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<p class="MsoNormal">Dear All,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks to Barbara for sharing information about the upcoming public meeting being hosted by the U.S. State Department. Please note that the time included in the federal register notice was incorrectly published as 10pm EST, but
<b>the meeting is at 10:00 am. – 12:00 pm.</b> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have just learned that they will also be <span style="color:black">
offering a dial-in option for public participation (technology willing) given concerns regarding the coronavirus:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Call in (U.S. toll-free #):</span><span style="color:black"> 888-684-8852<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Call in (international tool):</span><span style="color:black"> 215-446-0155<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Access code</span><span style="color:black">: 9980402<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mr. Patrick Murphy, the U.S. Focal Point for the Nagoya Protocol, informed me that you do not have to register to call in. Also, they would still welcome electronic comments (until April 30<sup>th</sup>) if you participate via phone. He
also suggested that groups that have previously submitted electronic comments to the CBD can send comments to the U.S. State Department concerning a recent publication published by ABS Capacity Development Initiative:
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.abs-initiative.info/countries-and-regions/africa/south-africa/1st-global-dialogue-on-digital-sequence-information-on-genetic-resources/">http://www.abs-initiative.info/countries-and-regions/africa/south-africa/1st-global-dialogue-on-digital-sequence-information-on-genetic-resources/</a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(download the report under Related Downloads)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Specifically, there are five different models presented on pages 16-20, and he suggested that comments address the feasibility of each option.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Best,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Breda<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">---<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:-webkit-standard;color:black">Breda M. Zimkus, Ph.D.<br>
Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University<br>
26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138; Tel: 617-496-4656</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">--<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">A meeting of interest to SPNHC members interested in the future of the use of DSI:</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black"> </span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">(from the federal register website:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.federalregister.gov_documents_2020_02_20_2020-2D03423_notice-2Dof-2Dpublic-2Dmeeting-2Dconcerning-2Dthe-2Duse-2Dof-2Ddigital-2Dsequence-2Dinformation-2Dof-2Dgenetic-2Dresources&d=DwMFAg&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=0rLpEBOI3fdAC8BAE7C6vc-A7j0llxW_R5YUM4Y1OME&m=xTWpxwY4a7yIDegrAXuaYgvNwU62TrDyxggx0XgHDlo&s=RGGoqSO6Qc-qweXi-FbOpjWwiYczhNP4zC2atFDKPv8&e=">https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/02/20/2020-03423/notice-of-public-meeting-concerning-the-use-of-digital-sequence-information-of-genetic-resources</a>):</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black"> </span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">Concerning the Use of Digital Sequence Information of Genetic Resources</span></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">In order to inform U.S. Government policy and international engagement, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) invites submission of comments from the public, academia, industry, and other stakeholders for an
ongoing process under the Convention on Biological Diversity concerning the use of “digital sequence information (DSI) on genetic resources,” also known as genetic sequence data (GSD). The Department will hold a public meeting and information session to discuss
these issues, on March 12, 2020.</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">The meeting will take place Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 10:00 p.m. EST and last for up to two hours. Electronic comments are due on or before April 30, 2020.</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">The meeting will be held at the U.S. State Department's Harry S. Truman Building, 2201 C Street NW, Room 1498, Washington, DC 20520. Please use the 21st Street entrance, and plan to arrive at least twenty
minutes prior to the start of the meeting to allow for ID verification and escorting requirements.</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">For those that cannot attend but would like their voice to be heard on the matter, it is possible to submit comments. One electronic submission per person by the April 30 deadline is welcome, with no more
than 10 pages of single-spaced text including relevant examples, with no more than one page per example. Submissions should be made via the internet at<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.regulations.gov&d=DwMFAg&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=0rLpEBOI3fdAC8BAE7C6vc-A7j0llxW_R5YUM4Y1OME&m=xTWpxwY4a7yIDegrAXuaYgvNwU62TrDyxggx0XgHDlo&s=XuFIndKh21y00s5VW7RL6smyHJXzF_nW1dvyUyS8fMc&e=">www.regulations.gov</a></span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and
entering docket number [DOS-2020-0005]. Note that relevant comments submitted to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">regulations.gov</span></em><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>will be posted
without editing and will be available to the public; therefore, business-confidential information should be clearly identified as such and submitted by email. The public is required to file submissions electronically rather than by facsimile or mail.</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">More information, including links to supplementary documents, can be found on the website referenced above.</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:black">I encourage all interested SPNHC members to participate!</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Century",serif;color:#002060"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-family:"Century",serif;color:#002060">Dr. Barbara M. Thiers</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Century",serif;color:#002060">Vice President</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Century",serif;color:#002060">Patricia K. Holmgren Director of the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Century",serif;color:#002060">Curator of Bryophytes</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Century",serif;color:#002060">Editor,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Index Herbariorum</i></span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Century",serif;color:#002060">President, Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Century",serif;color:#002060">New York Botanical Garden</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Century",serif;color:#002060">Bronx, NY 10458-5126</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Century",serif;color:#002060"><a href="mailto:bthiers@nybg.org"><span style="color:#954F72">bthiers@nybg.org</span></a></span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Century",serif;color:#002060">718-817-8626</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Century",serif;color:#002060"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Century",serif;color:#002060">Download:</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Century",serif;color:#002060"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__sweetgum.nybg.org_science_docs_The-5FWorlds-5FHerbaria-5F2019.pdf&d=DwMFAg&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=0rLpEBOI3fdAC8BAE7C6vc-A7j0llxW_R5YUM4Y1OME&m=xTWpxwY4a7yIDegrAXuaYgvNwU62TrDyxggx0XgHDlo&s=ScEjbaBlS8pNdI0LbY7mn87M0dpr_jUtqbk_AMX4Xi4&e="><span style="color:#954F72">The
World’s Herbaria 2019</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>(Index Herbariorum annual report)</span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Century",serif;color:#002060"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__sweetgum.nybg.org_science_docs_IH-5FRegistration-5FForm-5F2017.docx&d=DwMFAg&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=0rLpEBOI3fdAC8BAE7C6vc-A7j0llxW_R5YUM4Y1OME&m=xTWpxwY4a7yIDegrAXuaYgvNwU62TrDyxggx0XgHDlo&s=IFLCfAB_5p8HBCW5oIdO05CJPlTV4besMb8Jiw5DAIU&e="><span style="color:#954F72">Index
Herbariorum Registration Form</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color:#954F72;text-decoration:none"> </span></span><span style="color:#954F72"><br>
</span></a><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__sweetgum.nybg.org_science_docs_IH-5FRegistration-5FForm-5F2017-5FExample.docx&d=DwMFAg&c=WO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ&r=0rLpEBOI3fdAC8BAE7C6vc-A7j0llxW_R5YUM4Y1OME&m=xTWpxwY4a7yIDegrAXuaYgvNwU62TrDyxggx0XgHDlo&s=99ejFHN9_UoVvwegwqCyOU3GvApnpbs1xIyxZ4t62YE&e="><span style="color:#954F72">Index
Herbariorum Registration Form Example</span></a></span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:#002060"> </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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