A BIOLOGICAL SURVEY FOR THE NATION -- Copyright -- Preface -- Contents -- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY -- WHAT NEEDS WILL A BIOLOGICAL SURVEY FOR THE NATION ADDRESS? -- HOW CAN A BIOLOGICAL SURVEY FOR THE NATION BE CREATED? -- WHAT ARE THE NECESSARY FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES OF THE NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP? -- HOW WILL THE NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP STRENGTHEN THE INFORMATION BASE FOR PLANNING AND OPERATIONAL DECISIONS? -- Performing Research -- Making Information Useful -- HOW WILL THE NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP PROVIDE AN ORGANIZED FRAMEWORK FOR COLLABORATION AMONG ITS PARTICIPANTS? -- Organization and Coordination of the NPBS -- Coordination within DOI -- HOW WILL THE NPBS PROVIDE AN ORGANIZED STRUCTURE WITH STATED PRIORITIES FOR ACQUIRING NEEDED INFORMATION ABOUT BIOLOGICAL… -- HOW WILL THE NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP PROVIDE IMPROVED PROGRAMMATIC EFFICIENCIES AND ECONOMIES OF SCALE? -- Research -- Information Management -- HOW SHOULD THE NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP BE IMPLEMENTED? -- Near-Term Priorities (Immediately to within 1 Year) -- Intermediate-Term Priorities (within 3 Years) -- Long-Term Priorities (within 5 Years) -- WHAT ARE THE LIMITS TO THE NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP? -- A BIOLOGICAL SURVEY FOR THE NATION -- 1 THE VALUE OF A BIOLOGICAL SURVEY FOR THE NATION -- PURPOSE OF THE NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR BIOLOGICAL SURVEY -- PARTICIPANTS IN THE NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR BIOLOGICAL SURVEY -- MAJOR ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR BIOLOGICAL SURVEY -- Preserving the Nation's Biota -- Sustainable Use of Biological Resources -- Maintenance of Essential Ecological Services -- Reducing Undesirable Effects across Ecosystems -- Management of Land and Water Habitats and Resources -- Maintaining the Aesthetic Quality of Life -- Anticipating Climate Change -- Prospecting for Biological Resources -- Restoring Degraded Environments.

DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR BIOLOGICAL SURVEY -- Ability to Conduct Credible Science -- Ability to Conduct and Stimulate Appropriate Research -- Organization for Program Continuity -- Ability to Provide Useful Information -- BENEFITS OF THE NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR BIOLOGICAL SURVEY -- THE LIMITS TO THE NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR BIOLOGICAL SURVEY -- 2 SCIENCE IN THE SERVICE OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY -- SETTING PRIORITIES -- SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON THE STATUS OF BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES -- What Species Occur in the United States? Where Do They Occur? How are They Related? -- Why Do Species Occur Where They Do? -- What Communities and Ecosystems Occur in the United States? Where Do They Occur? -- Why are Ecosystems Found Where They are? -- Interactions among Ecosystems -- DETECTING TRENDS IN BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES -- Data Useful for Determining Trends and Their Causes -- Data on Current Trends -- REGIONAL COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS -- 3 MEETING THE INFORMATION NEEDS OF NPBS CLIENTS -- INFORMATION NEEDS -- The Need for Spatial Data -- Specific Needs Include -- COORDINATION AND MANAGEMENT OF DATA AND INFORMATION -- A Federated Database Approach -- Limits to Federation -- Learning from Others -- Custodianship -- Data Archiving -- Functional Requirements for NPBS Data Management -- INFORMATION MANAGEMENT IN NBS -- Consolidation and Coordination of DOI Survey and Monitoring Data -- NBS COORDINATION OF A NATIONAL DISTRIBUTED DATABASE -- INFORMATION DISSEMINATION -- Assessments and Communication of Results to Decision-Makers -- Ensuring Scientific Quality -- Achieving Widespread NPBS Product Communication -- 4 COORDINATION OF THE NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR BIOLOGICAL SURVEY -- ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF NBS -- COORDINATING THE NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP -- Mechanism for National Coordination -- Coordination within the Department of the Interior.

Field and State Coordination -- BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS -- Department of Interior -- Budget Prioritization -- Non-DOI Federal Agencies -- RELATIONSHIP TO RECOMMENDATIONS OF OTHER REPORTS -- 5 IMPLEMENTATION -- STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION PLAN -- IMPLEMENTATION PRIORITIES IN PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT -- Near-Term Priorities -- Intermediate-Term Priorities -- Long-Term Priorities -- IMPLEMENTATION PRIORITIES IN RESEARCH AND INVENTORY PROGRAMS -- Near-Term Priorities -- Intermediate-Term Priorities -- Long-Term Priorities -- IMPLEMENTATION PRIORITIES IN DATA MANAGEMENT -- Near-Term Priorities -- Intermediate-Term Priorities -- Long-Term Priorities -- SUMMARY -- Near-Term Priorities (Immediately to within 1 Year) -- Intermediate-Term Priorities (within 3 Years) -- Long-Term Priorities (within 5 Years) -- REFERENCES -- APPENDIX A: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF -- COMMITTEE MEMBERS -- PROFESSIONAL STAFF -- APPENDIX B: NATIONAL BIOLOGICAL SURVEY FISCAL YEAR 1994 BUDGET JUSTIFICATION -- GENERAL STATEMENT -- Overview -- Mission and Activities -- NBS Headquarters and Field Organization -- Headquarters Office -- Ecoregional Centers -- Research Centers -- Cooperative Units -- Inventory and Monitoring Activities -- Information Transfer -- Bureauwide Support Offices -- Index.