NatureServe is pleased to announce the release of a public working draft (version 0.3) of an XML schema to describe species-level data as reflected in NatureServe's biodiversity data model. We are seeking public review and comments on this version until January 31, 2006. Comments received during the review period will be addressed in the next release, version 1.0. NatureServe is evolving its data delivery strategy to use XML-based, Web services protocols. The XML schemas that will form the basis for this Web services architecture are in different stages of development. The NatureServe Species Schema, the subject of this announcement, is now in public review. A companion XML schema document for describing species occurrence-level data as managed by the NatureServe network is also in development and will be released for public review at a later date. Our Web services strategy for sharing data among NatureServe network members and with external users is dependent upon the usability of these XML schemas. For this reason, we are seeking as wide a review as possible among our colleagues within the biodiversity informatics community, and especially from those organizations that regularly rely on and interact with NatureServe data. Reviewers are invited to submit comments on either the content or the structure of the XML documents. Content reviewers will want to follow the link for the human readable documentation. We have also provided a sample document for review, which describes NatureServe's species-level data for Haliaeetus leucocephalus (bald eagle) as expressed in XML format. Users of the NatureServe Explorer website should find the content represented in the sample document very familiar. Technical reviewers will also find useful the links to the XSD documents. Technical reviewer comments may cover the names of the XML tags, the nesting of the XML document, and the structure of the XML schema. Technical reviewer comments from organizations that may develop applications to consume NatureServe data as expressed by these XML schema are highly encouraged. The NatureServe Species Schema documentation can be found at: http://services.natureserve.org/technical/speciesSchema.htm Please submit comments using the feedback forms found at the same location, or via email to: services@natureserve.org Lynn Kutner NatureServe Email: lynn_kutner@natureserve.org Phone: (303) 541-0360 www.natureserve.org