SAMAB News Briefs is a periodic e-mail communication sent to SAMAB members and partners on activities, ideas, and directions. To respond/react to any of these news briefs or to contribute to a future "issue," please contact Robb Turner, SAMAB Executive Director, SAMAB, 314 Conference Center Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-4138, or phone 865-974-4583. To request removal from or additions to the mailing list, send request and email address(s) to samab@utk.edu.
USMAB NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEETS; NATIONAL BIOSPHERE RESERVE PROGRAM TO BE REENVISIONED -- The USMAB National Committee convened January 28 in Washington, DC to discuss opportunities arising since the US rejoined UNESCO. The Committee discussed the status of USMAB including the network of 47 biosphere reserves, raising the USMAB profile, funding, the new US Biosphere Reserves Association and its role, the role of the National Committee, and a visioning and strategic planning process. The visioning meeting at Missouri Botanical Garden scheduled for February has been postponed until early May and the meeting of US, Canadian, and Mexican biosphere reserves postponed from April until October to allow for greater planning and broader participation. Plans for a rejuvenated USMAB and North American network of biosphere reserves will emerge by the end of the year. Tom Gilbert, early MAB promoter and founder of the US Biosphere Reserves Association, has departed on a month-long "vacation" to the Southwest US where he will visit a number of biosphere reserves and BR supporters. Contact Barbara Weber (bweber@fs.fed.us) for USMAB National Committee; contact Tom Gilbert (vgilbert@volexpress.com) or SAMAB (samab@utk.edu) for the US Biosphere Reserves Association.
PREDATORY BEETLES ON THE MARCH! -- The outreach committee of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Action Team toured the new PT beetle-rearing facility at the University of Tennessee January 21st. Beetles are expected to be available for release in the back country in March. The committee is coming off a year of successes including media coverage of the adelgid issue in numerous newspapers, public speaking engagements, the creation of a web site, and the creation of a HWA fact sheet. For 2004, the team will focus on coordinating with state extension personnel on HWA outreach, continued efforts to work closely with the media, and opening up opportunities for people who want to volunteer. Representatives from the USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, University of Tennessee, and the SAMAB coordinating office attended the meeting. If you are interested in participating in the committee's activities, contact committee chair, Gary Peeples (gary_peeples@fws.gov). For more on beetle rearing see http://www.saveourhemlocks.org/features/feature1.shtml or http://agriculture.tennessee.edu/news/releases/0402-hemlocks.htm. Can the imported hemlock woolly adelgid be controlled? Working together, we'll give it our best shot! To get involved, see http://saveourhemlocks.org/involve.shtml.
AFTER-THE-SOUTHERN-PINE-BEETLE WORKSHOP -- More than 85 managers and researchers attended the SAMAB-sponsored workshop "After the Southern Pine Beetle" held in Murphy, NC January 21-22, 2003. The workshop was designed to address concerns of public land managers and researchers in the southern Appalachians and Cumberland Plateau region, an area hard hit by southern pine beetle from 1999-2003. The goal of the workshop was to share information, concerns, and options on what to do with acres of public forest killed by the southern pine beetle. Discussions between managers and researchers led to greater understanding of the issues, from practical "how-to's" to ecological "what will it mean?", to political "will the public support it?" Managers were encouraged to share success stories and barriers that researchers may not have been aware of. Researchers were encouraged to share what they know from years of experience, from their own research, and from other research. The bitter cold of January did not hamper discussions, and much was learned by all. Watch the SAMAB web site for a summary of the workshop and copies of some of the PowerPoint presentations.
Approximately $800,000 will be available this year to fund research on ecology, biology, and management of bark beetles and invasive forest insects of southern conifers. See http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/4501/ for research description and contact (kklepzig@fs.fed.us) for information on submitting proposals. Due date is March 5.
BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY SCENIC VIEWS IN NC WORTH $5 BILLION/YEAR -- The "North Carolina Scenic Experience Survey," completed recently by the Blue Ridge Parkway, University of North Carolina Asheville, and Warren Wilson College, points out the depth of public support for protecting adjacent scenery and visibility. Visitors value Parkway views at about $500 per person per year, exceeding similar values placed on camping, whitewater rafting, and hunting experiences. See http://www.nps.gov/blri/pphtml/newsdetail10827.html for the news release, or for the full report see http://data2.itc.nps.gov/parks/blri/ppdocuments/Scenic%20Experience%20Project-NNC%20Phase%20II.pdf.
INVASIVE PLANTS FLASH CARDS IN SECOND PRINTING -- SAMAB's invasive-plants information "flash" cards have proven so popular that they have been reprinted for citizen monitors and controllers, thanks to support from University of Tennessee, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Tennessee Valley Authority, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and TN Exotic Pest Plant Council. Similar information is available on the SAMAB Web site at http://samab.org/Focus/Invasive/1PhotoGallery/photos.html.
SAMAB 2004 SUMMER INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE -- The ten-week summer internship program runs from June 7 through August 13, 2004 and places interns with environmental decision-making organizations in the East Tennessee area. The program is open to advanced undergraduate and graduate students in public policy and administration, environmental science, planning, natural resource management, business, decision research, information, and related fields. See http://samab.org for full program description and application procedures.
MONARCH MENTORS, MILKWEED FEASTS -- "Plant milkweeds for monarchs!" says the Blue Ridge Monarch and Milkweed Association (BRMAMA). BRMAMA is an informal group working out of Brevard, NC to improve monarch butterfly habitat and raise awareness of monarch biology, life cycle, and migration. With Monarch Mentors, a group of master gardener volunteers, BRMAMA maintains an active annual schedule of events raising milkweeds, monarchs, and awareness. To participate or to clone their program elsewhere, contact Ina Warren at monarcheducation@hotmail.com or 828-862-4079. Also visit http://www.monarchwatch.org/ and http://www.michoacanmonarchs.org/ for information about the monarchs' migration and declining over-wintering habitat in Mexico.
LAND TRUST ACQUISITIONS -- The Trust for Public Land (TPL) has acquired 45 acres adjacent to the Chief Vann House in Murray County, Georgia. This parcel is one of the most important archaeological sites in the U.S. The Moccasin Bend archaeological district, previously acquired by TPL, has been transferred to the National Park Service for inclusion in the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. For more information, contact David Swann (David.Swann@tpl.org). Trust for Public Land has acquired 6812 acres to be added to the Monongahela National Forest, Greenbrier County, West Virginia. For more information, contact Susan Clark (Susan.Clark@tpl.org).
NANCY LOWE ATBI ART RECEPTION AT SUGARLANDS FEBRUARY 27 -- See Nancy Lowe's beautiful paintings of Smokies All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory organisms and visit with the artist Friday, February 27 at Great Smoky Mountains National Park Sugarlands Visitor Center, 5:30-7:30 pm. Nancy Lowe, of Atlanta, Georgia, is a volunteer with Discover Life in America. She has donated many of her wonderful drawings and paintings for educational use by the Park to showcase the beauty and diversity of living things in the Smokies. Her work includes images of insects, slime molds, microscopic organisms, and other remarkable yet little-known creatures of the Park.
RIVER CANE SYMPOSIUM, ASSESSMENT, RESTORATION, AND MANAGEMENT -- River cane is a plant of great cultural and ecological importance to the southern Appalachians and especially for the Cherokee People. Its presence and condition in the landscape is a vital indicator of ecological, cultural, and economic capital of the region. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is hosting a River Cane Symposium March 25 and 26 in Cherokee, NC for scientists, historians, resource managers, cane artists, and harvesters to assess the state of knowledge about river cane. A field trip and workshop on the 26th will draft a "Rapid Assessment, Restoration, and Management Plan" for the cane at Kituhwa, the Mother-town of the Cherokee. To participate/contribute your knowledge, contact Renissa Walker, 828-497-1597 (reniwalk@nc-cherokee.com); Sarah McClellan-Welch, 828-497-3521 (saramccl@nc-cherokee.com); or Tom Hatley (hatley@wcu.edu) before March 12.
"WEST OF EDEN" INTEGRATING PEST PLANT RESEARCH, POLICY, AND PRACTICE -- The Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council and Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council will convene a joint symposium in Pensacola Beach, FL April 28-30, 2004. The wide-ranging program will include invited and technical speakers and posters sharing the latest exotic plant management information from throughout the Southeastern U.S. Also, participants will travel into the field to experience rare and wild Florida panhandle properties that are threatened by invasive non-native plants. The meeting agenda and registration info are available on-line at www.fleppc.org and www.se-eppc.org.
LOOKING FOR LICHEN FOLKS -- DLIA is planning a "Lichen Quest" Saturday June 19 and Sunday June 20 at Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. If you know of lichenologists interested in participating, please have them contact Harold Keller, Central Missouri State University, (Keller@cmsu1.cmsu.edu), 660-543-4327. Teachers, volunteers, citizen scientists, or other crusty folks who would like to assist, please contact Jeanie Hilten (jeanie@dlia.org).
GLOBAL WEB SCHOOL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS SEEKS PARTNER SCHOOLS -- ENO (Environment Online) is a global Web school run by the city of Joensuu, Finland. The free program is looking for up to 200 new member schools from developed and developing countries for the 2004-2005 school year. Four environmental themes, or dimensions of sustainable development, are studied within a school year: the social, natural, and cultural environment, and a sustainable way of living. The ENO program has been running since 2000, and emphasizes the local environment in its global context. Information is gathered from local communities and shared on the web site. Learning is student-centered, with online and offline activities. At the end of each theme there is a campaign week when students share their results with each other and with their local communities. They become ambassadors for the environment in their communities, regions, and worldwide. Between 150 and 200 new schools will be chosen to be members for the 2004-2005 school year. Deadline for applications is 31 March 2004. Official ENO schools will be announced in April 2004 on the ENO website: http://eno.joensuu.fi/. The application form is on: http://cc.joensuu.fi/~vanhanen/application03.htm.
NEPA/ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATION ITEMS --
Air Force -- The Draft EIS for aircraft conversion facilities for the West Virginia Air National Guard, Berkely County, West Virginia is available from Lt. Col. Tammy Mitwik, 301-836-8636.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service -- APHIS has issued a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS for regulatory changes regarding the importation, interstate movement, and environmental release of genetically engineered organisms which may present a plant pest risk. The agency is considering broadening its regulatory scope to include organisms which may pose a noxious week risk. Information from Federal Register 69:3271 (January 23, 2004) or Stephanie Stephens at 301-734-4836.
Army Corps of Engineers: Public Notices http://www.orn.usace.army.mil/cof/notices.htm --
Army Corps of Engineers: Other Notices --
Federal Energy Regulatory Administration -- An EA will be prepared for the Saltville Gas Storage Project, Smyth and Washington Counties, Virginia. A new 8.2 billion cubic feet underground natural gas storage facility is being developed. The notice appeared at Federal Register 68:74572 (24 December 2003).
Federal Highway Administration -- The Federal Highway Administration has issued a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS for the Boone Bypass project, Watauga County, North Carolina. Information from Emily Lawton at 919-856-4350.
Forest Service --
National Park Service --
TVA: The following documents are available from hmdraper@tva.gov --
UPCOMING EVENTS --