National Fish and Wildlife Environmental Information Transfer in Network

To enhance the effectiveness with which information is transferred into and utilized in land and water use and resource development planning, decision making and operational processes, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is developing an information transfer network integrated with 3 national system of inter expertise focusing on areas of major ecological disciplinary concern. This paper describes the approach underway and plans for continuing development and expansion of the network including the identification, evaluation and utilization of available on-line computerized data bases, support and guidance for modifying emerging data bases and the development of new data bases to support improved environmental impact assessment and prediction. Plans for advancing the state-of-the-art in habitat classification and evaluation through application of remote sensing and computerized gee-based data systems are discussed.