the Biosphere Program, July 26,  
1995. 
 
     U.S. MAB is supported by the Agency for International  
Development; the Department of Agriculture-Forest Service;  
the Air Force; the Department of Commerce-National Oceanic  
and Atmospheric Administration; the Department of Energy; the  
Department of the Interior-Bureau of Land Management,  
National Biological Service, National Park Service; the  
Department of State; the Environmental Protection Agency; the  
National Aeronautics and Space Administration; the National  
Institutes of Health; the National Science Foundation; the  
Peace Corps; and the Smithsonian Institution. 
 
     The program is organized into six directorates:  
Biosphere Reserve, High Latitude Ecosystems, Human-Dominated  
Systems, Marine and Coastal Ecosystems, Temperate Ecosystems,  
and Tropical Ecosystems.  
 
 
In This Issue 
 
National Committee Approves  
Constable Commission Report 
 
Requests for Proposals 
Biosphere Reserve Directorate 
 
Tropical Ecosystem Directorate 
Funds Small Projects 
 
                           ### 
 
From U.S. MAB Chair D. Dean Bibles 
 
     U.S. MAB is pleased to welcome the United States Air  
Force into the MAB "family".  The Office of Environment,  
Safety, and Occupational Health will be representing the  
agency in this endeavor.  I have been impressed with the  
Biodiversity Initiative that the Department of Defense has  
undertaken with the Air Force as lead agency and this new  
affiliation will further objectives of both MAB and the Air  
Force as they explore means of maintaining defense readiness  
and long term sustainability.  I believe that there should be  
mutual gains in research and management from this new  
association. 
 
     I want to express special thanks to two individuals who  
helped the National Committee frame the options for  
implementing the recommendations of the Constable Commission.   
Dr. Peter Jutro of the EPA readily accepted the challenge to  
convene a working group to define the options for action.   
Dr. Kenton Miller, of World Resources Institute who served on  
the Commission and was principal writer for the report, for  
lending his expertise and time to assist the committee in  
gaining perspective and understanding of the report findings  
and recommendations. 
 
     These next few months offer a tremendous challenge as we  
start taking action to position U.S. MAB for the  
opportunities and challenges of the next century.  In order  
to carry out the work of the National Committee, I will soon  
be appointing and working with several groups:  
  A small group of outstanding individuals from business,  
government, and NGO's to make recommendations and help  
develop program, funding, and organizational opportunities; 
  I have asked Dr. Mark Harwell, Chair of the Human-Dominated  
Systems Directorate to chair a group to suggest specific  
research topics of interest to agencies and further ideas for  
integration of biosphere reserves with funded research; 
  A small working group to develop a U.S. MAB Associates  
Program for the purpose of retaining the talent of members of  
the directorates and National Committee after their terms of  
service have expired. 
 
     I have now completed my first year as Chair of the U.S.  
National Committee.  I want to thank all who helped me learn  
the ropes and gave support to the many new beginnings.  I am  
more convinced than ever of the opportunities that MAB offers  
as we as a nation and the world strive to fulfill the vision  
of achieving sustainability of the earth and its peoples.  I  
look forward to continuing to work with the many talented and  
dedicated people drawn to MAB in this endeavor. 
 
                         ### 
 
 
Biosphere Reserves Managers' Workshop 
 
     The second ALL BIOSPHERE RESERVES MANAGERS' WORKSHOP  
will be held October 30 through November 1 in Washington, DC.   
ALL managers are encouraged to attend.  The meeting is co- 
sponsored by the National Park Service and the Biosphere  
Reserve Directorate.  For more information, please contact  
Hubert Hinote  Tel. (615) 436-1701, Fax. (615) 436-5598 or  
the U.S. MAB Secretariat Tel. (202) 776-8318, Fax. (202) 776- 
8367. 
 
                         ### 
 
From the Executive Director 
 
     The U.S. National Committee for MAB adopted the  
Constable Commission's recommendations and took steps to  
create new structures to implement them.  We greatly  
appreciate the time and effort of all those involved to help  
prepare U.S. MAB for the 21st century.  In the face of  
reduced federal budgets, U.S. MAB, as a voluntary interagency  
effort, may show the way to achieve effective collaborative  
efforts on a broad range of complex environmental issues that  
require the application of interdisciplinary science,  
pragmatism, and regional collaboration. 
 
     The MAB Secretariat is pleased to welcome Dr. William R.  
Teska as a new staff member.  Dr. Teska is on a one-year  
assignment as a Science, Engineering, and Diplomacy fellow  
from the American Association for the Advancement of Science  
program.  His primary focus will be to assist in the  
implementation of the EcoNetAmerica concept.  Bill is on  
leave of absence from Furman University in Greenville, South  
Carolina, where he is a Professor of Biology.  He has  
extensive field experience in Latin America and the western  
and southern U.S.  Bill's Email address will be:  
Teska_Bill/furman@furman.edu.  
 
     Communication among U.S. biosphere reserves is one key  
ingredient in developing our national program.  This issue  
describes our commitment to facilitate the emergence of a  
U.S. electronic network.  As we develop these Internet  
communication tools, U.S. MAB will be facing policy issues of  
openness, control of bulletin boards, list servers, etc.   
These are new issues for us and we have much to learn as we  
attempt to build a program involving the "MAB mix" of  
federal, state, and local governments; non-governmental  
organizations; and universities with scientists, managers,  
and citizens from all of the above.  Your input, and your  
patience, will be greatly appreciated. 
 
                                       Roger E. Soles 
 
                           ### 
 
International Coordinating Council for the Man and the Biosphere Program 
 
     The 13th International Coordinating Council for the Man  
and the Biosphere Program (ICC) met June 12-16 at UNESCO  
headquarters in Paris.   
 
     D. Dean Bibles, Chair of the U.S. National Committee for  
MAB, and Roger E. Soles, Executive Director of the U.S. MAB  
Secretariat, attended as the U.S. Observer Delegation. 
 
     The Council approved the Seville Strategy for Biosphere  
Reserves.  The ICC recommended the Statutory Framework for  
adoption to the 28th General Conference of UNESCO to be held  
October-November 1995.  Debate at the conference underlined  
the importance of the supremacy of each nation's sovereignty  
over its biosphere reserves.  The Statutory Framework  
establishes procedures to review the status of each reserve  
every ten years to evaluate its continued participation in  
the international network.  The full text of the Statutory  
Framework for Biosphere Reserves is available from UNESCO  
MAB. 
 
     A report on collaborative activities of UNESCO MAB  
included a brief description of the present and future status  
of UNESCO-MABnet.  The UNESCO-MABnet Server (Gopher and WWW)  
is being established and maintained at UNESCO Headquarters.   
(Address: http://firewall.unesco.org:70/0/mab/theMabnet.html)   
Future development will include all UNESCO MAB documents and  
reports; the Biosphere Reserve Directory with site  
descriptions; an electronic bulletin board for biosphere  
reserves; Land Use Change and Analysis System (LUCAS); and  
news on the MAB regional networks such as EuroMAB,  
EcoNetAmerica, MAB Northern Science Network, CYTED Network,  
etc.  
 
                           ### 
 
United States Man and the Biosphere Program: Request for  
Proposals for the Biosphere Reserve Directorate 
 
      The Biosphere Reserve (BR) Directorate of the U. S. Man  
and the Biosphere Program (U.S. MAB) announces a catalytic  
grants program to support Biosphere Reserve workshops and  
partnership-building activities that promote cooperative  
regional ecosystem-based initiatives.   
 
     A total of $100,000 is available to support small grants  
in two distinct categories: (1) conferences, workshops or  
forums; and (2) partnership projects. The projected maximum  
single grant award is $15,000.  Grants are expected to  
average between $7,000 and $10,000.  Organizations and  
persons interested in applying for these grants are  
encouraged to first obtain a copy of Strategic Plan for the  
U.S. Biosphere Reserve Program, from the U.S. MAB  
Secretariat. 
 
Funding Objectives 
 
     The purpose of the grants is to assist projects that  
produce short-term tangible results furthering the mission of  
the United States Biosphere Reserve Program as defined in  
Strategic Plan for the U.S. Biosphere Reserve Program, dated  
December 1994.  "The mission of the U.S. Biosphere Reserve  
Program is to establish and support a U.S. network of  
designated biosphere reserves that are fully representative  
of the biogeographical areas of the United States.  The  
program promotes a sustainable balance among the conservation  
of biological diversity, compatible economic use, and  
cultural values, through public and private partnerships,  
interdisciplinary research, education, and communication." 
 
Focal Issues 
 
     Within the mission of the U.S. Biosphere Reserve Program  
a wide range of conference and workshop topics are eligible.  
For example: a forum for Biosphere Reserve stakeholders at a  
single Biosphere Reserve unit or cluster of units; a regional  
or local vision setting workshop; or a conference for  
Biosphere Reserves stakeholders from throughout a region  
focusing on an issue or management approach of shared  
interest.  Other ideas for conferences and workshop topics  
promoting the mission of Biosphere Reserves are welcome. 
 
     The U.S. Biosphere Reserve Directorate also intends to  
support partnership projects.  Proposals are sought which  
strengthen cooperative relationships for enhancing the  
functions of Biosphere Reserves.  Innovative and new  
approaches to conservation challenges will be given priority.   
Examples of eligible projects could include: assessing  
natural or cultural resources; building public support for  
conservation and sustainable development; fostering  
demonstrations of cooperative ecosystem management, or  
developing local planning mechanisms.  Other ideas for  
partnership projects that promote the mission of Biosphere  
Reserves are welcome. 
 
     Feasibility studies for expanding the activities of  
existing Biosphere Reserves to more fully implement the  
regional, ecosystem-based mission of the BR program also are  
encouraged.  However, feasibility studies for designating new  
Biosphere Reserve units are ineligible. 
 
     Proposals may include a request for partial staff  
support only if the proposal and the staff position are  
related to expanding the regional activities of a Biosphere  
Reserve or promoting a cooperative program involving multiple  
agencies and nongovernmental partners. 
 
Proposal Content 
 
     Each proposal should have a title page and a one page  
synopsis of the proposal activities.  
  
     A maximum of three additional pages should describe: (1)  
the affected Biosphere Reserve or Biosphere Reserve cluster;  
(2) the applicantÕs relationship to the Biosphere Reserve;  
(3) the proposed conference or partnership project; (4) how  
the proposed conference or project relates to past, current,  
and projected BR activities at the site; (5) how the proposal  
complies generally and specifically with the evaluation  
criteria;  and (6) how the results of the conference or  
activity will be evaluated.   
      
     All proposals must also include a one page itemized  
budget including personnel, travel, operation, and  
equipment/supplies with justification.  The budget page  
should show the status of any matching funds to the proposed  
activity. 
      
     A one-page map of the affected Biosphere Reserve,  
showing protected area(s), zone(s) of managed use, and zone  
of cooperation if applicable.  The site of the proposed  
activities must be included.  
 
     The last page of the proposal should be a one-page  
letter of endorsement from the Biosphere Reserve manager(s).  
If the proposed activity would involve or benefit more than  
one Biosphere Reserve, one page letters of endorsement should  
indicate the support of the managers of the involved or  
affected Biosphere Reserves.  Biosphere Reserve managers  
should endorse no more than one single proposal in each  
funding category this year. 
 
Evaluation and Review Process  
 
    A review panel of The U.S. Biosphere Reserve Directorate  
will evaluate proposals based upon the following criteria: 
 
--  Alignment of the proposal with the mission and goals of  
the United States Biosphere Reserve Program as defined in  
Strategic Plan for the U.S. Biosphere Reserve Program dated  
December 1994, available from the U.S. MAB Secretariat,  
(address below); 
--  Likelihood that the proposal will result in tangible  
progress within a year toward promoting cooperative regional,  
ecosystem based initiatives that integrate conservation and  
sustainable development at Biosphere Reserve sites; 
--  Demonstrated local support for the project; 
--  Innovation in implementing Biosphere Reserve functions; 
--  Potential to replicate the concept or project at other  
Biosphere Reserve sites; 
--  Extent to which grant funds will be leveraged with  
matching funds or support from other private or public  
sources; 
--  Demonstrated capacity of the applicant to implement the  
proposal; 
--  Endorsement from Biosphere Reserve Manager(s). 
   
     Limitations.  Grants may not be used for: feasibility  
studies for designating new biosphere reserves; institutional  
overhead;  academic research; acquisition of land, buildings,  
or capital equipment; general support of agency functions; or  
political activities.  All grants should produce tangible  
results within one year. Members of the Biosphere Reserve  
Directorate are not eligible to receive benefits from funds  
awarded through this request for proposals. 
 
     Awards will be announced by January 31, 1996.   
Principals will receive from the U.S. MAB Secretariat copies  
of all U.S. MAB/BR review evaluations of their proposals and  
a written notification of the directorateÕs decision on their  
proposal. 
 
Submission of Proposals by December 1, 1995 and for further  
information: 
 
U.S. Man and the Biosphere Program 
OES/ETC/MAB 
Department of State 
Washington, DC  20522-4401  
Tel: (202) 776-8318, Fax: (202) 776-8367 
Attention: Biosphere Reserve Directorate 
 
                         ### 
 
 
Constable Commission Report Endorsed by U.S. MAB National  
Committee 
 
     At its July 25-26 meeting at Shenandoah National Park,  
the National Committee for U.S. MAB unanimously endorsed the  
Final Report of the Constable Commission.   
 
     The Constable Commission assessed the U.S. MAB Program  
and submitted its report and recommendation to the National  
Committee.  Ambassador Elinor G. Constable and Dean Bibles  
Co-Chaired the Commission which included Andres Marcelo Sada,  
founder and former president of Pronatura, AC and the  
Chairman of the Board of CYDSA of Mexico; Kenton Miller,  
Director of Biological Resources and Institutions Program at  
the World Resources Institute; Peter Raven, Director of the  
Missouri Botanical Gardens and Engleman Professor of Botany  
at Washington University; Peter A. Seligmann, Chairman and  
CEO of Conservation International; and Gilbert F. White,  
Gustavson Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Geography at  
the University of Colorado. 
 
     The National Committee was assisted in its evaluation of  
the report by a review committee chaired by Peter Jutro,  
National Committee member and Senior Scientist at EPA and  
composed of: Alvin L. Alm, Executive Vice President of  
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC); Mary  
Barber, Director of the Sustainable Biosphere Initiative;  
Mark Harwell, National Committee member and Associate  
Professor of the Rosenstiel School at University of Miami;  
Kenton Miller, a member of the Constable Commission; Elissa  
Parker, Vice President of the Environmental Law Institute,  
JoAnne Roskoski, a National Committee member and on the  
Directorate for Biological Sciences of the National Science  
Foundation; Milton Russell, National Committee member and  
Director of the Joint Institute for Energy and Environment at  
University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Karen Wade,  
Superintendent, Great Smoky Mountains National Park; Barbara  
Weber, National Committee member and Associate Deputy Chief  
for Research of the USDA-Forest Service; and Peter Kaestner,  
Deputy Director of the Office of Ecology and Terrestrial  
Conservation of the State Department. 
 
     The National Committee accepted the suggestions of the  
Constable Commission and:
 
--approved revision of The Mission Statement and long term  
goal for U.S. MAB.  (The revision appears in the masthead of  
this bulletin.); 
--approved the creation of an advisory group to help develop  
program, budget, and financing opportunities in the private  
sector; 
--agreed with the need to increase funding from the  
supporting federal agencies and discussed strategies for  
information sessions with agency administrators; 
--approved the recruitment of a biosphere reserves  
coordinator to be on loan from a federal agency; 
--referred consideration of the Constable Commission  
recommendations on biosphere reserves to the Biosphere  
Reserve Directorate; 
--approved the creation of a U.S. MAB Associates Program.   
Program members will be recruited from those retired from  
more active U.S. MAB involvement.  The Associates will serve  
as peer reviewers for project proposals, program advisors,  
and project site inspectors; 
--tabled discussion of the adoption of a name change until  
after the UNESCO General Assembly meeting in November. 
 
     In other business the National Committee approved  
funding for projects of the Biosphere Reserve Directorate,  
the High Latitude Ecosystems Directorate, the Temperate  
Ecosystems Directorate, and second year funding for the  
Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Directorate core project.   
Funds were allocated for a full time secretary.  Roger E.  
Soles introduced William R. Teska, the American Association  
for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow who will be  
working in the Secretariat for one year. 
 
                      ### 
 
 
Tropical Ecosystems Directorate Funds Research 
 
     Dr. John Wilson, Acting Chair of the Tropical Ecosystems  
Directorate, announced on July 25 the funding of four small  
grants.  The selected projects are relevant to the core  
project of the directorate, "A Regional Approach for  
Sustainable Development and the Conservation of Natural  
Resources in the Maya Tri-National Region of Belize,  
Guatemala, and Mexico." 
 
     The four awarded grants are:
 
--Dennis F. Whigham (Smithsonian Institution), Nicholas V. L.  
Brokaw (Manomet Observatory), Matthew Dickinson (Florida  
State University), and Luis Poot-Chan (Sociedad Civil de  
Productores Forestales de Quintana Roo), "Regeneration of  
Mahogany in Mexico and Belize - Plan for Sustainable  
Forestry." 
--John Polisar (University of Florida), in collaboration with  
Asociacion de Rescate y Conservacion de Vida Silvestre,  
Fundacion Interamericana de Investigaciones Tropical  
Americana, and Wildlife Conservation Society, "Effects of  
Hunting on Economically Important Mammals in the Multiple Use  
Zones of the Maya Biosphere Reserve. A Data-Based Catchment  
Basin Assessment of the Sustainability of Subsistence  
Hunting." 
--Roger Orellana, Sigfredo Escalante, Mario Arce, Cuauhtemoc  
Navarro, Felipe Barredo, Leonardo Gus, and Pedro Herrera,  
(all of Centro de Investigacion Cientifica de Yucatan, A.C.),  
"Study of Three Native Palm Species of the Yucatan Peninsula  
as Substitutes of Rattan." 
--Daniel R. Katz, Richard Donovan, Kate Heaton, and Helene  
Weitzner (all of the Rainforest Alliance), "Smart Wood  
Program Initiative in Central America: Regional Forestry  
Training Program." 
 
                        ### 
 
 
Biosphere Reserve Directorate Expands Program Activities 
 
     At its July 25-6 meeting the National Committee for U.S.  
MAB approved funding to the Biosphere Reserve Directorate for  
the following activities to implement the U.S. Strategic Plan  
for U.S. Biosphere Reserves.   
 
     Catalytic grants will again be awarded by the Biosphere  
Reserve Directorate for conferences, workshops or forums, and  
partnership projects which promote cooperative regional  
ecosystem-based initiatives.  The directorate will encourage  
proposals from all U.S. Biosphere Reserves and the  
coordinators of cooperative regional partnerships to  
implement biosphere reserve concepts.  The formal Request for  
Proposals for these grants is elsewhere in this issue.  
 
     The BRIM (Biosphere Reserve Integrated Monitoring  
Program) initiative, a collaboration of the directorate and  
the Division of Environmental Studies Institute of Ecology of  
the University of California, Davis, is an important feature  
of the directorate program in the coming three years.  This  
project will facilitate the creation of an electronic network  
among U.S. biosphere reserves.  The specific products of this  
project will be an update of the U.S. Biosphere Reserve  
Directory, expansion of the existing MABFauna and MABFlora  
databases, development of materials and training to connect  
biosphere reserves in a staged process to major national  
environmental databases, and develop a program to meet the  
information systems training needs for biosphere reserve  
managers and scientists.  At the end of the third year the  
network of U.S. Biosphere Reserves should be a reality.  This  
USA network will be a component of the emerging international  
biosphere reserves electronic networks of EuroMAB,  
EcoNetAmerica, and MABnet. 
 
     The 1995 Biosphere Reserves Managers' Workshop will be  
October 30-November 1 in Washington, DC.  The workshop is the  
joint effort of the directorate and the National Park  
Service.  The first such workshop was held in Estes Park,  
Colorado in December 1993.  The directorate intends to  
sponsor these meetings of all biosphere reserve managers at  
least every other year.  The purpose of the meetings is to  
share problems and solutions of land management issues,  
review program accomplishments, demonstrate scientific  
information learned from the U.S. MAB research directorates,  
and develop an integrated U.S. MAB Program. 
 
     The U.S. Biosphere Reserve Network Review is underway to  
provide information of use in two areas.  First, to identify  
the biogeographic areas represented by U.S. biosphere  
reserves.  Second, to identify ways in which biosphere  
reserves can expand their individual programs so as to more  
fully demonstrate MAB concepts.  The review is currently  
under the direction of Mike Ruggiero of the National  
Biological Service. 
 
     A US/Russian MAB Bilateral Agreement will continue to  
support the cooperative program of studies in the Caucasus  
Biosphere Reserve, Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, and Hubbard  
Brook Experimental Forest with the possible addition of  
Sikhote-Alinskiy Biosphere Reserve.  The funds for this  
project will provide travel assistance to U.S. and Russian  
scientists to jointly visit and work at biosphere reserve  
locations.   
 
     To promote the biosphere reserves concept, a brochure is  
in press and a slide show and script for group presentations  
is planned.  These two projects are under the direction of  
the Directorate Chair, Hubert Hinote and will be implemented  
through cooperation with SAMAB. 
 
                          ### 
 
 
High Latitude Ecosystems Directorate Projects 
 
     The core project of the High Latitude Ecosystems  
Directorate, "Human-Environment Interactions and  
Institutional Frameworks-Alternative Caribou Management  
Systems in the Arctic," is in its final phase.  Workshops  
will be held to disseminate the results of the study to staff  
of the federal wildlife management systems in Alaska,  
regional subsistent advisory councils, and native wildlife  
management organizations.  The workshops will be held in  
Anchorage, Juneau, Kotzebue, and Barrow Alaska this fall. 
 
     As an extension of its core project the members of the  
High Latitude Ecosystems Directorate successfully  
collaborated with other researchers on a National Science  
Foundation proposal.  The new project, "Sustainability of  
Arctic Communities: Interactions Between Global Changes,  
Public Policies, and Ecological Processes," will be funded  
over four years. 
 
                           ### 
 
 
Electronic Communications Among the Biosphere Reserves in the  
Western Hemisphere 
 
     U.S. MAB continues to work towards creating,  
EcoNetAmerica, an organizational and communication  
infrastructure among biosphere reserves and similar areas in  
the Western Hemisphere. 
 
     A "Goals, Implementation Strategy and Discussion Paper,"  
has been prepared to provide a framework and guidelines for  
mutual actions and activities.  Write the U.S. MAB  
Secretariat to obtain a copy.  We are interested in your  
comments on EcoNetAmerica. 
 
                            ### 
 
 
Maya Tropical Forest Workshop 
 
     "Regional Conservation Assessment Workshop for the Maya  
Tropical Forest," was held August 15-17, 1995 in San  
Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico.  The Tropical Ecosystems  
Directorate of U.S. MAB, Conservation International, the  
Mayan Forest program of U.S. A.I.D. (MAYAFOR), El Colegio de  
la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR), and Management Systems  
International (MSI) were all sponsors of the event. 
 
     The sixty invited participants received information  
describing environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic  
conditions in the Maya region; identified areas of data  
deficit; and developed a foundation for future information  
exchange.  More complete results from the workshop will be  
available in late fall 1995. 
 
                         ### 
 
 
Directory of Arctic Social Scientists 
 
An international directory of social scientists working in  
the Arctic is being compiled with a grant from the U.S.  
National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs.  The  
fields represented in the directory include but are not  
limited to, archaeology, cultural anthropology, economics,  
environmental studies, geography, history, human ecology,  
linguistics, medical anthropology, political science,  
psychology, social anthropology, and sociology.  The "Arctic"  
will include areas usually considered subarctic (including  
Iceland).  If you wish to be included in the directory,  
and/or you know someone (especially graduate students) who  
should be included, please contact E.S. Burch, Jr., 3500  
Market Street, Suite 106, Camp Hill, PA 17011-4355 USA   Fax.  
(717) 975-3592. 
 
                         ### 
 
 
Center for Environmental Information Holds Conference 
 
"Sustainable Development and Global Climate Change: Conflicts  
and Connections," sponsored by the Center for Environmental  
Information will be held December 4-5, 1995 in Arlington, VA. 
 
     The keynote speaker will be Bert Bolin, Chairman of the  
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 
 
     The purpose of the conference is to present new findings  
in the current IPCC assessment and its implications for  
sustainable development; and to examine mechanisms for  
assessing the linkages and the conflicts between sustainable  
development strategies and emerging findings about impacts,  
adaptation, and mitigation of global climate change effects. 
 
     For information, contact: Center for Environmental  
Information, 50 West Main St., Rochester, NY 14614-1218. Tel.  
(716) 262-2870, Fax. (716) 262-4156, Email:  
ctrenvinfo@igc.apc.org  
 
                             ### 
 
 
Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Directorate Core Project Update 
 
     The core project, "Ecological and Socio-Economic Impacts  
of Alternative Access Management Strategies in Marine  
Protected Areas," has reported first year activities.  The  
study has three major components, natural resources  
assessments, socio-economic/cultural assessments, and  
resource management linkages. 
 
     The natural resources assessments are being conducted on  
three sites.  A multi-use zonation strategy of management is  
being studied in the Florida Keys; single/multi-species  
closure strategy is being evaluated in the Channel Islands,  
CA; and de facto-complete closure versus recreational fishing  
only strategies are the focus in Kaho'olawe and Molokini  
Islands, HA.  Specific site selection and initial data  
collection are nearing completion.   
 
     The socio-economic assessment component required the  
design and testing of an attitudes measurement and attribute  
rating survey with commercial fishermen.  The Florida Keys  
was the test site for the survey with initial work done in  
Channel Islands National park and Kaho'olawe. 
 
     Involvement in the project of resource managers and  
other local groups has begun.  Discussion with the Kaho'olawe  
Island Reserve Commission and Ohana groups focused on  
possible benefits of the study to management of their marine  
area.  Development of the rating surveys was a joint effort  
with the staff of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary,  
the Monroe County Commercial Fishermen, Inc., and Organized  
Fishermen of Florida. 
 
     This study has prompted other activities.  The  
researchers initiated a collaboration with the Department of  
Defense to develop a training manual and or video on how to  
conduct military exercises in coral habitats.  U.S.A.I.D  
awarded the group a grant to train Jordanians in the use of  
low-tech methods for monitoring coral reefs in the new Peace  
Park in Jordan.  Directorate Chair Michael Crosby met with  
the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission to discuss  
potential collaborations with training programs in developing  
countries.  
 
                          ### 
 
 
Publications 
 
     Please include self-addressed mailing labels when you  
order publications from the U.S. MAB Secretariat,  
OES/ETC/MAB, SA-44C, Department of State, Washington, DC  
20522-4401. 
 
NEW PUBLICATIONS 
 
from U.S. MAB: 
 
Biosphere Reserves in Action: Case Studies of the American  
Experience describes 12 biosphere reserves and their  
approaches to meeting the goals of the U.S. Man and the  
Biosphere Program 1995. 86 pp. 
 
Use of Geographic Information Systems: A Data Dictionary for  
South Florida by Bill Solecki, Robert Walker, Steve Hodge,  
and Allyn Landers is a discussion of the organization and  
technology necessary to complete a GIS project.  This  
particular GIS was designed to facilitate synthesis of  
information for the core project of the Human-Dominated  
Systems Directorate of U.S. MAB and was used by the  
participants of its Isle au Haut Charette in 1994. 1995. 46  
pp. 
 
from Others: 
 
"Seville Strategy for Biosphere Reserves" UNESCO/MAB, 1995.  
14 pp., and "Statutory Framework of the World Network of  
Biosphere Reserves" UNESCO/MAB, 1995. 6 pp., both available  
from UNESCO, Programme MAB, Division of Ecological Sciences,  
1 rue Miollis, 75732 Paris Cedex 15, FRANCE Fax: (33) (1)  
40659897. 
 
"Guidelines for Protection, Maintenance and Development of  
the Biosphere Reserves in Germany" Standing Working Group of  
the Biosphere Reserves in Germany, Bonn, 1995. 113 pp., and  
"Proceedings of the EuroMab-workshop Societal Dimensions of  
Biosphere Reserves - Biosphere Reserves for People" (MAB- 
Mitteilungen No. 41) edited by Lenelis Kruse-Graumann,  
Friederike v Dewitz, Jurgen Nauber, and Andrea Trimpin,  
German MAB National Committee, Bonn, 1995. 161 pp.  Both  
available from the Secretariat of the German MAB National  
Committee, Federal Agency for Nature Conservation,  
Konstantinstr. 110, D. 53179 Bonn, Germany, free. 
 
Our Natural History: The Lessons of Lewis and Clark by Daniel  
B. Botkin recounts Dr. Botkin's travels along the route of  
the Lewis and Clark Expedition.  Dr. Botkin again teaches us  
that planners cannot be at all certain about the future of  
the ecosystems that they might wish to manage.  The nature of  
nature is change.  As humans in this biosphere, with our own  
relatively short term history and perspective, we often tend  
to want to see, "things stay as they are," or be  
controlled/preserved by our actions.  Yet finite end points  
and "natural conditions" cannot be guaranteed.  Our Natural  
History consequently is also a philosophical examination of  
the role and perspective of mankind and the biosphere.  G.P.  
Putnam's Sons, New York, NY, 1995. 315 pp., $25.95 (ISBN 0- 
399-14048-4, cloth).  
 
Description of the Ecoregions of the United States compiled  
by Robert G. Bailey describes 52 ecoregions with map  
enclosed. Dominant physical and biological characteristics  
are given under five headings: land-surface form, climate,  
vegetation, soils, and fauna.  This book updates the 1978 and  
1980 editions.  Available as Pub. No. 1391 (rev.) from Dr.  
Robert G. Bailey, USDA Forest Service, Ecosystem Management,  
3825 East Mulberry St., Fort Collins, CO 80524, 1995. 108  
pp., free.  
 
Green Ledgers: Case Studies in Corporate Environmental  
Accounting edited by Daryl Ditz, Janet Ranganathan, and R.  
Darryl Banks examines how managerial accounting applied to  
environmental costs can provide information for sound  
managerial decisions.  WRI Publications, P.O. Box 4852,  
Hampden Station, Baltimore, MD 21211, 1995. 193 pp., $19.95  
plus 3.50 shipping and handling. 
 
 
STILL AVAILABLE 
 
from Others: 
 
     La Diversidad Biologica de Iberoamerica  
compilador/editor Gonzalo Halffter.  This is the first book  
in a series on Iberoamerica Biodiversity under the auspices  
of the Iberoamerica Program on Science and Technology for  
Development (CYTED).  The status of biodiversity in the  
countries of Colombia, Cuba, Chile, Guatemala, Mexico, and  
Panama are covered in this edition.  Instituto de Ecologia,  
A.C., Departamento de Publicaciones, Apartado Postal 63,  
91000 Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, Telefono y Fax (281) 869-10,  
1992. 390 pp., $US 25.00 (rustica), $US 30.00 (de lujo) plus  
20% for shipping