SAMAB-NEWS
| MARCH 1998 SAMAB-NEWS |
March 1998
Spring Planning Meeting May 14 & 15
SAMAB's annual Spring Planning Meeting is planned for
May 14-15 (Thursday and Friday) at the UNC Arboretum in Asheville, NC.
SAMAB's Executive Committee will meet on Wednesday May 13 from 1:00 to
4:00 pm in the Arboretum's Library. This year's meeting will begin with
a session titled "What's New with SAMAB?" that includes an overview
of the SAMAB plan of work and initial planning for the fall conference.
The Thursday morning session will be followed by a catered luncheon. That
afternoon, SAMAB standing committees will meet in break-out sessions to
discuss committee participation in planned initiatives and other issues
of interest to SAMAB. Following a general session featuring committee reports,
the meeting will adjourn at 4:00. At 4:15 there will be an optional tour
of the Arboretum lead by Ron Lance,Education Program Specialist. On Friday
morning there will be working meetings for the 3 SAMAB initiatives. Anyone
interested in the Watershed Conservation Initiative, the Sustainable Development
Initiative, or the Native Plants/Exotic Pests Initiative is encouraged
to attend (we need your help!). The meeting will adjourn at 11:30 on Friday.
Registration fee is $25.00, plus an additional cost for the catered lunch.
DISCOVER LIFE IN AMERICA: All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) held a workshop in mid-December in Gatlinburg, TN, to gauge interest in and feasibility of oing an All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) in the Park. Over 100 scientists, educators, federal, state, and non-governmental agency personnel attended, including representatives from Costa Rica and Canada.For two days, the group discussed the concept and initiation of an ATBI in the Smokies. The participants were uniformly enthusiastic about the project, and the workshop ended with high hopes and expectations. Since then, representatives from the Park visited the White House to brief Office of Science and Technology Policy on the project; taxonomic working groups, or TWIGS have been formed, each having coordinators and 20 to 30 taxonomic specialists signed up to work on the GRSM biodiversity project. Workshops are being planned to tackle such issues as study design, databasing, public outreach and the World Wide Web, collecting, sorting, and curating specimens, among other issues.
A formal announcement of the start of the Smokies ATBI will be made at a special 24 April event that will be attended by Bob Stanton, the director of the National Park Service. This event will dovetail with Director Stanton's announcement of his new initiative on natural resources in the Park Service.
The objective of an ATBI is to inventory all the biodiversity within a specific geographic area. In addition to the basic research of collecting, identifying, describing, and documenting information on each species, the park envisions conducting an inventory with a strong educational component that will increase the public's general understanding of the diversity of life and the benefits to society from conserving biodiversity within our parks.
By using the World Wide Web and other means to disseminate information, the Park proposes to make nature more accessible to the general public and scientific communities alike. One goal is to use modern technology and information systems to allow Park visitors to identify most of the species within the Park and access information on the natural history of each species.
GRSM will gather and disseminate information on the identification, natural history, whereabouts, and known characteristics and uses of each species. The ATBI will give resource managers a fuller understanding of the complexity of ecological communities and thus help them to conserve species and improve ecosystem health.
The Park has over 500,000 acres, is centrally located relative to eastern population centers, and serves an estimated nine million visitors per year, more than any other national park worldwide. Because of the Park's central location, many species occurring in the eastern United States are likely to be included in the Park's ATBI. Finally, the Park is biologically rich, possibly containing 100,000 species.
SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN NATIVE PLANT INITIATIVE
The need for SAMAB's involvement in a native plant initiative grew out of a September SAMAB sponsored 1996 Biocontrol workshop in which those attending agreed that the invasion of non-native species was the greatest threat to the region's flora and fauna. The group also agreed that public outreach was needed to help combat this ever-growing problem. In August 1997, a group of biologists and educators met to discuss what role SAMAB could play in this effort and what the priorities should be. These initiatives are outlined in the SAMAB Program of Work.
The first and main project is based on the well organized efforts of the National Native Plant Initiative. SAMAB plans to follow their lead and coordinate a Southern Appalachian Native Plant Initiative. The SAMAB Executive Committee has agreed to join the National Initiative so the Regional Initiative can "piggy-back" on the National group's ongoing projects that include numerous outreach materials. Additionally, many of the partners involved in the National initiative are located in the Southern Appalachians. It is our hope to work closely with those groups to develop a Regional Outreach Plan and outreach materials that can be shared among all those involved.
The Southern Appalachian Initiative will involve coordinating a Regional Outreach Strategy, the creation of outreach materials that can be used throughout the Region, creating a mechanism for sharing information about on-going efforts, and writing grants for future outreach initiatives. Some seed money has already been provided to develop basic outreach materials including tabletop exhibits, and several brochures. The brochures will provide information on natives vs. non-natives, list of native plant species, list of native substitutes for nonnatives, list of nurseries that specialize in native plants, and a list of demonstration areas. For this initiative to be successful we will need help. If you have information or contacts that may be helpful or you would like to be involved in developing the Regional Initiative, designing materials, reviewing materials, or just being on the mailing list to keep up with what is going on please contact Hilary Vinson.Hilary Vinson at 704/258-3939 ext.234 or e-mail: hilary_vinson@fws.gov.
There are still Watchable Wildlife Posters available to SAMAB members. They include the StreamCafe which depicts aquatic diversity in a swift-flowing stream; Limestone Honeycomb which shows a limestone cedar glade and cave; Muddy Meanderings explores the diversity in a slow-moving meandering river and bottomland forest; Narrow Niches depicts the life of a tiny catfish and freshwater mussel; Tiny World Travelers explores the life of a pair of scarlet tanagers; and Trouble At Home highlights four exotic species. All posters include background information and educational activities on the back.
The posters can be picked-up at the SAMAB spring planning meeting. To place an order and arrange a pick-up time, please call Hilary Vinson at 704/258-3939 ext.234 or e-mail: hilary_vinson@fws.gov.
To implement SAMAB's Watershed Conservation Initiative, we are forming a team of watershed advisors to help us develop an information clearing house and a website. Please volunteer to work with us, contact: Ruthanne Mitchell at ruthanne_mitchell@nps.gov.
It's easy to find information on water resources related subjects on the Internet. Several federal and state websites deliver useful news, data, and maps to gather water quality information. A starting point is EPA's Clean Water Initiative (http://www.epa.gov/cleanwater/) which will link up with EPA's Surf Your Watershed (http://www.epa.gov/surf/surf_search.html).
You can view maps of your watershed and review the Index of Watershed Indicators (the IWI or Index) which is the EPA's first national picture of watershed health. The Index organizes and presents aquatic resource information on a watershed basis. You can review information from your state agency, universities, and organizations such as the Izaak Walton League.
Also look at The Nature Conservancy's River of Life web page: www.consci.tnc.org/library/pubs/rivers/index.htm.
SAMAB PUBLISHES SUMMARY REPORT ON THE COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS WORKSHOP
Charlie Van Sickle (ret.USDA Forest Service/SAMAB Advisor) prepared the Summary Report on the Community Sustainability Indicators Workshop (held in Asheville in July 1997). Copies were mailed out to all the workshop participants. Additional copies were mailed to the Presidents Council on Sustainable Development, to the USDA Rural Development Program and to SAMAB Executive Committee Members. A few copies are available.
The report contains an overview of workshop's program and the procedures for determining the list of sustainable community indicators as they were finally developed by community representatives from Hancock and Sevier Counties in Tennesse, Buncombe, Swain, and Henderson Counties in North Carolina, Russell County, Virginia, and the City of Chattanooga.
Transition Team Looks at Options for SAMAB Cooperative's Future
With the upcoming retirement in December 1998 of Hubert Hinote, the Cooperative's Executive Director, SAMAB is looking at options for how this office will operate in the future. A Transition Team consisting of Karen Wade (NPS), Nancy Herbert (USFS), Jon Loney (TVA), Brian Cole (FWS), and Charlie Van Sickle (retired USFS/SAMAB) is evaluating alternatives for staffing and office location.
A discussion was held at the recent Executive Committee meeting in Atlanta on March 4. It was agreed that a more visible, accessible office is desirable for outreach and coordination with the SAMAB foundation as well as a closer working relationship with the Natural Resource Leaders group. An evaluation of the roles and responsibilities of the coordination office is also being undertaken by the working group.
The Transition Team is developing a recommended action plan to present at the next Executive Committee meeting (May 13 in Asheville at the North Carolina Arboretum from 1:00 to 4:00 pm).
EXECTUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT
1998 promises to be an exciting time to be a part of the SAMAB team. Already, this year the SAMAB Foundation selected a new president, George Briggs, Executive Director of the North Carolina Arboretum. Also, the Foundation has selected some additional directors. Moreover, a transition team is hard at work looking at options for the SAMAB Cooperative's future (as I will be retiring as the executive director at the end of this year). Most importantly, however, is the program of work that is emerging for the next several years.
The Program of Work began to develop at the 1997 spring planning meeting. Discussed elsewhere in this newsletter are the three major focus areas that have emerged: (1) Native Plants and Exotic Species Initiative; (2) Watershed Conservation Initiative; and (3) Community Sustainable Development Initiative. An implementation phase for each of the initiatives is expected to emerge from this year's Spring Planning Meeting in Asheville on May 14 and 15 (see the lead article for details).
We are in the process of printing a succinct brochure on the work program and more details may be found on the SAMAB web page.
Already in 1998, there has been one significant event -- the briefing of the agency leaders in Atlanta on March 4. In this briefing, we reviewed some of the 1997 highlights, for example:
* The Southern Appalachian Assessment (SAMAB Policy Team) received the prestigious Hammer Award. This award was presented by a representative of Vice-President Gore in Atlanta in August. We continue to receive requests for the SAA, but unfortunately all the printed 5 volume sets have been distributed. There continues to be a significant number of requests for the CDs and some are still available from the coordinating office.
*SAMAB sponsored two very successful workshops on the (1) Integration of Human Health and Natural Resources and (2) Community Sustainability Indicators Workshop (Summary Report is discussed on p.5). Follow up activities have been approved by the Executive Committee. We are currently seeking ways to update and maintain the SAA database.
* As a result of SAMAB's institutional structure, programs and projects, and being viewed as a model to be emulated, its outreach and technology transfer functions continue to grow, for example: (1) we hosted delegations from India and Turkey, and made presentations to delegations from the Slovak Republic and Macedonia; (2) presented the SAMAB experience at the Glacier Bay-Admiralty Island area in Alaska, the Coastal Carolina area in Georgia, and the Voyageurs National Park area in Minnesota; (3) worked cooperatively with a number of regional and local groups such as SAMI, Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition, Western North Carolina Tomorrow, East Tennessee Tourism Coordinating Council, and a number of others.
* The SAMAB Foundation also played a significant role during 1997. It provided support to: the USMAB Biosphere Reserve Directorate, the Southeastern Natural Resources Leaders Group, and cosponsored with EPA and others the EPA Pollution Prevention/Green Manufacturing Conference for Business and Industry.
Mark your calendar -- see front page, and participate in the SAMAB program in 1998!
OUTSTANDING NATIONAL RESOURCE WATERS
The Tennessee Division of Water Pollution Control has nominated portions of the Little River, Abrams Creek, West Prong of the Little Pigeon River, and the Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River to receive the classification of Outstanding National Resource Waters (ORNW).
The Obed River within the federal Wild and Scenic River, the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River within the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area were also nominated for ORNW status.
The ONRW designation, which must be formally adopted by the Tennessee Water Quality Control Board, is based upon excellent water quality, ecological importance, outstanding scenery, and valuable public recreational opportunities. The rivers provide habitats for a very diverse community of plants and animals, including some endangered. The ONRW designation would give a special level of water quality protection in order to preserve these special places. Only portions of these streams within the parks were nominated.
Forest Service Offers "Passport in Time"
Volunteers can pick up a trowel and delve into North Carolina's past this Spring by signing up now through April 15 for an archaeological dig in the Nantahala National Forest. The U.S.Forest Service is sponsoring the excavation, held June 1-13 at Appletree Campground near Andrews, NC. The event is part of the Forest Service's nationwide program, "Passport in Time." The program gives volunteers an opportunity to assist in survey, excavation and restoration of significant historic and archaeological sites on public land. "Passport in Time" also unlocks the doors of Native American history. Volunteers can expect to find artifacts that could date from 200 to 10,000 years ago.
For more information, please contact Forest Archeologist Rodney Snedeker at 704-257-4255 or the information receptionist at 704-257-4200. Volunteers may pick up applications at Forest Service offices in Asheville or at the Wayah District Ranger Office in Franklin.
Making the SAA Database More Accessible to Communities
One of SAMAB's major goals is to encourage use of the Southern Appalachian Assessment (SAA) database for local decision-making and to continue to update and improve the database so that it remains a viable tool for resource conservation. Our Sustainable Development Initiative is one means of achieving this goal. SAMAB agencies are working with the Tennessee Conservation League, the Izaak Walton League, and the University of Tennessee to develop multi-resource atlases for counties in the Southern Appalachian Region. Work is currently underway in Cocke and Polk Counties in East Tennessee, to 1) identify what information from the SAA is most useful to communities; 2) what other information can be added to the currently available data; and 3) what is the best format to make the resource information available to local decision-makers (i.e. hard-copy published atlases, access to GIS through training, assistance in setting up computer facilities).
In Cocke County, SAMAB is working with TVA's Quality Communities Program, part of Economic Development. This program includes a series of facilitated workshops where local people identify a vision of what they would like their communities to look like in the future and also identify specific problems that are hindering the achievement of this vision. Through this process, SAMAB partners hope to gain insight into what might be useful indicators of sustainability. In an iterative process we will develop a set of GIS coverages that will empower the people of Cocke County to make imformed decisions about future development opportunities.
The University of Tennessee, Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries is taking the lead in working with community leaders in Polk County. As in Cocke County, the goal is to assess what is the communities' vision of a desirable future and through an iterative process, identify suitable indicators that will help track progress toward that future. Other partners in Polk County include the Tennessee Conservation League and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency through their involvement in the Tennessee Gap Analysis Program. For more information on this initiative contact: Betsy Smith at ersmith22@tva.gov.
Riparian Restoration Partnership: Cartoogechaye Creek, Macon County, NC
Coweeta Hydrological Laboratory is measuring the restoration efforts being conducted on Cartoogechaye Creek, a tributary of the Little Tennessee River in Macon County, NC, near the town of Franklin. This multi-partner project includes: the Southwestern North Carolina Research Council, the Macon Soil and Water Conservation District, the Little Tennessee Watershed Association, the Southern Highlands Conservancy, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Duke Power Company, and the US EPA.
Calendar
April 19-24: International Bear Conference in Gatlinburg (423-974-0739)
April 25: Earth Day in the Smokies (423-494-7008)
April 21: Hiwassee Interagency Team meeting in Cleveland, TN (423-751-3747)
May 3-6: National Conference on Environmental Decision Making (www.ncdr.org)
May 13: SAMAB Executive Committee Meeting in Asheville (423-436-1701)
June 23-24: North Carolina Stream Restoration and Protection Workshop, NC Cooperative Extension Service/NC State University (337-401-8025)
July 23-25: Native Plant Conference-Western Carolina University, Sue Deetz, 828-227-7397
August 12: SAMAB Executive Committee Meeting in Cleveland, TN
Nov. 4-6: SAMAB Annual Fall Conference in Gatlinburg 423-436-1701