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U.S. MAB Partnerships Fact Sheet released by the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Department of State, March 5, 1998.

Partnerships have developed at the regional level among groups interested in participation in the biosphere reserve principles of conservation of biological diversity and development of environmentally compatible economic use.

The Southern Appalachian Man and Biosphere Program (SAMAB) includes the mountainous parts of six eastern states. This area includes the Southern Appalachian Biosphere Reserve with its five core areas. SAMAB encourages wise use of resources and fosters associated research and training. SAMAB's several programs have demonstrated the cooperative efforts of its federal, state, local and private members.

At Pittman Center, Tennessee, SAMAB developed a model community program which demonstrates that tourism and natural resource protection can be compatible.

SAMAB has held workshops on the use of native plants, the threat of dogwood anthracnose, and human health issues of the area.

Members of SAMAB established a research partnership to determine the effects of forest fragmentation and management practices on migrating birds that breed in the Southern Appalachians.

SAMAB sponsored the development of a 30 minute TV program focused on the reintroduction of the endangered red wolf into Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Under the SAMAB umbrella federal and state agencies published the six volume Southern Appalachian Assessment which gives an ecological assessment of the area at the end of the 20th century.

For further information please use http://www.lib.utk.edu./samab or contact: SAMAB, 1314 Cherokee Orchard Road, Gatlinburg TN 37738.

The Colorado Rockies Regional Cooperative (CORRC) includes local, county, state, federal, university, and private members from a five county area of north central Colorado in which are found the Rocky Mountain National Park, Niwot Ridge, Central Plains Experimental Range, and Fraser Experimental Forest Biosphere Reserves.

CORRC focuses on several resource management issues developed through workshops and citizen surveys. These issues have included; identifying and reducing the effects of human impacts on the natural areas, implementing local policies that contribute to sustaining both economic and environmental values, and protecting and restoring critical urban wildlife habitat. CORRC's initiatives have been a cooperative effort of its 14 partners.

CORRC is supporting the development of a Geographic Information System (GIS) to share baseline resource information.

CORRC participated in a four year study to quantify the biological diversity of grasslands owned and managed by the City of Boulder, Colorado.

CORRC developed a citizen handbook for neighborhood conservation initiatives.

CORRC has participated in cooperative research such as; habitat mapping for lynx and wolverine, management of natural variability of forest ecosystems, and biodiversity of open space grasslands at suburban/agricultural interface.

For further information please contact: CORRC, Partnership Coordinator, 800 East County Road 58, Fort Collins CO 80524.

The International Sonoran Desert Alliance (ISDA) includes citizens, business leaders, and organizations of Mexico, the United States, and Native Americans concerned with the western Sonoran Desert. The area includes Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Pinacate, and Upper Gulf of California Biosphere Reserves. ISDA has developed several culturally and environmentally focused, community-based activities.

ISDA has established the Resource Center, a bilingual clearing house and lending library to house information about the region.

Educational activities have included Roots-Raices-Tatk Youth Group which encourages youth to take initiative to change their communities, and Juntos: Maestros y Ninos a hands-on activity curriculum focused on the culture and natural history of the Sonoran Desert.

Frequent meetings, periodic conferences, and a multilingual quarterly newsletter address such diverse concerns as border crossing problems and regional highway development issues.

For further information please contact: The International Sonoran Desert Alliance, P.O. Box 687, Ajo AZ 85321-0687.

The Mammoth Cave Area Biosphere Reserve Cooperative (MCABR) is an adjunct to the Natural Resources Planning Council of the Barren River Area Development District (BRADD). BRADD is chartered by the Commonwealth of Kentucky to be responsible for regional planning within the ten county groundwater recharge area for the Mammoth Cave System and includes Mammoth Cave National Park Biosphere Reserve.

The objectives of the Cooperative are to identify long-term, sustainable, and ecologically sound economic development opportunities; sponsor research and demonstration projects that contribute to sustainable development, agriculture, and ecosystem management; and disseminate information about the importance of wisely managing the natural and cultural resources of the region. BRADD and MCABR have implemented several programs to meet these objectives.

BRADD has developed a regional Geographic Information System (GIS) for the biosphere reserve and adjacent areas.

In partnership with the Economic Development Administration, BRADD completed an Economic Impact Study to assess potential for sustainable industrial development along major transportation corridors.

BRADD cooperated with other agencies on the Mammoth Cave Area Special Water Quality Project which assessed, monitored, and mitigated non-point source pollution on water quality in the watershed.

For further information please contact: BRADD, P.O. Box 90005, Bowling Green KY 42102-9005, Fax: (502) 842-0768.

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