U.S. Department of State
MAB Vol. 20 No. 2





                    U.S. MAB BULLETIN

The United States National Committee for the Man and the Biosphere 
Program

August 1996                       Volume 20, Number 2

ISSN 1078-6295

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

* From U.S. MAB Chair, D. Dean Bibles
* From the Executive Director, Roger E. Soles
* Diane Wickland Named New Vice Chair of the U.S. MAB
   National Committee
* July National Committee Meeting
* ACCESS 1996 is Ready for Distribution
* MABFauna 2.0 is Now Available
* Brian C. Bock New MABNetAmericas Coordinator
* Southern Appalachian Assessment
* MAB Presentations at the Ecological Society of America
  Meeting
* Big Thicket Science Conference
* New Biosphere Reserves Designated
* Internships in Natural History
* MAB at the IUCN
* Publications


             FROM U.S. MAB CHAIR, D. DEAN BIBLES
	
	The question of who owns and controls biosphere reserves has 
become a recurring issue this year.  Included is the issue of what kind 
of control may be given up with designation of a biosphere reserve.  I  
have been increasingly concerned about the rhetoric and misinformation 
often being disseminated about  the MAB Program. Therefore, I will 
attempt to answer some of the concerns.

	First, let me say emphatically that neither the Secretary General 
of the United Nations nor any other person in the UN is 'zoning' or 
otherwise gaining control or sovereignty over any property in the United 
States through the MAB Program. To suggest such is to attempt to inflame 
people in order to create division. The MAB Program is an opportunity to 
share beneficial information.  As athletes from all nations in the 
Olympics share in athletic competition in many different sports, the 
scientists and land managers of the MAB Program share nationally and 
internationally in many different disciplines. Both arenas suggest this 
sharing without regard to the violence and distrust that may exist on 
other levels between countries. We are recognizing the need of humans to 
exist on this planet and the dependency we have on one another to use 
resources of the world wisely. Sharing of information through a program 
like MAB may avoid the divisions and jealousies which may arise from 
each discipline and nation working independently.

	The biosphere reserve provides a place to integrate conservation, 
scientific research and monitoring, land management practices, and 
environmental education with the goal of sustainable development and 
maintenance of biological diversity. The concept does not emphasis 
preservation or development. It does emphasize the role of humans and 
long term societal sustainability which necessarily means providing 
food, water, air, and a quality of life.

	In accomplishing these goals, local people must be a part of the 
process and in fact local approval is required to successfully nominate 
an area for inclusion as a biosphere reserve. This is putting democracy 
into action at the local level. This model provides an opportunity for 
federal, state, local government, and local businesses and private 
citizens to decide on their own future.

	In becoming a part of the world-wide network of biosphere 
reserves, nothing is given up.  A commitment  is given to share 
information, continue scientific research and monitoring, maintain the 
biological diversity of the core area,  encourage sustainable 
development of the region, and work cooperatively with neighbors on 
issues of common interest. The United Nations Educational and Scientific 
Organization (UNESCO) gains no control in this process--it is merely a 
catalyst for aiding countries to communicate the results of their work 
on biosphere reserves.  MABNetAmericas and BRIM are two examples by 
which we attempt to facilitate this communication.

	Whether we prefer to stick our heads in the sand and act as though 
we Americans are the only ones here on this spaceship we call planet 
Earth or not, the fact remains that as we have ventured outside the 
confines of this beautiful planet, we confirm that it is indeed finite. 
We do share this space and breathe and rebreathe the air, reap the 
penalties of what we have done to our oceans, and all share in the 
increase in skin cancer and other maladies because of what we 
collectively have done to the earth's protective shield. Likewise we 
will all suffer if plants that might contain medicinal properties which 
may provide cures for some of our worst diseases are lost before we even 
know they exist. The Man and the Biosphere idea is merely about 
approaching ways for us to all strive to understand and take corrective 
action at the LOCAL level while learning from others and helping others 
to learn from us.




                FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
	
	The U.S. MAB Secretariat has recently received many inquiries 
about MAB, about biosphere reserves, and their relationship to the 
United Nations and property rights issues. This office has done its best 
to provide the information requested.

	U.S. MAB has rather limited educational/ outreach resources. This 
Bulletin now goes out to about 7,000 people worldwide. The maximum 
number of copies of any of our publications (e.g. - a directory of 
biosphere reserves) has been only 3,000. While these are much smaller 
circulation numbers than most scientific journals and newsletters they 
do represent an appropriate balance in our budget allocations between 
direct research and program support and outreach and publications.

	More than a dozen "MAB Home Pages" can be found on the World Wide 
Web. Versions of "Frequently Asked Questions and Answers About Biosphere 
Reserves" are found on most of these Home Pages. Our information is 
free, public and available to anyone. But, obviously more needs to be 
done to publicize the work of U.S. MAB and the facts about and benefits 
of biosphere reserves. 

	As one result of all of this, Chairman Bibles took the initiative 
to visit with several congressional staffers about their concerns. His 
efforts to present the facts of MAB and of the biosphere reserves 
concept have been appreciated.

	At the end of August there will be a changing of MABNetAmericas 
Coordinators. This position in the MAB Secretariat is managed in 
cooperation with the American Association for the Advancement of Science 
(AAAS) and its program of Fellowships in Science and Diplomacy at the 
Department of State. We were fortunate that last year Dr. William Teska 
was chosen to initiated this position. Bill made great progress in 
promoting MABNetAmericas from concept to consensus. Bill was also most 
helpful around our MAB office -- his presence, good humor and 
productivity will be sorely missed. Bill will return to Furman 
University this fall and we wish him well. I am most pleased that Dr. 
Brian Bock and Bill could overlap during several time periods this 
summer to make the transition as smooth as possible-- and so that the 
development of MABNetAmericas can continue uninterrupted.

	Ms. Keelin Kuipers is also leaving the secretariat staff. Ms. 
Kuipers was on loan to U.S. MAB from the National Science Foundation and 
did a great job for us pulling together several Biosphere Reserve 
Integrated Monitoring (BRIM) Program projects which we have taken on as 
the BRIM Secretariat for EuroMAB. The most time consuming of these has 
been the ACCESS 1996 which I am pleased to say is ready for 
distribution.         Roger E. Soles 



         DIANE WICKLAND NAMED NEW VICE CHAIR OF THE 
               U.S. MAB NATIONAL COMMITTEE

	D. Dean Bibles, Chair of U.S. MAB, has announced the appointment 
of Dr. Diane E. Wickland to the position of Vice-Chair of the U.S. 
National Committee for MAB.

	Dr. Wickland has served as the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration (NASA) representative on the National Committee since 
1992. She has consistently challenged U.S. MAB directorates to research 
excellence, and championed the creation of the biosphere reserve 
directorate and the position of biosphere reserve coordinator.

	Since 1992 Diane has managed the Terrestrial Ecology Program of 
the Office of Mission to Planet Earth for NASA. In that capacity Dr. 
Wickland manages a $15-18 million program of basic research to apply 
remote sensing to ecological problems. From 1990-92 she was Acting 
Chief, Ecosystem Dynamics and Biogeochemical Cycles Branch, Earth 
Science and Applications Division, Office of Space Science and 
Applications for NASA. 

	Dr. Wickland was born and raised in Wisconsin where she assisted 
with her family dairy farm. All of her academic degrees are in botany 
with a specialization in ecology.

	The National Committee will be well served by Diane who has been 
interested in all aspects of the MAB Program for several years. She 
brings to the position, expertise in research, grants and budget, and 
national and international program administration.



             JULY NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEETING

	Chair D. Dean Bibles presided at the July 24-25, 1996 U.S. 
National Committee for the Man and the Biosphere Program meeting held at 
the National Science Foundation board room in Arlington, Virginia. 

	The FY 1996 budget approved at this meeting provided funds for all 
of the following programs. 

	The Biosphere Reserve Directorate will continue development of the 
Biosphere Reserve Integrated Monitoring program data and information 
system for the U.S. It will support regional and local partnerships that 
have the capability and interest in implementing and integrating the 
functions of a biosphere reserves-conservation, research, sustainable 
development, and networking.

	The Tropical Ecosystems Directorate will demonstrate options for 
sustainable management of the Mayan area of Guatemala, Mexico, and 
Belize through workshops and funding of small grants. 

	The High Latitude Ecosystems Directorate will expand its study of 
caribou herds in their Alaskan/Canadian subarctic ranges. The two 
specific goals of the current research is to model and analyze the 
dynamic interactions between habitat, hunting, and population 
demographics of the Porcupine caribou herd; and design and develop a 
harvest information system that relies on data input from users and 
provides predictive feedback to communities for developing co-management 
hunting policy.

	The Human-Dominated Systems Directorate (H-DSD) will support the 
publication of a special edition of Ecological Applications, the journal 
of the Ecological Society of America for applied ecology articles. The 
issue will give an overview, synthesis, and conclusions of the H-DSD 
five year study of the Everglades and south Florida.

	The Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Directorate will document the 
present and changing conditions within the proposed Florida Keys 
National Marine Sanctuary and the three sites in Kaho'olawe and Molokini 
Islands, Hawaii. The directorate will also finalize the reference 
manual, "Management Strategies for Sustainable Fisheries and Protection 
of Marine Ecosystems."

	Other funded programs are the American Association for the 
Advancement of Science Fellow position to coordinate the MABNetAmericas 
program, support for the Northern Sciences Network and EuroMAB 
activities.

	Ad hoc committees were appointed to review the, "Guidelines for 
the Selection of Biosphere Reserves in the United States," chaired by 
Dean Bibles; to review the Biosphere Reserves Directorate proposal for 
development of U.S. Biosphere Reserves chaired by Elizabeth Owen; and to 
recommend appropriate criteria for membership on the National Committee 
chaired by Peter Jutro.

	Presentations were made by Jeffrey Bradybaugh of the National Park 
Service on Mammoth Cave Biosphere Reserve; Robert Lee of the University 
of Washington on the Temperate Ecosystem Directorate product LUCAS; 
Gordon Cragg of the National Cancer Institute on the relationship 
between MAB and the National Institutes of Health; Keelin Kuipers on the 
current status of Biosphere Reserve Integrated Monitoring (BRIM), a 
joint effort of U.S. MAB, Canada MAB, and European MAB programs; William 
Teska on the progress to date on the MABNetAmericas initiative; Kallie 
Naude, Johan Neethling, Annemarie deKlerk, Dennis Moss, and Bernard 
deWitt all working to establish a South African MAB Program and 
biosphere reserves on their fact finding mission to the U.S.; Bill 
Painter of the Environmental Protection Agency on the EPA Office of 
Sustainable Ecosystems and Communities Projects; Hubert Hinote, chair of 
the Biosphere Reserve Directorate, Mark Harwell, chair of the Human-
Dominated Systems Directorate, Jack Kruse, chair of the High Latitude 
Ecosystems Directorate, Michael Crosby, chair of the Marine and Coastal 
Ecosystems Directorate, and Francisco Dallmeier and Archie Carr members 
of the Temperate Ecosystems Directorate all presented the proposals for 
the 1996 directorate core projects; and Elizabeth Owen, Biosphere 
Reserves Coordinator spoke on her position goals.




           ACCESS 1996 IS READY FOR DISTRIBUTION

	The Biosphere Reserve Integrated Monitoring (BRIM) Program has 
recently made significant progress on three initiatives: the publication 
of ACCESS 1996: A Directory of Permanent Plots which Monitor Flora, 
Fauna, Climate, Hydrology, Soil, Geology, and the Effects of 
Anthropogenic Changes at 132 Biosphere Reserves in 27 Countries; the 
completion of a final release of MABFauna, and the development of a 
pilot version of MABFlora. (see additional information elsewhere in this 
Bulletin)

	ACCESS 1996  is now ready for distribution. This publication 
provides information on types of monitoring plots, how data from these 
plots are stored and maintained, contact information, and ecosystem 
types for most biosphere reserves in the 32 nation EuroMAB area. It will 
be a valuable resource in establishing cross-biosphere reserve studies, 
sharing expertise, and facilitating communication among biosphere 
reserve managers and scientists.

	ACCESS 1996  is the result of the efforts of the MAB Program of 
Germany, which undertook the initial comprehensive survey of EuroMAB 
Biosphere Reserves; the biosphere reserves and national MAB Programs 
that completed and returned the survey; and the U.S. MAB Program, which 
synthesized, edited, and published ACCESS 1996.

	For more information on the projected products of the BRIM program 
please write the U.S. MAB Secretariat for a copy of the BRIM pamphlet or 
find the text with other U.S. MAB publications at:  
gopher://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/1d-1%3a7531%3a02Man%20%26%2.0Biosphere




               MABFauna 2.0 IS NOW AVAILABLE 

	MABFauna/MABFlora are databases which list the occurrence of 
vertebrate and plant species and provide metadata on the status of 
species, the sources and reliability of the information, and the level 
and form of the documentation. Dr. James Quinn, Division of 
Environmental Studies at University of California, Davis and his 
colleagues have completed the final release of MABFauna, MABFauna 2.0. 
	
	MABFauna began as a product of the Biosphere Reserves Integrated 
Monitoring program (BRIM) an initiative of EuroMAB. The 2.0 edition was 
shipped to the 174 biosphere reserves of EuroMAB in late August. 
MABFauna will be a key tool in MAB's efforts to promote interconnections 
among biosphere reserves.

	MABFauna comes with a companion program, OBSERVE, which allows the 
user to input, manage, and store information on observations of 
individual members of animal populations, such as location of 
observation, behavior, appearance, and age of the individual and monitor 
populations over time.

	 MABFauna/MABFlora are now being expanded as part of the network 
connectivity program of the U.S. MAB Biosphere Reserves Directorate. 
U.S. biosphere reserves which are national parks, 27 biosphere reserve 
units in California, and several U.S. LTER sites are participating.

	A workshop involving staff of the MABFauna/MABFlora project and 
data managers of the National Science Foundation Long Term Ecological 
Research program was held May 1996. A prototype system was begun to 
provide storage, retrieval, and linking of data on soil, plant roots, 
and climate.

	MABFlora development is continuing. For North America the U.S.  
Department of Agriculture plant nomenclature and a more specialized 
version for California have been used. Efforts are being made to obtain 
authoritative plant name dictionaries for Europe such as Flora Europaea. 
A pilot metadata protocol is being developed with the MAB Programs of 
the Czech Republic, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. MABFlora will be 
released in several versions including versions covering countries in 
Europe, Canada and the United States; and the Western Hemisphere.

	Anyone interested in contributing either species lists for 
individual biosphere reserves or country-level species name databases 
please contact James Quinn at tel. 916-752-8027, fax. 916-752-3350, E-
mail jfquinn@ucdavis.edu 

	So far, 51 biosphere reserves in 28 countries have adopted 
MABFauna and provided information on at least one vertebrate taxa, and 
in many cases all five. Twenty-six biosphere reserves in 9 countries 
have their metadata available on the Internet via the UC Davis MAB 
Webpage http://ice.davis.edu/MAB/




       BRIAN C. BOCK IS NEW MABNetAmericas COORDINATOR

	Dr. Brian C. Bock joins the U.S. MAB Secretariat as MABNetAmericas 
Coordinator in September 1996. Brian has worked for the last year as an 
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow in the 
Science, Technology, and Communications Unit of the Bureau for Global 
Programs of U.S. A.I.D. The AAAS Fellowship continues with the position 
at U.S. MAB.

	Brian has had 16 years experience in conducting research on the 
ecology and conservation of neotropical reptiles and amphibians in 
Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru, and Brazil. He has served as Adjunct 
or Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa, Reed College, 
Wilmington College, and Ohio University. His main interests are 
population biology, ecological genetics, and behavioral ecology.

	Dr. Bock sees his fellowship with the U.S. MAB Secretariat as an 
ideal means for him to continue his efforts to help develop scientific 
infrastructure in Latin America, as well as promote collaborative 
linkages between conservation biologists there and in the rest of the 
hemisphere. U.S. MAB will benefit from Brian's experience in research, 
communication, and adaptability.




              SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN ASSESSMENT

	The fourteen member agencies of the Southern Appalachian Man and 
the Biosphere Cooperative (SAMAB) pooled resources and worked for two 
years to compile the Southern Appalachian Assessment. The five volume 
assessment contains four technical reports: Aquatic, Atmospheric, 
Terrestrial, Social/Cultural/Economic and a summary. Maps, charts, 
tables, text, and photographs give a snap shot view of the state of the 
human and natural ecosystem of the area for the end of the 20th century.

	The assessment area covers over 37 million acres of mountains, 
foothills, and valleys of seven states, stretching from northern 
Virginia and eastern West Virginia to northwestern South Carolina, 
northern Georgia, and northern Alabama. The report provides information 
on 135 counties, home to 5.8 million people.
	
	Public meetings were held to record public concerns about specific 
issues. Based on these concerns, questions were formed which provided a 
framework for the work of the scientific teams. Data was collected from 
Federal, state, county, and university sources. All interagency teams 
working to collect and analyze data conducted their work during open 
meetings in many locations. Many scientists and members of the public 
reviewed the data before it was published. 

	The report does not provide solutions or recommendations. It 
increases the amount of information available to everyone and avoids 
expensive duplication. The information is compiled for the use of 
Federal and state land managers, county and city planners, schools, etc. 
who can apply their own analysis and recommendations for issues of 
specific interest. For example, the USDA-Forest Service plans to use the 
information from the assessment in the upcoming revision of several 
long-term management plans for the national forests in the Southern 
Appalachians.

	The five assessment volumes are available:
	
	In printed form free from SAMAB, 1314 Cherokee Orchard Road, 
Gatlinburg, TN 37738, E-mail: samab@ix.netcom.com 

	Electronic format is available on the Internet at the SAMAB home 
page http://www.lib.utk.edu/samab or at the USDA-Forest Service home 
page http://www.fs.fed.us/

	 A five CD set of the GIS Data Base is available from SAMAB at the 
above address for $20. File formats include ARC/INFO 7.x, ASCII, 
Microsoft Excel, and Postscript. The data bases in this CD set contain 
extensive information on the biological, demographic, social, and 
economic status of the region.




                   MAB PRESENTATIONS AT THE 
             ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA MEETING

	Two U.S. MAB directorates and two affiliated programs were 
featured at the August 11-14, 1996 Ecological Society of America meeting 
in Providence, Rhode Island.

	MABNetAmericas reached out to ecologists and professional resource 
managers with the presentation of a technical paper, "MABNetAmericas: 
Accessing and Electronically Sharing Information to Conserve 
Biodiversity in the Americas," by Dr. William R. Teska. Dr. Teska has 
been working with the U.S. MAB Secretariat as MABNetAmericas coordinator 
since September 1995. 

	A morning long symposium, "Fresh Water: Linking Social, Economic 
and Environmental Vitality," included presentations by members of the 
Temperate Ecosystems (TED) as well as the Human-Dominated Systems 
Directorates(H-DSD). Dr. Robert J. Naiman, TED Chair with John J. 
Magnuson of the University of Wisconsin, and Penelope L. Firth of the 
National Science Foundation organized the symposium and led discussion 
on, "Integrating cultural, economic and environmental requirements for 
fresh water." Dr. Mark A. Harwell, H-DSD Chair spoke on, "The case of 
South Florida: ecosystem management for sustainability." Dr. Naiman and 
David N. Wear, Monica G. Turner, Richard O. Flamm, and Susan Bolton, 
investigators on the TED core project spoke on, "Institutional imprints 
on forested landscapes: effects on water quality." Other presenters in 
the symposium were P.H. Gleick of Pacific Institute, J. Kindler of the 
World Bank, J.A. Stanford of the University of Montana, and D. 
Policansky of the National Research Council.

	Dr. Francisco G. Dallmeier, member of the Tropical Ecosystems 
Directorate with Jamie K. Reaser both of the Smithsonian Institution/Man 
and the Biosphere Program (SI/MAB) organized and led, "International 
Symposium on Measuring and Monitoring Biodiversity." Dr. Dallmeier began 
the program with a talk on an approach to multi-taxa measuring and 
monitoring of forest biodiversity. Thomas J. Stohlgren followed with an 
explanation of the SI/MAB toolkit, and Adam Fenech described the SI/MAB 
permanent forest plots in Canada, "From one hectare prototypes to 
national program of sites." Jamie K. Reaser and Christopher J. Ros 
talked on testing and transferring the tools: SI/MAB's international 
biodiversity measuring and monitoring certification courses. The group 
concluded with Frederick A.B. Meyerson discussing establishment of a 
biodiversity monitoring network of universities and high schools, 
"Speeding up the information highway," and a panel discussion.




              BIG THICKET SCIENCE CONFERENCE

	A conference, Biodiversity and Ecology of the West Gulf Coastal 
Plain Landscape,  will be held in Beaumont, TX October 10-13, 1996. 
Scientists, resource managers, students, and interested public are 
invited to attend. Twelve plenary sessions and 60 papers will be 
presented on the topics of: Aquatic/Wetland Communities and Water 
Quality; GIS Applications/Partnerships in Conservation/Ecological 
Restoration/Resource Management; Vegetation; and Terrestrial Fauna. 

	Land managers within the region are faced with many challenges 
while attempting to conserve biological diversity, maintain 
environmental quality, provide quality recreational opportunities, and 
promote sustainable economic development. This conference will provide a 
forum for  exchange of information  among scientists and resource 
managers.
	
	The conference is sponsored by the National Park Service Big 
Thicket National Preserve, Big Thicket Association, Big Thicket 
Conservation Association, Rice University, USDA-Forest Service National 
Forests and Grasslands in Texas and Kisatchie National Forest, National 
Parks &  Conservation Association, Entergy, The Nature Conservancy of 
Texas, Inc., Southwest Parks and Monuments Association, Temple-Inland, 
Inc., Texas Parks & Wildlife Department  Davis Hill State Natural Area, 
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, 
U.S. Geological Survey National Wetlands Research Center, and the 
Beaumont Convention & Visitors Bureau.

	For information and  registration please contact:
Big Thicket Association
P.O. Box 198
Saratoga, TX 77585
or

Big Ticket National Preserve
3785 Milam
Beaumont, TX 77701

Tel. (409) 839-2689, ext. 223 or 224
Fax. (409) 839-2599
E-mail: BITH_Resource_Management@nps.gov




             NEW BIOSPHERE RESERVES DESIGNATED

	The Bureau of  MAB International Coordinating Council at its April 
15-16, 1996 meeting in Paris designated nine new biosphere reserves. The 
extension of the area of Mammoth Cave Area Biosphere Reserve in the U.S. 
was also approved.

	Mar Chiquito (Argentina) near the already existing Costera del Sur 
Biosphere Reserve.  This is a neotropical area with a total of 26,488 
hectares located in the Municipality of Mar Chiquita in the Atlantic 
Coastal zone.
	
	Maolan (China) is a subtropical and temperate rain forest  or 
woodland area of 21,330 hectares and 4319 inhabitants in Libo County, 
Guizhou Province.

	 Tianmushan (China) is an evergreen sclerophyllous forest-scrub or 
woodlands area of 4,285 hectares and 171 inhabitants in the North-West 
part of Zhejiang Province in the watershed of the Yangzi and 
Qiantangjiang Rivers. 

	Bile Karpaty (Czech Republic) is a broad leaf forest area of 
71,500 hectares and 66,000 people located in the south region of Morava 
on the border with the Slovak Republic.

	Oberlausitzer Heide und Teichlanschaft (Germany) is a mixed forest 
area of 26,355 hectares and 10,000 inhabitants located in the Dresden 
Region of Saxony.

	Boloma-Bijagos Archipelago (Guinea Bissau) is an island and 
mainland woodland/savanna area of 11,000 square kilometers and 10,872 
people located off Boloma Island.

	Mount Carmel (Israel) is a Mediterranean sclerophyll/ warm desert 
area of 266 square kilometers and 200,000 inhabitants located in the 
District of the regional Councils of Haifa at the National Park and 
Forest of Carmel.
	
	Boghd Khan Uul (Mongolia) is a steppe area of 67,281 hectares and 
346 inhabitants located near Mandal Gobi.

	The W Region of Niger (Niger)  is a woodland/savanna area of 
725,000 hectares and 10,000 people near the borders with Benin and 
Burkina Faso.

	These nine additions bring the present total of biosphere reserves 
worldwide to 337 in 85 countries.




                INTERNSHIPS IN NATURAL HISTORY

	The National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian 
Institution is offering 24-30 ten-week summer internships for 
undergraduate students from May 24-August 2, 1997. Applicants should 
have an interest in a career in systematic biology and natural history 
research. Research projects, lectures, discussions, workshops, field 
trips, laboratory demonstrations, and collection tours are all part of 
the planned program. A modest stipend, housing, and transportation 
allowance are provided. Application deadline is February 1, 1997 with 
notification of acceptance or rejection mailed March 8, 1997. 
Information and application materials can be located at: 
http://www.nmnh.si.edu/nmnhweb.html or by writing Smithsonian 
Institution, Mary Sangrey, 166 NHB, Washington, DC 20277-2915.




                       MAB AT THE IUCN

A MAB Symposium, "Biosphere Reserves -- Myth or Reality?" will be held 
at the World Conservation Union Congress ( IUCN) meeting in Montreal 
October 20.  The symposium is a compilation of presentations and 
synthesis of progress achieved in implementing the results of the 
International Conference on Biosphere Reserves in Seville 1995. 
Francisco Dallmeier of Smithsonian/MAB will be one of the presenters.




                        PUBLICATIONS


To order publications from the U.S. MAB Secretariat, OES/ETC/MAB, SA-
44C, Department of State, Washington, DC 20522-4401, please include 
self-addressed mailing labels.

NEW PUBLICATIONS

from U.S. MAB:

ACCESS 1996: A Directory of Permanent Plots Which Monitor Flora, Fauna, 
Climate, Hydrology, Soil, Geology, and the Effects of Anthropogenic 
Changes at 132 Biosphere Reserves in 27 Countries  is a directory of 
updated information on biosphere reserves in Europe, Canada, and the 
United States which reported permanent plot information. This is the 
second product of the Biosphere Reserves Integrated Monitoring Program 
(BRIM) developed by EuroMAB. Germany MAB began the directory with a 
questionnaire to all biosphere reserves in Europe, Canada, and the 
United States. U.S. MAB then compiled and printed the information into 
directory format. 1996. (392pp.)

MABNetAmericas, a pamphlet in English and Spanish describing the 
MABNetAmericas initiative to electronically link the 100 biosphere 
reserves in the Western Hemisphere. 1996. 1p.

from others:

Ecosystem Geography  by Robert G. Bailey features diagrams, photographs, 
and maps to aid the study or management of landscapes and ecosystems. 
1995. (190pp.)  Available from Springer-Verlag New York, Inc. Attn.: K. 
Jackson, Dept. S703, 175 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10010-7858,  Tel. 1-800-
SPRINGER.  softcover $34.50, hardcover $69.

The World Network of Biosphere Reserves, a world map showing the 
location of 329 biosphere reserves in relation to the major ecosystem 
types of the world. 1996. 38" x 25.5" available from UNESCO 
Publications, 7 place de Fontenoy, 75700 Paris, France  or for minimum 
and multiple orders of 50 copies for $45. SAMAB Foundation 1314 Cherokee 
Orchard Lane, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

World Resources 1996-97  contains economic, population, and natural 
resource conditions and trends for most countries in the world. 1996 
(365pp.) $24.95  plus $3.50 shipping and handling.
and the
World Resources 1996-97 Database Diskette which contains all of the 
statistics contained in the above, plus 20-year time series for many 
variables. 1996 (3.5" HD diskettes, IBM-compatible) $99.95 plus $3.50 
shipping and handling. 
both compiled by the World Resources Institute and available from WRI 
Publications, P.O. Box 4852, Hampden Station, Baltimore, MD 21211 Tel. 
1-800-822-0504, E-mail: ChrisD@WRI.ORG


STILL AVAILABLE

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. (86pp.)

from others:

Policy Hits the Ground: Participation and Equity in Environmental 
Policy-Making by Aaron Zazueta is a World Resources Institute report  
which gives the concepts, guidelines, and examples of grassroots 
participation in environmental projects and empowerment of the 
stakeholders to plan for continued sustainable development. The specific 
examples given are drawn from Latin American experiences. Dr. Zazueta is 
a member of the U.S. MAB Tropical Ecosystems Directorate. 1995. (64pp.) 
Available from WRI Publications, P.O. Box 4852, Hampden Station, 
Baltimore, MD 21211 or  Tel. 1-800-822-0504. $14.95 plus $3.50 shipping 
and handling.