UNEP’s
web sites on seas and oceans
Small
Island Developing States Network - SIDSnet
Small Island Developing States Network (SIDSnet) is a direct
follow-up to the 1994 Barbados Programme of Action (BPoA). SIDSnet connects
43 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Pacific, Caribbean,
Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean and African island nations. In
2004, the International community will convene in Mauritius to discuss
recommendations for further and successful implementation of the BPoA.
UN
Atlas of Oceans
This Internet-based Atlas provides users with continuously updated
strategic data on the state of the world's oceans, maps, development
trends and threats to human health from the deteriorating marine environment.
The Oceans is the result of extensive cooperation in the UN and with
leading scientific agencies.It is designed to be an encyclopedic resource
but also the world's foremost information clearinghouse and online forum
for experts in ocean issues.
Vital
Water Graphics: An Overview of the State of the World’s Fresh
and Marine Waters
UNEP has compiled this report in order to provide an easily
accessible resource on the state of the world’s waters. The goal
of this publication is to produce a clear overview, through a set of
graphics, maps and other illustrations, of the state of the world’s
fresh and marine waters. It also illustrates the causes, effects, trends
and threats facing our water sources, with examples of areas of major
concern and future scenarios for the use and management of fresh, coastal
and marine waters.
GIWA
- Global International Waters Assessment
The aim of GIWA is to produce a comprehensive and integrated
global assessment of international waters, the ecological status of
and the causes of environmental problems in 66 water areas in the world,
and focus on the key issues and problems facing the aquatic environment
in transboundary waters.
Global
Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from
Land Based Activities (GPA)
The GPA aims at preventing the degradation of
the marine environment from land-based activities by facilitating the
duty of States to preserve and protect the marine environment.
Coral
Reef Unit
Manage the implementation of the International Coral Reef Action Network
(ICRAN). Co-ordinate UNEP's involvement in the International Coral Reef
Initiative (ICRI) and in the ICRI-CPC
The
International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN)
The International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN), established in
2000, is a global partnership of coral reef experts who are working
to halt and reverse the decline of the health of the world's coral reefs.
Made up of some of the world's leading coral reef scientists and conservation
groups, ICRAN partners have created a globally integrated action plan
to manage and protect coral reefs, based on recommendations from the
International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI).
Regional
Seas Branch
Fosters regional cooperation on behalf of the marine and coastal environment.
It has accomplished this by stimulating the creation of 'Action Plans'
for each region. These include a series of regional Conventions - unique
legal instruments designed to protect shared environmental interests
For the list of regions...
Global
Environment Outlook
GEO-3, the most recent version, provides an overview of the main environmental
developments over the past three decades, and how social, economic and
other factors have contributed to the changes that have occurred. Addresses
land, forests, biodiversity, freshwater, coastal and marine areas, atmosphere,
urban areas, and disasters.
World
Conservation Monitoring Center
Provides information for policy and action to conserve the living
world. Programmes concentrate on species, forests, protected areas,
marine and freshwaters; plus habitats affected by climate change such
as polar regions. Also address the relationship between trade and the
environment and the wider aspects of biodiversity assessment.
World
Atlas of Seagrasses
Seagrasses are unique as they are the only marine flowering
plants. Seagrass beds form complex physical structures and are a highly
productive ecosystem. This enables them to support a considerable biomass
and diversity of associated species.The Atlas is a collaboration of
more than 50 authors from 25 nations. Fully illustrated, the Atlas contains
the first global and regional maps of seagrass distribution and a wealth
of information on key issues concerning this 'forgotten' ecosystem.
Technical
Cooperation Unit
This unit in the Division of Environmental Policy Implementation focuses
on Best Practices and Outreach, Biodiversity, Land and Water, Water
& Waste Management, Small Island Developing States, and Integrated
Coastal Area and River Basin Management
Earthwatch
Provides 'integrated' information gathered from across the UN system
relevant for policymaking by building essential partnerships across
the UN system with the scientific community, governments and NGOs.
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UNEP-WCMC
Publications
World
Atlas of Seagrasses
Details
Information
IMapS
Purchase and
Description
World
Atlas of Coral Reefs
Details
Information
Purchase and
Description
World
Atlas Of Biodiversity
Information
IMapS
Purchase
and Description
From
Ocean to Aquarium Report
Full
Report (PDF)
Information
Global
Marine Assessment Report
Cover
(PDF)
Full
Report (PDF)
Marine
Turtles IMapS
Presspack
IMapS (Interactive
Map Service)
Mangroves
of East Africa Report
Full
Report PDF
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Web
based sources for coral reef information
UNEP-Coral
Reef Unit UNEP-Coral
Reef Unit (Geneva)
International Coral Reef Initiative
International Coral Reef Action Network
UNEP-WCMC/
Project Aware/ NOAA (2003) - Field guide to Western Atlantic Coral
Diseases and other causes of Coral Mortality.
United Nations Oceans
Atlas
BBC Blue Planet
International Coral Reef Information
Network (ICRIN) - The education, information and communications
arm of ICRI and ICRAN
ICRIN Teachers
Resources
The Reef Education Network,
University of Queensland
Ocean Futures
(Jean-Michel Cousteau's organisation and Finding Nemo education site
and games)
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Reef Check (has great ID pictures
of coral reef fish)
NOAA Coral Reef Information Site
(CORIS)
The
Marine Life Information Network for Britain and Ireland - The Learning
Zone
PADI Project AWARE Foundation
Sea Life Centre
National Maritime
Aquarium
Marine Conservation Society
Oceans Science Teachers Resource
Centre
Marine Education Society
of Australia
Oceans
Conservancy
Secrets@Sea
Ocean
Quest
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UNEP administered Regional Seas Conventions
Regional
Seas Conventions: Mediterranean Action Plan
Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and
the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean
Regional
Seas Conventions: Abidjan Convention
Abidjan Convention for Co-operation in the protection and Development
of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the West and Central African
Region (1981)
Regional
Seas Conventions: East Asian Seas Action Plan
Regional Seas Conventions administered by UNEP: East Asian Seas Action
Plan
Cartagena
Convention
Promoting regional co-operation for the protection and development of
the marine environment of the Wider Caribbean Region.
Nairobi
Convention
Protection, management and development of the marine and coastal areas
in the Eastern African Region
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"Enforcing
International Fisheries Agreements"
The following
report describes how illegal and unsustainable fishing is perpetuated,
and makes policy recommendations to help provide fisheries with a sustainable
future. It was presented in April 2004 at the OECD Workshop on Illegal,
Unregulated and Unreported Fishing (IUU Fishing).
The report was commissioned and published by Oceana, a new international
foundation dedicated to the protection and restoration of the oceans.
Oceana's Campaign teams of marine scientists, economists, lawyers and
advocates seek specific policy outcomes to help stop the irreversible
collapse of fish stocks, marine mammal populations and other sea life.
For further information on Oceana see: www.oceana.org.
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Corals
section of the ARKive website
ARKive is the Noah's Ark for the Internet era - the world's centralised
digital library of films, photographs and associated recordings of species,
accessible to all via the world wide web. For each species, an average
of 10 minutes of moving footage, 6 - 10 stills and sound recordings
(where appropriate) are selected and digitized, to compile a complete
profile of the species' characteristic behaviour and appearance.
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