NEWSLETTER OF UNEP'S CARIBBEAN ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME
Vol. 10, No. 3, September 1996
NOTICE TO READERS We welcome your inputs to CEPNEWSon activities that are relevant to CEP. CEPNEWS is publishedquarterly and distributed in March, June, September and December.The deadline for news items is one month in advance. The nextissue is due to appear in December 1996, so please submit your news items before 1 November 1996.
Welcome to staff
CTF update
Internet briefs
Past events
Training opportunities
Publications available
Upcoming CEP sponsored events
Other upcoming events of interest
Poverty and health problems still persists throughout the Caribbeanregion. With few exceptions, the living standard has declinedsince the early 1980's in most of the countries. Poverty and environmentaldegradation are interlinked. Poverty leads to environmental decayand at the same time environmental degradation engenders poverty.The severity of environmental concerns vary among countries. Developmentpressure on coastal and marine resources are common to all Caribbeancountries, but most acute on the smaller islands due to theirecological fragility and the close interdependence of the economyand the environment. Increased urban and rural poverty can worsenthe environmental problems in the region.
The international community at present is facing a severe economiccrisis with impacts on all UN agencies. The crisis is furtherreflected in reduced national contributions to different environmentaloriented funds. There is at the moment a trend towards more bilateralco-operation and less multilateral support to Governments.
For UNEP-CAR/RCU, the crisis is reflected in the lack of resourcesfrom the Caribbean Trust Fund (CTF), which is suffering from thescarcity of contributions from many countries. The other majorfund of importance for the Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP)is the Environment Fund of UNEP, based on voluntary contributionsfrom all UN member nations. This fund is also suffering from thesame illness as the CTF fund.
Non-existing contributions have of course immediate impacts onthe CEP programmes and their management. Several projects havebeen reduced, postponed or delayed. To meet the problems, UNEP-CAR/RCUis developing a new Strategy for the future developmentof the CEP. The priorities within the present Caribbean EnvironmentProgramme and the management capacity of the UNEP-CAR/RCU staffneed to be re-defined. In the upcoming Intergovernmental Meetingin December 1996, this proposed new Strategy for the future ofthe Caribbean Environment Programme will be in focus.
The Caribbean Environment Programme has supported this projectwith seed funding research of TEDs being undertaken in the Gulfof Mexico.
TEDs have always had the simultaneous goal of keeping shrimp inthe nets. In fact, in Georgia, some professional shrimp fishermenhave designed their own excluder devices, to keep "cannonball jellyfish" and other unwanted things, including turtles,from the catch, and without any imposition from the government,they include these excluder devices in their gear.
With this brief history, one might wonder why fishermen resenthaving to use TEDs. Unfortunately, there are frequent declarationsthat because of TEDs, the catch can be reduced by 10 or even 50%;the claim is that they not only exclude the turtles, but alsothe shrimp. In the simplest of terms, a TED is just a filter ina net; it lets certain sized prey pass through, and larger objectsare deflected out of the net. To allow the TED to deflect objectsout of the net, a hole has to be cut in the main body of the net.Now, any fisherman will tell you that one of his major responsibilitiesis mending nets, just fixing all the tears and repairing the holesis a full-time job. For starters, the act of intentionally cuttinga hole in a net is viewed as an act of sabotage.
If we think about the way a TED works, it will be obvious thatit should exclude more than just turtles; any object too largeto pass through the TED will be passed out of the net (with theexception of very large pieces of debris such as tree trunks andcables). Clearly, a trawl net with a TED should catch less bycatch.That presents two problems: one a matter of perception and onemore pragmatic.
A fisherman who is accustomed to seeing his nets come up with100 kg of catch, will clearly be dismayed if they bring only halfthat. The only conclusion is that they are losing catch, and fromthis it is normal to assume that this includes the target species.However, looks often deceive, and although a net may only catch50 instead of 100 kg, it may still catch the same 15 kg of shrimpper trawl. The challenge is proving that nets with TEDs, althoughthey may bring on board less, do not lose shrimp.
That is what a team of researchers have been doing in Campeche,one of the most important shrimping grounds in Mexico. Workingon commercial boats, experiments have been carried out using onenet with the TED correctly installed and the other with the TEDunsewn from the main body of the net and the escape hole sewnshut. The results are very clear: if the TED is properly installed,there is no significant loss of shrimp - in some cases, the netwith the TED even catches more shrimp than the net without it"However, there will be on average a loss of more than - 40% ofthe bycatch. From the appearances when the nets are hauled up,it looks like the TED is causing tremendous losses, but once thecatch is sorted, it is clear that the shrimp catch is not affected.
If the TED is in bad condition, or improperly installed, it willlose not only bycatch but also shrimp. However, maintaining equipmentis part of the responsibility of a fisherman, and compared withall the gear in a trawling operation, a TED is a tiny part. Furthermore,claims that they are expensive are ludicrous; compared to thecosts of equipping and running a trawler, the cost of a TED ishardly noticeable, and anyway it will be paid for in the firsttrawl.
We mentioned that there was a second, pragmatic problem. Thatis the loss of bycatch. In Campeche, although it generally hasno commercial value, up to a third of the bycatch can be utilizedfor eating while at sea or taking home after the trip ends. Anumber of very tasty fishes, that are important in the finfishfishery, are caught in the bycatch. Most renown is the red snapper.In some cases, trawlermen complain that while they catch the sameamount of shrimp, they are losing the more tasty morsels of thebycatch.
Faced with these complaints, gear technicians in the NationalMarine Fisheries Service, in the USA, have made modificationsto TEDs so that they do not lose so much of the wanted bycatch.This partly solves the problem.
But this issue must be viewed from a broader angle. Although snapperare relished by the shrimpers, it is important to understand thatin the Gulf of Mexico these stocks have experienced dramatic declinesand this is attributed not to overfishing by the snapper fishery,but rather to bycatch destruction by the trawling industry. Thereare similar concerns with other fish species in this region, withphenomenal estimates of the numbers of fish killed yearly by trawlers.TEDs allow a large amount of these fishes to escape, survive,grow up and later be caught in another fishery.
This leads us to a root problem. With few exceptions, today'sfisheries resources are common property, they may belong to thepeople of a certain political state or country, or to all of humanityif they are in the open sea. The fishing industry which exploitsthese common resources, should invest in their maintenance andprotection as a rule, however, it is quite the contrary, fishingcompanies overexploit the common resources of a state, withoutproviding the slightest help toward restoring or maintaining theseresources.
In conclusion, using TEDs if they are properly installed and maintained,should not cause the shrimp fishermen any losses in shrimp catches,nor does it incur any economic hardship on the operation. Whatthis simple device does do, is allow the trawlermen to be a littlemore responsible in regard to their actions, and surely any civilizedperson would want to show respect toward the rest of society andthe environment which supports all of us.
Citation: D.L. Alverson, M.H. Freebert, J.G. Pope and S.A. Murawski.1994 . A global assessment of fisheries bycatch and discards.FAO Fisheries Technical Paper No. 339. Rome, FAO, xxxi - 233 pp.
For further information contact: Dr. J. Frazier, Centrode Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados del I.P.N., A. P. 73"Cordemex", Mérida C p 97310, Yucatán,México. Phone: +52-812960. Fax: +52-812923. E-mail: info@kin.cieamer.conacyt.mx
"Urgent and immediate action must be taken if we are to preventthe loss of most of the world's coral reef ecosystems in our children'slifetimes," said Dr. Peter Thomas, former Coordinator ofthe International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), at the 8th InternationalCoral Reef Symposium (ICRS) in Panama, June 23-29.
Coral reef resources are of global importance. They provide food,jobs and income through tourism, shoreline protection, and a potentialtreasure trove of medicinal products. Scientists presented newevidence of the global decline of coral reef ecosystems in sessionsorganized by ICRI, identifying the principal causes of this decline:overfishing and destructive fishing practices; sewage; and otherland-based sources of marine pollution and sedimentation. Dr.Eric Jordan-Dahlgren of Mexico stated, "This conference hasmade it clear that Caribbean reefs are under increasing threatfrom these activities and are slow to recover from chronic stresses."
But all is not lost. Dr. Jeremy Jackson, co-chair of the 8th ICRS,noted that "as far as we can tell, all the species are stillalmost everywhere. All the corals are still on most Caribbeanreefs, but some have become rare," he said. However, he cautionedthat "increasing population in coastal areas will intensifythe threats to reefs."
Innovative new partnerships are needed at local, national andinternational levels to encourage and support efforts by governments,resource managers, scientists, non-governmental organizations,educators and the private sector to conserve and sustainably usethese biologically diverse and economically important resources.Action has already begun:
"Such efforts are only the start of a long campaign thatlinks vigorous local community action with government commitmentto conserve and sustainably use coral reef ecosystems," saidDr. Edgardo Gomez of the Philippines.
Background on the International Coral Reef Initiative
The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) is a partnershipamong nations and organizations seeking to implement Chapter 17of Agenda 21, and other international conventions and agreements,for the benefit of coral reefs and related ecosystems. Foundedby 8 governments in 1994, over 75 countries have participatedin global and regional ICRI workshops. The initiative has beenwelcomed by the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UnitedNations Commission on Sustainable Development.
The ICRI Call to Action and International Framework for Actionaddresses four priorities: coastal area management; capacity building;research and monitoring; and periodic evaluation of progress.
In his plenary speech on June 29, Dr. Ian Dight of UNEP identifiedthe priority global needs for the conservation and managementof coral reefs based on the outcomes of the five ICRI regionalworkshops. These include:
The state of the reefs - a quick tour:
From Dr. J. Cortes, University of Costa Rica: The mainculprit behind coral reef demise in Central America, andpossibly most other regions, is siltation from deforestation,poor agricultural practices, road construction, mining, dredgingand coastal developments. Sediments smother the corals or forcethem to use energy to shed the sediments -- energy that wouldotherwise go to growth, recovery or reproduction. Cahuita NationalPark on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica has experienceda reduction in coral cover from 40 to 10% in the last 15 years.On Costa Rica's Pacific coast, areas that appear to have supported50-60% live coral cover now have less than 8%. The problem ofsediment loads is increasing as new land is altered throughoutthe tropics.
From Dr. C. Birkeland, University of Guam: Dramatic declinesin coral reef cover have occurred over large areas of the Pacific.Dr. K. Yamazato of Japan has studied coral reefs around Okinawafor over 30 years. From 1967 to 1990, coral cover has declinedfrom near 100% to around 20%. Part of this is the result of crownof thorns starfish but human disturbance has most probably deterredreef recovery. Reefs in Taiwan have declined from 50% to30% over the last five years. Guam and Palau have largeregions that, once disturbed, have shown no sign of recovery.
From Dr. T.P. Hughes, James Cook University, Australia:Jamaican coral reefs are among the best and longest studiedin the world. Early researchers there found flourishing coralreefs with high diversity and high coral cover. Fishing had alreadyremoved many of the herbivorous (algae eating) fishes, but prevalentsea urchins kept algal abundances low. Starting with HurricaneAllen in 1980, coral reefs of Jamaica began a dramatic decline.Hurricanes are a normal part of Caribbean coral reef dynamicsand recovery normally takes 10-20 years. In this case, recoverywas prevented by further events. Over 95% of the black sea urchin,died throughout the Caribbean from an unknown disease. With fewremaining urchins and high fishing pressure, Jamaica sufferedan unprecedented algal bloom. Corals which survived the hurricanewere overwhelmed by thick mats of algae. New coral recruits couldnot get started. Jamaica today has less than 10% of the coralspresent in 1970. The sea urchins have not yet recovered and overfishingcontinues.
From Dr. T.R. McClanahan, The Wildlife Conservation Society,Kenya: About 5% of Kenyan reefs have received protectionfrom fishing and resource use since before the mid 1970s. Thesereefs have maintained a high diversity of fish and corals. Incontrast, overfishing on 80% of unprotected reefs has led to reducedcoral and fish abundance and diversity, increases in sea urchinsand high rates of erosion. Protection has proved useful for understandingthe increasing destruction from demands for food and ornamentalfish. The recent protection of an area outside Mombasa in 1991has already recovered fish and coral resources. Increasing awarenessof the problems and value of protection, and increased managementof fisheries will help begin the recovery process.
The ICRI Secretariat Moves to Australia
The Secretariat of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI)will be hosted through the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authorityfor the next two years. The United States have been host and co-ordinatorfor the Secretariat since its formation in 1994. The goal of ICRIis promoting strengthened commitment to and implementation ofprogrammes at the local, national, regional and internationallevels to conserve, restore and promote sustainable use of coralreefs and associated environments.
Their address: Dr. Richard Kenchington, ICRI Co-ordinator,Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, GPO Box 791, Canberra,ACT 2601, Australia. Phone: (61-6) 247 0211;
Fax: (61-6) 247 5761;
E-mail: R.Kenchington@gbrnpa.gov.au
Under the framework of the SPAW Regional Programme, studies wereconducted by the Universidad Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) in theisland of Cozumel, Mexico, to assess the status of the avian diversityand develop a monitoring programme and methodology which couldalso be applicable to other island ecosystems in the region.
Over a period of one year, monthly visits were undertaken to CozumelIsland to study the avifauna and its community structure and seasonality,as a means of establishing baseline data in order to compare futureenvironmental changes. At the same time, environmental educationactivities were pursued (with support from the ETA Regional Programme)to sensitize the local communities about the importance of theirnatural resources, in particular the birds. The bird study includedfour different habitats in the island: semi-evergreen tropicalwet forest, deciduous tropical forest, palm stands in sand dunesand mangroves. Of the 206 species reliably recorded in Cozumel,108 were listed for land habitats (including mangroves and dunes,but excluding beaches and coasts), plus seven new records forCozumel. Of the 115 recorded species, 52 were resident breedingspecies (with 17 endemic forms), 5 breeding migratory, 26 transientmigratory, 28 wintering migratory and 4 vagrants. Mangroves anddunes which represent only 15% and 5% (respectively) of the habitatwere found to hold more species than the evergreen tropical forestwhich represents 55% of the habitat.
The conservation status of Cozumel is favourable. Hunting is prohibited,although it can occur illegally and habitat transformation isnot occurring at any greater rate, when compared with other areas.Some beaches are protected from development because they are nestingsites for sea turtles. Presently, the main threat to the islandhabitats and its birds are natural disasters such as hurricanes.The fact that Cozumel holds many migratory species, as well asendemic forms and resident populations of birds, has allowed usefuleducational activities to be implemented there, and its conservationstatus makes it an excellent case study for the rest of the WiderCaribbean. The monitoring programme and methodology will be finalizedduring 1997 and the RCU plans to make it available to all membergovernments.
For further info: Dr. Patricia Escalante or Tania Macouzet,Instituto de Biologia, UNAM, A.P. 7--153, 04510 Mexico, D.F.,Tel: (52-5) 622-5702, Fax: (52-5) 550-0164.
The staff of the RCU would like to welcome back Lesma Levy,Information Network Assistant, who recently returned from a PeacekeepingMission in Croatia after 20 months. Miss Levy was assigned toEastern Slavonia and at the time of her departure from Slavonia,was the longest serving female international staff there. Sheis very positive that peace will be achieved eventually and issorry that she could not have remained longer to see the day whenboth the Croats and the Serbs in that region begin to live togetheras one. Even though she experienced some very stressful moments,Miss Levy has said that if she had to do it all over again, shewould have no hesitation, as she felt that the experience hashad very positive effects on her outlook on life.
The staff of the RCU would also like to welcome Mats Söderström,a national of Sweden who has joined the RCU as the new CEPNETProgramme Officer. Before he came to the CEP he was with the Departmentof Physical Geography, Gothenburg University, Sweden, where hegot his PhD in 1995. Recently, he has been working with research,education and training in the use of geographical informationsystems (GIS). Most of the research was focused on spatial datavariability and geostatistical modelling in connection with GIS.In addition to the University work, he has acted as a projectmanager in the R&D unit of the ODAL Agricultural Cooperativein Sweden. Information on one of those projects can be found onthe Internet on address:
http://ugis2.arch.chalmers.se/jord/pfcb_p1.htm
Mats' wife Anita and their two children, Louise and Daniel (ages5 and 3) have also come to Jamaica. In Sweden, Anita is workingwith enforcement of environmental legislation at the County Administrationof Alvsborg County. Her speciality is natural resources managementfrom the geoscientific point of view.
Three (3) countries contributed to the Caribbean Trust Fund (CTF)during the second quarter (April June) of 1996, namely;
Banff Centre For Management
Great thinkers throughout the agesfrom academics, philosophersand writers to religious leaders, politicians and business executiveshavefocused on exploring leadership attributes and developing successfulleadership strategies. Their experience and wisdom has shown thatleadership skills and competencies cannot be developed simplyby listening to a lecture or by talking about them.
The multidimensional skills and behaviours associated with goodleadership must be learned through handson experience and practice,reflection, mentor relationships, peer feedback, selfassessment,personal visioning and goal setting. Learning is the domain ofthe individual who is focused, motivated and committed to exploration.
The Banff Centre for Management is working very hard to be theplace in Canada for leaders and emerging leaders to meet, retreat,learn and explore. An integral part of The Banff Centre for ContinuingEducation, The Banff Centre for Management is unique in many ways.
The Banff Centre fror Management is committed to helping you improveindividual and organizational performance. To ensure you receivea significant return on the time and money you invest on managementand leadership development, all of the programmes employ provenlearnerfocused, handson processes including 'live' case studies,simulations, community projects, outdoor leadership challengesand coaching by accomplished "LeadersinResidence". Throughthese processes, you are guaranteed a positive learning experiencethat will act as a catalyst to permanent bahavioral change andhave a lasting impact on your performance.
For more information, please contact: Douglas Macnamara,VicePresident and General Manager, The Banff Centre for Management,Box 1020, Stn. 45, Banff, Alberta, Canada TOL OCO. Phone: (1403)7626119. Fax: Artsbanff 038266657; Fax: (1403) 7626422.
The UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms on the Net
The UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms is now available onthe Internet. The way to get access to the register is as follows:
The Global Environment Outlook project on the Internet
Information on the Global Environment Outlook (GEO) project whichwill produce the new UNEP's State-of-The-Environment Report isavailable on the web at:
http://unep.unep.no
The GEO-1 report will be released simultaneously in hard copyand on the Internet in January 1997. In addition, the use of theInternet in the GEO global participatory assessment process forthe production of forthcoming GEO reports is being investigated.For further information contact Sindre Langaas at UNEP/GRID-Arendalin Norway, E-mail: Sindre.Langaas@grida.no
New Jamaican Web Site at the NRCA
The Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) of Jamaicahas now gone into the virtual reality. Their home page has beenmounted on the Internet and makes it possible for Internet 'surfers'to access information on environmental issues and documents publishedby the NRCA. The address is:
http://www.nrca.org
The First Meeting of Legal/Technical/Policy Experts for theDevelopment of a Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-BasedSources and Activities to the Convention for the Protection andDevelopment of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region,4-7 June, 1996, Kingston, Jamaica.
The meeting was convened by the UNEP's Regional Co-ordinatingUnit for the Caribbean Environment Programme in Kingston. TheCartagena Convention addresses Marine Pollution in a general framework,however, the Convention has not yet been supplemented by a specificProtocol on how to deal with Marine Pollution from Land-BasedSources and Activities (LBS-Protocol).
The work with an LBS-Protocol for the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR)is in line with the Global Programme of Action. Regional and Sub-regionalco-operation and arrangements are crucial for successful actionsto protect the marine environment from Land-Based Sources andActivities. For such a large region as the WCR, the most appropriateway to work within the framework of a LBS-Protocol will be co-operationon a sub-regional level.
The preparation of a special LBS-Protocol through UNEP-CAR/RCUhas been in progress for a considerable amount of time. Aftera long process of negotiations and revisions by experts and governmentalprofessionals from all Wider Caribbean countries and the EuropeanUnion, a Proposed First Draft Protocol on LBS was examined bythe Legal/Technical/Policy Experts Meeting which was convenedin Kingston. This Experts' Meeting further elaborated the ProposedFirst Draft Protocol prepared by the Secretariat.
The result of the Meeting was a Revised First Draft Protocol witha number of bracketed articles and paragraphs of articles thatneed to be further considered at national level and then negotiatedagain during the next meeting. Specifically, the Annexes needto be considered by the countries during the intersessional period.
The next Meeting, will be held in February 1997 provided thatfunds are available. This Meeting will be a negotiation meetingand the objectives of the Meeting will be to take off the bracketsand finalize the Protocol for adoption by a Conference of Plenipotentiarieslater next year.
8th International Coral Reef Symposium, 24-29 June, 1996. PanamaCity, Panama.
Please see the article The State of the Reefs and The International Coral Reef Initiativeof this issue of CEPNEWS.
Reunion de Expertos para Examinar el Programa de AcciónMundial para la Protección del Medio Marino frente a lasActividades Realizadas en Tierra, con Enfasis en sus ComponenteRegional, 31 July - 2 August 1996. Santafé de Bogotá,Colombia
This Meeting was convened by the Comisión Permanente delPacífico Sur (CPPS) as Secretariat for the Southeast PacificAction Plan (SEP/AP) of UNEP. The purpose of the Meeting was toreview the Global Programme of Action (GPA) for the protectionof the environment from land-based activities within the contextof the Southeast Pacific Region and to identify the actions requiredto initiate implementation of the GPA at the regional level. TheMeeting was attended by representatives of all the five memberGovernments of the SEP/AP (Colombia, Chile, Ecuator, Panama andPeru).
International Seabed Authority Meeting, 5-16 August, 1996.Kingston, Jamaica
The second part of the Second Session of the International SeaBed Authority held in Kingston from 5 to 16 August achieved anumber of steps necessary for the effective functioning of theauthority.
Among those, the assembly approved the Authority's US$4.15 millionbudget for 1997 including salaries and common staff costs, conferenceservicing costs and programme support. Furthermore, members ofthe Finance Committee (15) and the Legal and Technical Commission(22) were elected as well as the president of the Council. Measureshave also been taken with the objective to extend the provisionalmembership of States that have yet to ratify the United NationsConvention on the Law of the Sea and the agreement relating tothe implementation of Part XI of the Convention.
Concerning the functions of the Authority, these will focus duringthe initial phase on laying the ground work for the conduct ofexploration and mining activities in the deep seabed area. Morespecifically, rules, regulations and procedures relating to theconduct of exploration and exploitation of the deep seabed aswell regulations for the protection and preservation of the marineenvironment from harmful effects of mining activities will beelaborated. Furthermore the Authority will promote and encouragemarine scientific research related to mining activities and acquirethe necessary scientific data, particularly on the protectionand preservation of the marine environment.
Wageningen Agricultural University in the Netherlands is offeringan International Postgraduate Programme leading to the title ofMaster of Science (MSc) or Master of Business Administration (MBA).It is one of the world's top education and research centres inthe agricultural and environmental sciences. Its graduates arerecognized internationally for the quality of their scientifictraining, and many scientists spend their sabbatical leave inWageningen. Today, the 'knowledge centre' of Wageningen, whichincludes dozens of scientific and technological institutes surroundingthe university, is looking forward to a dynamic future at thehub of European and intercontinental education and research. WageningenAgricultural University stresses the importance of its relationswith industry and commercial business. Tuitions costs for MScare US$5,000 or NLG 16,500 and for the MBA NLG 35,000.
For further information contact: Ms. Jeanine W.M. Hermans,Dean, Wageningen Agricultural University, Dean's Office forInternational Students, P.O. Box 453, 6700 AL Wageningen, TheNetherlands. Phone: +31(0) 317 482680/483618. Fax: +31(0)317 484464.E-mail: Jeanine.hermans @doffs.sz.wau.nl; URL: http://www.wau.nl/
UNEP's International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC) incollaboration with the Centre for International Postgraduate Studiesin Environmental Management at the Dresden University of Technologyis organizing a pilot training programme on adoption, applicationand operation of Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs) anda leadership training programme for Sub-Saharan Africa on theutilization of Environmental Technology Assessment (EnTA) fordecision-making in the management of Environmentally Sound Technologies(ESTs) in collaboration with the Potchefstroom University forChristian Higher Education as follows:
These training programmes are mainly targeted at government, civilsociety, and industry decision-makers from developing and transitioncountries working in the area of technology implementation/regulationand those with responsibilities that involve environmental issues.A limited number of senior to mid-level managers of (environmental)training centres will also be targeted in order that they mayfacilitate the implementation of future regional and/or nationaltraining events.
In addition to these two training activities, IETC has developeda pilot training programme on Environmental Risk Assessment (EnRA)for sustainable cities which was successfully field-tested ina regional workshop for Eastern and Central European countries,held in Katowice, Poland, in April 1996. Another training programmeis under preparation based on IETCs International Source Bookon Environmentally Sound Technologies for Municipal Solid WasteManagement.
For more information, please contact: Dr. Richard A.Meganck, Director, UNEP IETC, 2-110 Ryokuchi-Koen, Tsurumi-ku,Osaka 538, Japan. Phone: +81-6-915-4580; Fax: +81-6-915-0304;or Mr. Christina Strohmann, IETC Information Officer Email: cstrohma@unep.or.jp
This course on conflict resolution for the management of naturalresources will be organised by Dr. Rolain Borel at the Universityfor Peace in Costa Rica, 14 October - 1 November, 1996. Registrationfee: US$2,300 for persons residing in Costa Rica, additional sumfor persons from overseas.
For further information, please contact: UniversidadPara La Paz (UPAZ), Apartment 130, 6100 Ciudad Colón, CostaRica. Phone: (506) 249-1072/1324;Fax: (506)249-1929
The Programme in International Development Policy (PIDP) at DukeUniversity provides a unique graduatelevel training opportunityfor midcareer professionals interested in policy analysis andissues related to sustainable economic development.
Participants in the Programme known as PIDP Fellows generallyhave at least five years' experience as practioners or appliedresearchers in a developmentrelated field. They represent diversenationalities, academic interests and professional backgrounds.
Most participants in the PIDP are funded by their employers, homegovernments, foundations, and international development agencies.Each year, we do provide a limited number of PIDP scholarshipsto the most qualified applicants to the Programme. Competitionfor these awards is keen, so applicants should pursue all otherpotential sources of financial support for their studies. A listof funding sources for graduate study is available from the Centerupon request.
The application deadline for candidates who wish to be consideredfor PIDP scholarships for the 19971998 academic year is January15, 1997. Candidates who mail applications after this date willbe given full consideration for admission, but will not be eligiblefor PIDP scholarships.
For more information, please contact: William Ascher,Director, Duke University, Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy,P. O. Box 90237, Durham, North Caroline 277080237, USA. Phone:(919) 6137333. Fax: (919) 9842861. E-mail: cidr@pps.duke.edu
This course has been developed by the Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft(CDG) on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperationand Development, Germany, in cooperation with the Centre for Marineand Climate Research (ZMK), University of Hamburg, Germany.
The Centre for Marine and Climate Research of the University ofHamburg will be the hosting institution and will conduct the course.Other research institutions in Germany and Europe are involvedwith lectures, and specific courses or will be visited.
Scholarships for this training programme will be granted by CDGon behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation andDevelopment, Germany.
More detailed information about the application procedure areavailable at the German Diplomatic Representation in your country.
Please contact the German Embassy directly and be advised to indicatethe correct catalogue number when applying for this training:CDGCATALOG NUMBER: 3.2
For more information, please contact: Carl DuisbergGesellschaft, Division E11, Lutzoufer 69, D10823 Berlin, Germany.Phone: (49)3025482117/116/112 Fax: (49)3025482218.
These courses will provide attendees with an understanding ofthe international environmental regulations and how they are enforced,as well as an understanding of what companies are doing to meetthe environmental challenges encountered everyday.
At Government Institutes we are dedicated to your professionaldevelopment. Founded in 1973 to provide continuing education withpractical, accurate, timely and authoritative information desiredby people concerned with the environment, health and safety.
Training courses have been presented to thousands of environmental,health and safety professionals for over 20 years. All of thecourses are accompanied by professionally prepared materials thatextend the value and the learning experience of the programmesfar beyond their conclusion. The speakers bring an extensive amountof knowledge and experience to each programme because they, too,are professionals who work daily in the field. All courses arebacked by Government Institutes.
Government Institutes' publications include nearly 200 books writtenby the foremost authorities in the field. They also carry audiotapes,videotapes, ComputerBased Training, SelfStudy Courses and electronicproducts.
To be added to GI's mailing list and receive free informationon their products and services, please contact: Jesus Ferro,Education Counselor, Government Institutes, Inc., 4 Research Place,Suite 200, Rockville, Maryland 20850, U.S.A. Phone: (1301) 9212300.
CEP Technical Report No. 32 was made possible undera Memorandum of Understanding entered into in November 1993 betweenthe Regional Coordinating Unit of the Caribbean Environment Programmeand Island Resources Foundation. The purpose of this report isto describe methods of anticipating, assessing and minimizingerosion and sediment impacts from site development. It is hopedthat by outlining the processes of erosion and sedimentation,describing the principles behind erosion and sediment control,and providing examples of effective erosion and sediment controlstrategies, this handbook will support efforts to plan and implementconstruction activities in the insular Caribbean with a minimumof environmental damage.
Contact: please see UNEP, CAR/RCUbelow
CEP Technical Report No. 34 was published in cooperationwith EPOMEX Programme of Ecology, Fisheries and Oceanography ofthe Gulf of Mexico. The objectives of this publication are theevaluation of the potential and extent of the mangroves and seagrass beds, as well as the causes and degree of environmentaldegradation of the ecosystems; evaluation of the extent and potentialof the sea grass beds in the "Golfete", Puntade Manabique,Graciosa Bay and English Canal lakes; preliminary evaluation ofthe condition and potential of primary fishery resources and toprovide recommendations for the preparation of the integratedmanagement plan.
Contact: please see UNEP, CAR/RCU below
CEP Technical Report No. 35 was prepared in cooperationwith the Natural Resources Conservation Authority of Jamaica.The document was prepared following the recommendation of Articles11 and 21 of the SPAW Protocol, which call for the establishment,publication and dissemination of general guidelines and criteriafor the management and recovery of endangered and threatened speciesof regional concern, in the form of regional management plans.The Governments of the region have identified the West Indianmanatee, Trichechus manatus, as one of the priority protectedspecies of regional concern.
The present document is based on national reports submitted tothe RCU by several of the manateerange countries following therecommendations of the Second Meeting of ISTAC as well as on informationcontained in communications received by the author, publishedliterature and unpublished reports.
Contact: please see UNEP, CAR/RCUbelow
Within the framework of the IPID Programme of the Caribbean EnvironmentProgramme, UNEP-CAR/RCU in co-operation with the Island ResourcesFoundation has prepared a document entitled "Guidelines forIntegrated Planning and Management of Coastal and Marine Areasin the Wider Caribbean Region".
The publication follows the request made by the Governments ofthe Wider Caribbean Region in assisting them in their effortsto manage the marine and coastal resources in a sustainable manner.
Experiences from different CEP-programmes form the backgroundof the text. The guidelines presented are specifically targetedto decision makers and governmental and non-governmental organizations,institutions in general and those interested in the planning processrelated to the management of marine and coastal resources.
The above mentioned publications can be ordered from: UNEP,CAR/RCU, 1420 Port Royal Street, Kingston, Jamaica; Phone:(1809) 9229267 to 9; Telex: 3672 UNEPCARJA; Fax: (1809) 9229292;E-mail; uneprcuja@igc.apc.org
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution published in 1995 a technicalreport entitled "Toward an effective Protocol on Land-BasedMarine Pollution in the Wider Caribbean Region", with theassistance of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This reportanalyzes the potential for the design and implementation of aneffective protocol governing the prevention, reduction, and controlof land-based sources of marine pollution (LBSMP) in the WiderCaribbean Region.
Copies can be had at the cost of copying only and orders maybe placed with: Mary Schumacher, Marine Policy Center-MS41, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543,USA. Fax: (508) 457-218. E-mail: mschumacher@whoi.edu
This manual on coastal resource planning and management reflectsa global perspective on the natural resources, sensitivities,economics, development, productivity and diversity of the coastalzones. It gives comprehensive coverage of general concepts relatedto coastal regions, describes the strategic basis for coastalmanagement, provides working tools for management and planning,and presents case histories of management projects around theglobe.
To order: (outside USA): Times Mirror InternationalPublishers, Lynton House, Fifth Floor, 7-12 Tavistock Square,London WC1H 9LB, United Kingdom. Phone: (44-171) 388-7676; Fax:(44-171) 391-6555. (within USA): CRC Press/Lewis Publishers,2000 Corporate, Blvd. NW, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA. Tel: (407)994-0555; Fax: (407) 997-7249
The Earth Summit CD-ROM is the definitivesource for all official documents from the land-mark conferenceheld in June 1992 in Rio de Janeiro. It contains over 40,000 pagesof information on the Earth Summit proceedings, including Agenda21, the Global partnership for Environment and Development, OfficialStatements, National and Regional reports, the Prep-Coms and UNCEDResearch papers. The special features include: documents in English,French and Spanish, Hotlinks - references and graphs, charts andmaps which can all be incorporated in reports produced. An easyto follow manual is included.
Now Only US$99....!
Hardware requirements:
386 PC or higher, 4 MB RAM, 1.5 MB available on HD, VGA
monitor, ISO 9660 compatible CD-ROM reader
Software requirements:
DOS 3.3 or higher, Windows 3.0 or higher, Microsoft CD-ROM Extension2.0 or higher
Available from:
United Nations Publications, Room DC2-853, Dept: D030
New York, NY 10017. Tel: (212) 93-8302 Fax: (212) 963-3489
During recent years harmful algal blooms have become an increasingproblem in coastal marine waters, killing invertebrates and wildstocks and cultured fish, or making shellfish and fish toxic dueto accumulation of algal toxins which can intoxicate human consumersas well as wild life. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission(IOC) of UNESCO and the International Council for the Explorationof the Sea (ICES) have jointly prepared this document, which representsa comprehensive source of information and guidance on design andimplementation of harmful algae monitoring. The manual shouldbe seen as a direct follow-up to the United Nations Conferenceon Environment and Sustainable Development UNCED and implementationof Agenda 21. The aim of the document (IOC Technical Series No.44) is to serve as a knowledge platform for aquaculturists, fishermenand public officials for establishing or revising monitoring programmesfor harmful algal blooms.
For further information, please contact: UNESCO, 7place de Fontenoy, 75352 Paris 07 SP, France.
Contact: UNEP, CAR/RCU, 1420 Port Royal Street, Kingston,Jamaica; Phone: (1809) 9229267 to 9; Telex: 3672 UNEPCARJA; Fax:(1809) 9229292; E-mail: uneprcuja@igc.apc.org
Water Policy: Allocation and Management in Practice, 23-24September, 1996, U.K.
Contact: Mrs Carolyn King, Water Management Department, SilsoeCollege, Silsoe, Bedford MK45 4DT, UK; Phone: 44-1525 863291.Fax: 44-1525 863300. E-mail: C.S.King@silsoe.cranfield.ac.uk.
The Twentieth Caribbean Tourism Conference (CTC20), September2529, 1996, Barbados.
Contact: Caribbean Tourism Organization, 20 East 46th Street,New York, NY 100172417; Phone: (1212) 6820435. Fax: (1212) 6974258.
Environmentally Sound Management of Hazardous Wastes in theCaribbean. 1-4 October 1996, St. Lucia.
Contact: The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Planning, Developmentand Environment, P.O. Box 709, Castries, St. Lucia. Phone: (1-809)451-8746; Fax: (1-809) 452-2505
Regional Workshop on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Coastaland Marine Biodiversity, 6-11 October, 1996
The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC),together with the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and theCaribbean, and with the sponsorship of the Government of Brazil,are organising an expert group meeting on the conservation andsustainable use of coastal and marine biodiversity. The meetingwill be held in Tamandaré, Brazil. It is a follow-up ofa similar initiative held with support of FAO and UNEP two yearsago (Subregional Meeting on Coastal Management in Marine and CoastalAreas of High Biodiversity in the Atlantic).
The meeting envisaged for October is focused on coastal and marinebiodiversity from the standpoint of various aspects, such as:fisheries, tourism, land-based sources of marine pollution, economics,coastal zone management, aquaculture etc. The meeting willbe held in Spanish.
For further information, contact: Helga Hoffmann, ECLAC,Edificio Naciones Unidas, Avenida Dag Hammarskjold, Cas. 179D,Vitacura, Santiago, Chile. Phone: (56-2) 210 22 91. Fax: (56-2)208 02 52
Water & the Environment. 7-8 October 1996, Copenhagen,Denmark.
Contact: Secretariat, Society of Danish Engineers, Vester Farimagsgade29, DK-1780 Copenhagen V, Denmark; Fax: (45)-33-158854
Second Caribbean Conference on Natural Hazards and Disasters.9-12 October 1996. Kingston, Jamaica.
Contact: Department of Geology, University of the WestIndies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica. Phone: (1-809) 927-2728; Fax:(1-809) 927-1640. E-mail: bcarby@uwimona.edu.jm
The World Conservation Congress of IUCN. 13-23 October, 1996,Montreal, Canada.
Contact: IUCN, 28 Rue Mauverny, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland.Tel: (41) 22 999 0162; Fax: (41) 22 999 0015; E-mail: das@hq.iucn.ch
Regional Workshop on the Management of Beach Resources, 21-25 October, 1996
UNESCO's Coasts and Small Islands Programme, the IntergovernmentalOceanographic Commission of UNESCO and the University of PuertoRico Sea Grant College Program are sponsoring a workshop on "IntegratedFramework for the Management of Beach Resources within the SmallCaribbean Islands" at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguezcampus. The workshop will build on the foundations laid by theCOSALC (Coast and Beach Stability in the Lesser Antilles) programme.The purpose of the multi-disciplinary workshop is to bring togetherplanners and environmental scientists from the small Eastern CaribbeanIslands to discuss various issues relating to beach management,ranging from erosion to tourism, hurricanes to beach access, sandmining to sea level changes. The workshop will also formulateareas for future cooperation and assistance.
For further information, contact: Dr. G. Cambers, COSALC,Sea Grant College program, University of Puerto Rico, P.O. Box5000, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico 00681, Phone: (1-787) 832-3585. Fax:(1-787) 265-2880
TechnoOcean 96. 23-25 October 1996, Kobe Port Island, Japan.
Contact: Secretariat of Organizing Committee, Kobe InternationalAssociation, 6-11-1, Minatoshimanaka-machi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650,Japan. Fax: (81-78) 303 75 16
Technical Workshop on Conservation of Swiftlets of the GenusCollocalia. 4-7 November 1996, Surabaya, Indonesia.Paper deadline: 10 October 1996.
Contact: CITES, Secretariat, 15 chemin des Anémones,Case postale 456, CH-1219 Châtelaine-Genève, Switzerland.Phone: (41-22) 979-9139/40. Fax: (41-22) 797-3417. E-mail: cites@unep.ch
Third Conference of the Parties to the Convention on BiologicalDiversity, 4-15 November, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Contact: C. Juma, Secretariat for the Convention onBiological Diversity (CBD), World Trade Centre, 413 St. JacquesStreet, Office 630, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Phone: (514) 288-2220;Fax: (514) 288-6588
Environmental Impact Assessment, 6-8 November, 1996, HolidayInnDallas/Ft. Worth Airport South, USA.
Contact: Holiday Inn Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport South, 4440 WestAirport Freeway, Irving, Texas 75062, U.S.A. Tel (1405) 3212730.Fax: (1405) 3212730.
49th Annual Meeting - Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute,Inc. 11-15 November 1996, Christ Church, Barbados.
Contact: GCFI Administrative Offices, Tel (1-803) 723-1050.
International Symposium on Hydrology in the Humid Tropic Environment.17-23 November, Kingston, Jamaica.
Contact: Secretariat, Humid Tropics Environment '96, A. IvanJohnson, 7474 Upham Court, Arvada, CO 80003 USA.. Fax: (1-303)425 5610.
Expert Meeting for the Northwest Pacific Action Plan (NOWPAP).18-19 November 1996, Tokyo, Japan.
Second Intergovernmental Meeting for the Northwest PacificAction Plan (NOWPAP). 20 November 1996, Tokyo, Japan.
Contact: T. Nakamura, UNEP Water, United Nations EnvironmentProgramme, Gigiri Estate, P.O. Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya. Phone:(254-2) 622034/5/520600; Fax: (254-2) 622788/230127
Scientific Conference on the North Atlantic. 18-23 November,Copenhagen, Denmark. Sponsored by Copenhagen Cultural Fund 96and IOC.
Contact: Erik Buch, Royal Danish Asdministration of Navigationand Hydrography, Overgaden o., Vandet 62B, 1023 Copenhagen K,Denmark. . Fax: (45-31) 57 43 41.
Demonopolization, Asset (SOE) Unbundling and PostPrivatizationManagement: "Creating a Competitive Environment for ProfitableEnterprise Development". 1829 November 1996, Washington,D.C.
Contact: The Institute for PublicPrivate Parterships, 111119th Street, NW, Suite 680, Washington, DC 20036; Phone: (202)4668930, Fax: (202) 4668934.
Coastal Zone 97: "Charting the Future of Coastal ZoneManagement: The next 25 years". 20-26 July 1997, Boston,Mass. Abstract deadline: 1 September 1996.
Contact: Martin C. Miller, USAE Waterways Experiment Station,Attn: CEWES-CR-O, 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180,USA.. Fax: (1601) 6344314. E-mail: m.miller@cerc.wes.army.mil
With Rivers to the Sea: Interaction of Land Activities, FreshWater and Enclosed Coastal Seas. 7th Stockholm Water Symposium,3rd Int. Conf. on the Environmental Management of Enclosed CoastalSeas (EMECS). 3-8 August 1997, Stockholm, Sweden. Abstractdeadline: 1 October 1996.
Contact: Stockholm Water Symposium/EMECS Conference 1997. StockholmWater Company, S-106 36 Stockholm, Sweden. Fax: (46-8) 736 2022. E-mail: sympos@sthwat.se