Government environmental organizations are a great way to get information about the state of natural areas in your region (e.g., whether land is protected; where are good sites for carrying out your inventory; which, if any, of the species you encounter are endangered); to find environmental education programs or materials; to speak to scientists or naturalists (and perhaps organize school visits); and to get referrals to outside resources. These organizations, however, tend to be large national networks, and often the best way to get information about local resources is either to contact the national or state/regional headquarters, or visit their Web site. From these offices, you will be able quickly to access information (such as state parks) specific to your locality. We have also listed Web pages that offer directories (and links) to varies government organizations.
General Resources
- Government Web sites
- This site offers links to a number of government environmental organizations such as regional offices of the National Parks Service.
- Government Internet Resources
- From here link to numerous federal and state government organizations, such as the National Biological Service and the Environmental Protection Agency.
National Headquarters
- Biological Resource Division--USGS
Office of Public Affairs
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240
E-mail: paofficer@nbs.gov
- The mission of the BRD, part of the US Geological Survey, is to provide the scientific understanding and technologies needed to support the sound management and conservation of the nation's biological resources. This is a vast organization that carries out scientific research in a number of cities in every state. It is also involved in the development and dissemination of education materials about biodiversity, conservation, and endangered species. The most efficient way to get information about BRD endeavors in your region is to visit the central Web site, where you can locate and connect to regional and state offices. Visit their KidsCorner for education materials, activities and resources.
- Support Offered:
- Information specialists
- Information about local endangered species
- Information about environmental regulation
- Educational materials
- Resource library
- Center for Biological Informatics
Biological Resource Division - USGS
M.S. 302, P.O. Box 25046
Denver, CO 80225-0046
Tel: (303) 202-4220
- As part of the U.S. Geological Survey, the aim of the Center is support the collection, use, management, discovery, and serving of biological data and information. It is an excellent organization to utilize when researching government ecological and biological survey activities, conservation and environmental laws and regulations, for referrals to other research organizations in your region, and for general information about biodiversity. The most efficient way to get information about CBI activities in your region is to visit the central Web site, where you can locate and connect to regional and state offices.
Support Offered:
- Information specialists
- Enrichment classes/presentations
- Information about environmental regulation
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Department of the Interior
4401 North Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22203
Tel: (703) 358-1711
- The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a bureau of the Department of the Interior, is to conserve, protect, and enhance fish and wildlife and their habitats. Their major responsibilities are migratory birds, endangered species, certain marine mammals, freshwater and anadromous fish, the National Wildlife Refuge System, wetlands, conserving habitat, and environmental contaminants. The Service is divided into seven geographic regions, with headquarters located in Washington, DC. Regional offices are involved in regional and local activities, while headquarters offices are involved in nationwide activities. They have more than 50 offices serving information on the Internet, which can be organized by keywords, by offices, or by information that pertains to your local area. The best way to find out about Fish & Wildlife Service activities in your region is to visit their national Web site. From here, you can link to a number of various specialty offices in a number of cities in every state in the country. The Service is well linked (electronically), with a wealth of information available about every aspect of its work.
Northeast
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Northeast Office
300 Westgate Center Drive
Hadley, MA 01035
- See under "National Headquarters" for description. The Southeast Region Web site can be reached at or through the National Web site (listed above).
Southeast
- Florida Caribbean Science Center
Biological Resource Division--USGS
7920 NW 71 Street
Gainesville, FL 32653-3071
Tel: (352) 378-8181
- The center is a ecological research organization that strives to provide information essential to wise stewardship and sustainable development without contributing to the continued biological impoverishment of the region. Using biological inventory and monitoring data, it helps to promote ecological understanding and guide development of priorities vital to the conservation of southeastern ecosystems.
Support Offered:
- Information specialists
- Information about local endangered species
- Information about environmental regulation
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Southeast Office
1875 Century Boulevard
Atlanta, GA 30345
- See under "National Headquarters" for description. The Southeast Region Web site can be reached at or through the National Web site (listed above).
West
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
West Office
P.O. Box 25486-DFC
Denver, CO 80225
- See under "National Headquarters" for description.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Southwest Office
500 Gold Avenue, SW, P.O. Box 1306
Albuquerque, NM 87103
- See under "National Headquarters" for description. The Southwest Region Web site can be reached at or through the National Web site (listed above).
Midwest
- Environmental Management Technical Center--USGS
Biological Resource Division - USGS
575 Lester Avenue
Onalaska, WI 54650
Tel: (608) 783-7550
- The Environmental Center freely shares a wide range of biological, physical, spatial, and technical data and information relating to the Upper Mississippi River System.
Support Offered:
- Information specialists
- Information about environmental regulation
- Searchable electronic database of collections (insects and plants) or resources
- Great Lakes Science Center (GLSC)
Biological Resource Division--USGS
1451 Green Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Tel: (700) 378-1331
- The Great Lakes Science Center exists to meet the nation's need for scientific information for restoring, enhancing, managing, and protecting living resources and their habitats in the Great Lakes basin ecosystem.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Midwest Office
1 Federal Drive, BHW Federal Building
Fort Snelling, MN 55111
- See under "National Headquarters" for description. The USFWS can be reached through the Midwest Region Web site or through the National Web site.
Northwest
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Alaska Office
1011 E. Tudor Road
Anchorage, AK 99503-6619
Tel: (907) 786-3311
- See under "National Headquarters" for description.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Northwest Office
Eastside Federal Complex
911 N.E. 11th Avenue
Portland, OR 97232-4181
Tel: (503) 231-6121
- See under "National Headquarters" for description. The USFWS can be reached through the Pacific Region Web site or through the National Web site.
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