NEWSLETTER OF THE UNEP CARIBBEAN ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME
Vol. 10, No. 4, December 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 nextscheduled to be published in March, 1997, so please submityour news items before 1 February 1997.
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The Eighth Intergovernmental Meeting on the Action Plan forthe Caribbean Environment Programme and Fifth Meeting of the ContractingParties to the Convention for the Protection and Development ofthe Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, was of criticalimportance as a turning point for the continued development ofthe Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP) and its Regional Co-ordinatingUnit (UNEP CAR/RCU).
The Meeting took place in the Kingston Conference Centre 9-13December. Representatives from 23 of the countries and territoriesparticipating in the CEP were present. Furthermore, a number oforganizations were present as observers. The main objectives ofthe Meeting were to:
UNEP Headquarters was represented by Ms. Terttu Melvasalo, Directorof Water, UNEP, Nairobi. In her opening remarks, Ms. Melvasalostressed that this Meeting was probably the most critical forthe Programme since its inception in 1981. She concluded by acknowledgingthat UNEP needs to improve its processing and delivery systems,and she affirmed UNEP's full support for and commitment to theCEP to respond more effectively to the environmental needs ofthe region. She noted that the CEP is and will continue to beone of UNEP's more important regional initiatives.
The respective Programme Officers made a presentation of the background,achievements and future perspectives of each sub-programme. Thisgave the delegates a solid basis for the discussions on the futurestrategy of the CEP that followed. The Programme's financial situationwas thoroughly assessed and debated. It was noted by many delegatesthat the current budget situation, and the contributions madeto the Caribbean Trust Fund, is unsatisfactory. Many suggestionson how to improve the situation were presented. Some of the morecrucial decisions taken can be summarized as follows:
The expression 'funded preferably by Counterpart contributions'means that resources from the CTF cannot be used unless approvedby an Intergovernmental and Contracting Parties Meeting. Therefore,the ETA Programme, for instance, will have to be managed by theProgramme Officers of the other subprogrammes.
The streamlined Caribbean Environment Programme will consistof four subprogrammes of which three will have a Programme Officer.The ETA Programme will be managed by the other Programme Officersuntil funding is available. The CEPNET Programme will also actas a support function to the other subprogrammes.
In addition to these changes, the Secretariat is committed toreduce the total expenditures of the OCCC non-salary budget byup to 15%. Some of this reduction should be possible to achievethrough more cost-efficient office procedures when the upgradingof the CAR/RCU computer and communication system is completedin early 1997. Many of the planned activities for 1997 will haveto be funded by Counterpart contributions instead of the CTF.
A Monitoring Committee Meeting early in 1997 will revise the 1998-99workplan and budget, conduct a review of the pledges to the CTFthat are in arrears and to agree that these be paid before theend of the year. Furthermore, that Meeting will consider thatthe quotas in arrears for 1996 should be negotiated between theGovernments and the Secretariat in order to establish short-termfinancial arrangements.
All these decisions and recommendations will of course affectthe activities and the management of the CEP. A new streamlinedCEP and CAR/RCU will be developed during the first 4 months of1997. For the Caribbean Environment Programme, this is an opportunityto become more productive in its performance. The Programme activitieswill focus primarily on the direct implementation of the CartagenaConvention and its Protocols. Although the CEP has experienceda number of difficult years, it is believed that the Meeting wasa turning point and necessary for a strengthened Programme.
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CEPNET is the Regional Programme on Information Systems forthe Management of Marine and Coastal Resources. The programmehas been suffering from a lack of personnel and funding. However,the future looks brighter now that an exciting project has recentlystarted with funding from the Inter-America Development Bank (IDB)and UNEP.
The long-awaited project for strengthening the capabilities formanaging coastal and marine resources in the Wider Caribbean Regionhas finally started. The Project Manager, Ken Korporal from Canada(see 'Welcome to Personnel' for more information), has installedhimself in the UNEP CAR/RCU office and has begun the implementationprocess. This is a US$ 1,361,000 project over approximately twoyears ($US 1,000,000 from the IDB and $US 361,000 from UNEP).
Since the project was planned a few years ago, considerable technicaldevelopment has taken place in for instance computer communications,geographic information systems (GIS) and the capacity of personalcomputers. This necessitated a re-writing of the project workplantoaccomodate these changes, while retaining the same overall objectives.Many of the planned developments will be based on the use of theInternet.
As a first step, the CAR/RCU internal computer systems and networkwill be established. The second step is to develop an externalserver which will host the Caribbean Environment Programme's regionalinformation and be capable to act as a clearing-house regardingcoastal and marine data and information in the Wider CaribbeanRegion. It is planned that remote GIS operations (web-based GISfunctions) will be available, as well as database searches andqueries on the UNEP and regional metadata holdings.
Similar hardware, software and databases will also be establishedin 6 Pilot Network Programme (PNP) countries, usually at the technicalfocal points of the CEP. It is intended that national or localdata should be hosted at these focal points. Through this emergingnetwork system, access to data or to information on existing datasources and its contents (metadata) will be facilitated.
Results and experiences from the PNP countries will be used inthe further implementation of the CEPNET Network in other participatingcountries.
CEPNET should be seen as a complement to other existing or plannednetworks. It is important to establish relationships to othernetworks in the region, such as UNEPNet and SIDSNET (Small IslandDevelopments Network) and the Sustainable Development Networkprogramme (SDN). It is planned that the CAR/RCU become a GRID(UNEP's Global Resources Information Database) compatible nodeand be able to distribute public data from the GRID project whichis relevant to the Caribbean region.
CEPNET will strengthen the role of the CAR/RCU and assist theCEP to better serve the environmental information, technical co-operationand specialised consulting needs of the focal points, non-governmentalorganizations, other stakeholders and the public at large.
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The Caribbean Environment Programme now has a home page on theWorld Wide Web. The URL (the Internet address) is:
http://rolac.unep.mx/cepnews/ing/first.htm
The pages are under development and should not be considered asa final product. It is merely a first step in what is expectedto be one of the most crucial tools in the CEP's management ofinformation. The home page has been established in collaborationwith UNEP's Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean(ROLAC) in Mexico City. The joint URL of ROLAC and CAR/RCU is:
http://rolac.unep.mx/origen_i.htm
for the English version. The last part (/origen_i.htm) should be omittedto reach the version in Spanish. The CAR/RCU Spanish version in still in translation.Pages in French will be developed as soon as possible.
The home page is physically located on a server in Mexico City.UNEP CAR/RCU does not have the computer hardware to host the homepage in Kingston. However, the implementation of the CEPNET/IDBproject (see above) includes the development of a local server.Thelist of contents is the control centre from which you can reachall available information. Its appearance is subject to change,but in principle, the objective is to keep it short but comprehensive.Many WWW pages currently on the Internet holds lots of information,but it is sometimes difficult to navigate to the particular informationthat you are interested in. The type of information that now isloaded on the CEP pages includes:
Unfortunately, in an announcement in the last issue of CEPNEWS(Vol. 10, No. 3) the URL for CEPNEWS was incorrect. We regretthis error. The direct link to the CEPNEWS page is:
http://rolac.unep.mx/cepnews/ing/cepnews.htm
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Attached to this issue of CEPNEWS is a form which you shouldcomplete and send to UNEP CAR/RCU in order to continue to recieveCEPNEWS. Completion of this form will allow us to:
The next issue of this newsletter will be printed as three separatepaper copies, in English, Spanish and French, respectively. CEPNEWSwill continue to be delivered free of charge to those who needa paper copy. However, we strongly encourage all of you who havethe opportunity to use the Internet to download your copy electronicallyand print it on demand. This is not only a way to get your copymuch earlier, it is also a way to help the CEP to be more costeffective. Therefore, it is important that you fill in the form and indicate how you would like to receive the next issue (March1997). So please notify us by responding before 28 February 1997.The form is also available on our home page and can be sent bye-mail to UNEP CAR/RCU.
For more info, please contact:
UNEP CAR/RCU, 1420 Port Royal Street, Kingston, Jamaica;Phone: +1809-922 9267 to 9; Fax: +1809-922 9292; Telex: 3672 UNEPCARJA;E-mail: uneprcuja@toj.com
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The Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust has been selectedto be an IUCN Depository Library. As an IUCN Depository Library,the Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust can review itscurrent stock of IUCN titles and request any IUCN titles thatare essential for the region at no charge. In addition, the organizationwill automatically receive a free copy of all new publicationsas issued.
For further information, kindly contact: Kevin Grose,Head; Information Management Group; Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196Gland, Suisse; Telephone: ++4122-99900 01; Telefax: ++4122-9990002
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In the last issue of CEPNEWS, we published an article on TurtleExcluder Devices (TEDs) by Dr. J. Frazier, Mexico. Coincidentally,an agreement on sea turtle protection was reached shortly afterwards.
On September 5, 1996, nations of the Western Hemisphere reachedan historic agreement to protect endangered species of sea turtles.The multilateral accord, concluded in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil,reflects more than two years of negotiations involving 23 countriesfrom North, Central and South America, as well as the Caribbeanregion. It is the first international agreement in the world strictlydevoted to sea turtle protection.
The agreement, formally known as the Inter-American Conventionfor the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles, requires avariety of significant actions for the benefit of these endangeredanimals which migrate widely through the jurisdictions of manynations. Countries joining the agreement must prohibit the intentionalcapture or killing of sea turtles, protect sea turtle habitatand nesting areas, and reduce, to the greatest extent practicable,accidental harm to sea turtles in the course of fishing activities.
In particular, the agreement requires the use of Turtle ExcluderDevices (TEDs) on virtually all shrimp trawling vessels operatingin the region. TEDs have proven to be extremely effective in reducingthe mortality of sea turtles during shrimp fishing.
The agreement will enter into force once eight countries haveratified it. In the United States, ratification will require Senateadvice and consent to the agreement.
The protection of endangered sea turtles, like many environmentalgoals, can only be achieved through strong international co-operationof the kind represented by this agreement. The Inter-AmericanSea Turtle Convention should serve as a model for the negotiationof other international marine resource agreements.
The TED is a small, metal grid trapdoor inside a trawling netthat allows shrimp to pass to the back while the turtles escapeto safety before becoming entrapped or entangled.
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The Montego Bay Marine Park Trust will benefit from a US$25,000grant from USAID. The grant will be used to put in place the basicadministrative systems and equipment needed to strengthen theTrust's administrative capabilities as it prepares to assume officialresponsibility for the Marine Park's sustainable management. TheTrust is the first local community group to be delegated authorityfor the management of park resources. USAID is providing assistanceto the Marine Park under its Development of Environmental ManagementOrganizations (DEMO) Project
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The International of the Reef (IYOR) is a major effort in:capacity building for reef management; outreach and education;researching patterns of degradation and their causes; assessingthe condition of coral reefs worldwide and leading sustainablemanagement efforts for reefs.
Coral reefs are among nature's most spectacular and beautifulcreations. They are home to a dazzling array of marine life andrank as one of the most complex and diverse ecosystems in theworld. Unfortunately, the future of coral reefs is in jeopardy.Ten percent of the world's reefs have already been seriouslydegraded and a much greater percentage is threatened, particularlyin areas adjacent to human populations. These jewels of the seaare being damaged at an accelerating rate. If this decline continues,there could be a significant loss of the world's reefs and theirresources during the next century. Some of the human activitiesthat may pose the biggest threats are:
In response to the growing threats to coral reefs around the world,1997 has been declared the International Year of the Reef (IYOR).This global campaign is an effort by an informal coalition ofgovernments, NGOs, business associations and scientists to highlightthe importance of reefs to sustainable development and to spurconservation efforts worldwide to reverse the trend of coral reefdestruction. IYOR was launched at the 8th International CoralReef Symposium in Panama (June 1996), where over 1400 participantspledged their support for IYOR.
IYOR will provide a global context for national and regional effortsand will promote collaboration and co-ordination between organisationsand programmes with common interests and aims in reef managementand research. It has no central organisation itself and is relyingon YOU to achieve its aims.
IYOR will pursue the goals of the International Coral Reef Initiative(ICRI), a partnership of nations and organisations seeking toimplement Chapter 17 of Agenda 21 and other international conventionsand agreements for the benefit of coral reefs and related ecosystems.
For further information, including advice on how you can usethe IYOR logo, contact: Robert Ginsburg, Chairman IYOROrganising Committee, University of Miami/RSMAS, 4600 RickenbackerCswy, Miami, Fla 33149, USA; Fax: +1-305-361 4094, e-mail: rginsburg@rsmas.miami.edu.
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On the occasion of the Eighth Intergovernmental Meeting and FifthContracting Parties Meeting (see the Editorial for more information),two major coalitions of regional NGOs, the Caribbean ConservationAssociation (CCA) and the Eastern Caribbean Coalition for EnvironmentalAwareness (ECCEA) officially expressed their opposition on behalfof their organizations regarding the possible weakening of theCEP at a time when there is a pressing and urgent need to addressincreasing environmental degradation within the region. CCA andECCEA recommended the strengthening of CEP Programmes and ratificationby all Caribbean States of the Cartagena Convention and its Protocols.
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A ban on imports of bluefin tuns from Belize, Honduras and Panamahas been authorized by the International Convention for the Conservationof Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT). ICCAT manages highly migratory tunaspecies like bluefin, yellowfin, albacore and bigeye as well asswordfish, marlin and spearfish in the Atlantic Ocean and itsadjacent seas. The members of ICCAT approved use of sanctionsagainst those three non-member countries while also approvinguse of sanctions against each other in the future for violationsof ICCAT catch limits.
Those decisions were made at ICCAT's annual meeting in San Sebastian,Spain, November 22-29, 1996. At the 1995 annual meeting, ICCATacted to notify Belize, Honduras and Panama that boats sailingunder their flags were conducting unregulated bluefin catch andwere undermining ICCAT conservation measures. After the threecountries took no corrective action for a year, ICCAT decidedto authorize a ban on bluefin imports from them. Bluefin is prizedfor sushi in Japan, which consumes nearly all of the world's catch.The delegate from Japan indicated his government would imposethe necessary sanctions - a crucial step to give ICCAT's decisionforce.
Source: United States Information Service, Press Release,December 4, 1996.
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Welcome!
Farewell...
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It was recognised by the Eighth Intergovernmental Meeting, heldin Kingston 9-13 December, 1996, that the lack of contributionsto the Caribbean Trust Fund definitiely hampers the performanceof the Caribbean Environment Programme. The total outstandingcontributions amounts to nearly US$ 1.8 Millions for the period1982-1996. However, several countries announced their effort topay arrears, and to pay their 1996 and 1997 contributions shortly.A good example of this is Suriname (paid US$ 90,000 in1996). The countries that so far have contributed to theCTF fund for 1996 are:
France, Haiti and Jamaica have announced their intention to payas soon as possible.
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UNEP Industry and Environment Centre
This site provides information about UNEP IE's major activitiesand initiatives: prevention of industrial accidents and minimizationof their impacts; environmental management and pollution control;environmentally-sustainable tourism; preventative strategies forcleaner and more efficient production; environmental technologyassessment; outreach to industry to stimulate dialogue and initiativeson sustainable development; and protection of the stratosphericozone layer
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The purpose of the conference was to bring together expert fisherydecision makers throughout the Caribbean Sea to discuss the queen conch fishery and to affirm the commitment of the conference participantsto work together to develop a common management strategy for thequeen conch fishery.
The conference participants adopted the non-binding Declarationof San Juan as an expression of their shared interest in the statusand future of the queen conch (Strombus gigas). In the Declaration,the participants agreed to:
The RCU Secretariat attended the Second Meeting of the SubsidiaryBody on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA)to the CBD, Montreal, 2-6 September 1996. As a result of ourparticipation, as well as discussions with CBD's Executive Secretary,the Secretariat prepared a document identifying programatic linkagesbetween CEP and the CBD which was consequently presented to theThird Conferene of the Parties (COP3) of the CBD as UNEP/CBD/COP/3/Inf.50,as well as to the Eighth Intergovernmental Meeting (VIII IGM)in response to the decisions of the Seventh IntergovernmentalMeeting. This paper was well received by COP3 and countries fromthe region made interventions at that region favorably commentingon the document.
The VIII IGM decided to request the Secretariat to continue itsefforts in this regard, particularly regarding the developmentof a Memorandum of Cooperation within the CBD in this importantsubject area.
This Regional Seminar was part of a project funded by the EuropeanCommission and implemented by the Secretariat of the Basel Convention(co-hosted by the Government of St.Lucia) providing assistanceto developing countries implementing the Basel Convention andin preparing a national hazardous waste management plan.
The meeting recognized that a comprehensive and focused programmeof action represented a necessary first step in the developmentof strategies for hazardous waste management in the region. Inlight of this, the meeting developed a regional Programme of Actionto address the issues of the ratification/accession and implementationof the Basel Convention, and the initiation of activities gearedtowards the environmentally sound management of hazardous waste.Also, in recognition of the critical need for capacity building,the meeting reiterated the importance of establishing a sub-regionalcentre for training and technology transfer in the Caribbean onthe environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes and minimizationof their generation. The Government of Trinidad and Tobago hasoffered to be the host of this centre.
The regional Seminar agreed to a number of recommendations includinga request made to the Secretariat of the Basel Convention to submitthe Programme of Action for its consideration and support to theEighth Intergovernmental Meeting of the Caribbean EnvironmentProgramme to be held in Kingston, Jamaica from 9-13 December,1996.
For further information, please contact: Dr. I. Rummel-Bulska,Executive Secretary, UNEP/SBC Secretariat, 15 Chemin des Anemones,1219 Chatelaine (Geneva), Switzerland. Tel: +41-22-979 9218, Fax:+41-22-797 3454.
The RCU attended this meeting at the request of the Associationof the Caribbean States (ACS) and made a detailed presentationon the states of the coastal and marine convention in the WiderCaribbean Region, as well as on the Cartagena Convention, itsProtocols and the Caribbean Environment Programme. Other presentationswere made by representatives of IOC/IOCARIBE and the Instituteof Marine Affairs in Trinidad and Tobago.
The main objective of the Meeting was to develop a workplan forthe ACS Programme on Protection and Conservation of the Environmentand the Caribbean Sea, which was subsequently submitted to theconsideration of the second ordinary meeting of Ministers of theACS, which was held in Cuba, 12-13 December 1996. In this context,the Secretariat emphasized the need to ensure Co-ordination andavoid any duplication, in particular in light of the increasinglylimited financial resources at all levels.
For further information, please contact: ACS Secretariat,11/13 Victoria Avenue, Port of Spain, Trinidad, W.I., Tel: +1-809-6232783/4;Fax: +1-809-6232679.
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The School for Field Studies (SFS) desires faculty who are primarilyenvironmental educators excited by directing field research projectsfor students and committed to the goal of helping communitiesthroughout the world achieve sustainable use of their naturalresources. SFS wants students to return from their semester withan increased interdisciplinary ability to understand and solvecomplex environmental problems and with a commitment to act onthis new knowledge.
QUALIFICATIONS: Ph.D. preferred (Masters with 4 years of appliedexperience may be substituted) in Economics or related discipline.Two years minimum field research experience in the Caribbean orsimilar ecosystem, outstanding and innovative undergraduate teachingbackground (minimum 2 years), demonstrated leadership and managementskills, ability to live in a remote field setting and a commitmentto conservation issues in the resource management arena. SCUBAexperience (at the Instructor or Dive Master level, or willingnessto upgrade certification to this level) is required.
This faculty position entails presenting the marine economic aspectsof the curriculum, working with an interdisciplinary team of faculty(marine ecologist and a marine resource manager.)
The case studies comprising the semester program are related tothe following research topics:
1. What are appropriate levels of coastal development?
2. What is a sustainable level of conch and lobster harvesting?
3. Could a system of parks and reserves supplement the nation'seconomy?
4. What is the potential for sustainable exploitation of deepwater fish?
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: Faculty will teach case studies as part ofan interdisciplinary team for two semesters and a summer program,oversees students' directed research projects and participatein all daily living activities of the center. Salary is $25,000a year, with room, board and transportation costs provided bySFS. Faculty are given one month vacation and become eligiblefor sabbatical leave after 4 years. At least two year commitmentsare preferred.
Send/Fax a detailed letter explaining relevant skills and experienceto one or more of the case studies and a CV to:
Marine Economist Search, The School for Field Studies, 16 Broadway,Beverly, MA 01915, USA. Tel:+1-508-922 7200 ext. 304; Fax: +1-508-927 5127
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VISIONS TO VISUALS: An eight week course with an emphasis on theproduction of environmental education support materials, 5May - 27 June 1996. This course combines a critical view ofhow people learn with a range of techniques which can be usedto support the learning process. From village based screen-printingto computer-aided desk-top publishing, you will be exposed tothe strengths and weaknesses of each technique. The emphasis inon a 'hands-on' approach.
AWARENESS TO ACTION: A six week accredited course leading to theaward of Certificate in Professional Development: EnvironmentalEducation (University of Bath*) 22 September - 31 October 1997.
An analysis of the environmental education process is provided,including exposure to examples of interpretation, experientiallearning and community participation. You will be required tokeep a course journal and/or undertake a project linking new learningwith you own work in the field - to be completed after the course.
(*Subject to final validation).
DESK TOP PUBLISHING: Two weeks on computer aided materials productionto follow on from Awareness to Action, 3 November - 14 November1997.
A course to strengthen the capacity of organisations to prepareprofessional and appropriate resource materials to support theirwork. You will receive a general introduction to computers anddesk-top publishing, practical assistance with the design of specificproducts related to your work, experience in the use of electronicimages and an overview of available printing technologies.
For further information and applications forms, please contact:The Training Co-ordinator, Dept. P28, International Centrefor Conservation Education, Greenfield House, Guiting Power, CheltenhamGL54 5TZ, United Kingdom; Telephone: +44-1451 850777; Telefax:+44-1451 850705; Electronic Mail: 100417.325@compuserve.com.
8-10 January, 1997 or 14-16 May, 1997; Holiday Inn - Dallas/Ft.Worth Airport South, 4440 West Airport Freeway, Irving, Texas75062.
This three day course focuses on emerging topics related to theprinciples and practice of environmental impact assessment (EIA).The practice of EIA is now global, with upwards of 100 countries,international aid agencies, and lending institutions having EIAlaws, policies, and/or regulations. Rather than emphasizing thefundamentals of the EIA process, this course highlights a numberof concepts, tools and methods, and related issues which haverecently emerged. Concepts which are addressed include EIA withinthe plarming process, scoping for identifying key impact concerns,cumulative impact assessment and mitigation banking. Newer toolsand methods encompass geographic information systems (GIS), riskassessment, expert systems, and decision support systems. Market-basedconsiderations are becoming increasingly important in environmentalmanagement, hence topics are included on incremental cost analysis,emissions trading, and economic valuation of impacts. The useof environmental monitoring and auditing in responsible projectmanagement will also be addressed. Finally, a "brainstormingsession" will be held on the use of the Internet in the EIAprocess.
This course is planned for practitioners from governmental agencies,consulting firms, and private industry. The course provides aninterdisciplinary perspective, thus individuals with the followingsubstantive area backgrounds would be expected to benefit: engineering,geology, environmental sciences, biological sciences, chemistry,geography, planning, archaeology, and public policy.
For further information, contact: Environmental ImpactTraining, P.O. Box 2301, Norman, OK 73070-2301. Fax: +1-405-3212730.
The Master of Marine Management degree is a one year interdisciplinaryprogramme which is of interest to a broad range of individuals.
A maximum of twenty students are accepted each year and are requiredto complete a total of five credits within twelve months. Halfof these credits are mandatory classes with a concentration inmarine affairs. Subject areas include coastal zone management,sea use planning, fisheries management, marine law and policy,maritime transportation, development of non-living resources,protection and preservation of the coastal and marine environment,coastal tourism, maritime enforcement and effective managementof communication channels. The remaining credits are selectedlargely at the discretion of the students, depending upon theirparticular area of interest and subject to the approval of theProgram Co-ordinator. The culmination of the year is a four monthgraduate project which has both a written and a practical component.
Dalhousie University offers a limited number of scholarships toqualified individuals through the Faculty of Graduate Studies.Financial assistance for this degree is also available from theCanadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Please notethat the application deadline for potential students interestedin financial aid is 31 January 1997.
Please also note that the final date for applying to the Masterof Marine Management degree is 31 March, 1997.
For further information, contact: Dr. Aldo Chircop,Co-ordinator, Marine Affairs Programme, Dalhousie University,124 Seymour Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 3J5; Telephone:+1-902-4943555; Telefax: +1-902-4941001; Electronic Mail: Patricia.Roberts@Dal.CaWWW: http://www.dal.ca/mmm.
The Harvard Institute for International Development (HIID) announcesits fifth annual training workshop on Environmental Economicsand Policy Analysis to be held at Harvard University 16 Juneto 11 July, 1997.
The four-week Workshop will conduct a rigorous course in the analysis,quantification, and economic valuation of natural resources andthe environmental impact of policies, programs, and projects.It is designed for those interested in natural resource management,environmental protection, and sustainable development. The Workshopwill consist of lectures, discussion groups, case studies, andcomputer-based analysis of data.
The ideal participant will have a graduate or strong undergraduatedegree in economics, environmental studies or related fields,with some work experience in policy-making, policy analysis, projectappraisal, or business management. An economics background, proficiencyin written and spoken English, and intermediate computer skillsare desired in order to benefit fully from the program.
Because space is limited, interested candidates should apply assoon as possible. Prospective participants will also need timeto identify sources of funding. The Admissions Committee willreview applications as they are received and will advise applicantsof their status as quickly as possible. Admission will be confirmedwhen applicants have secured funding. The programme cost is US$8,500per participant.
For further information, please contact: EnvironmentalEconomics & Policy Analysis Workshop, Harvard Institute forInternational Development, One Eliot Street, Cambridge, MA 02138,USA; Telephone: +1-617-495 5999; Telefax: +1-617-496 3956; ElectronicMail: eepa@hiid.harvard.edu.
This course analyses the relations of ecotourism with conservationof natural resources and the development of rural communities,with the objective of exploring alternative planning and managementof programmes and protection of ecotourism. This course will beheld from 13-26 April 1997. Cost US$2,300.
For further information, contact: Ana Baez, Course Director,University for Peace, P.O. Box 138, Ciudad Colon, Costa Rica,C.A.; Telephone: +506-249-1072/1512/1511; Telefax: +506- 249-1929.
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The Caribbean has the fortune - and misfortune - to be everybody'sidea of a tropical paradise. Its sun, sand and scenery attractmillions of visitors each year.
But what is the real impact of tourism on the people and the environmentof the Caribbean? As the Caribbean's traditional economy falters,tourism is being touted as its only hope of creating jobs andwealth. It is literally the islands' last resort.
LAST RESORTS looks at how this mega-industry affects the peoplewho live in the Caribbean. It reveals who owns and controls itand assesses what benefits it brings to the region. It analysesthe new vogue of 'eco-tourism' and asks whether tourists reallycan preserve the environment. It examines claims that tourismcorrupts Caribbean societies turning culture into a floorshowparody.
Based on extensive interviews throughout the Caribbean, LAST RESORTSis the inside story on tourism. The conflicting views of its workers,critics and the tourists themselves offer a vital insight intothe world's fastest growing industry.
For copies, contact: 1 Amwell Street, London ECIR IUL;Telephone: +44-171-2782829; Telefax: +44-171-2780165; ElectronicMail: lab @gn.apc.org.
This report gives an overview of the system of coastal and marinemanagement in Sweden. Of special interest is the "mechanismfor co-ordination of different sector plans". One of theauthors is Mr Kjell Grip, currently working as Senior ProgrammeOfficer for the Integrated Planning and Institutional Developmentprogramme at CAR/RCU.
To obtain the report "The Swedish Model for Coastaland Marine Management", Swedish Environmental ProtectionAgency Report 4455, ISBN 91-4455-9, please contact: SwedishEnvironmental Protection Agency, Customer Service, S-106 48 Stockholm,Sweden. Tel: +46-8-6981000; Fax: +46-8-6981515.
The Industrial Technological Information Bank (INTIB) of UNIDOhas produced a series of publications on Energy and Environment.The latest installment is a special issue on Waste Minimizationin Industry.
The book covers a key topic, that of waste minimization, alsoknown as cleaner production or pollution prevention which is centralto the industrial programmes of the United Nations IndustrialDevelopment Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations EnvironmentProgramme (UNEP) and is highlighted by the joint "NationalCleaner Production Centres" (NCPC) programme. UNIDO and UNEPhave embarked upon the joint NCPC project to bring the conceptof cleaner production to a few developing countries in each geographicalregion. Information acquisition and dissemination will be an importantpart of these pilot activities and this publication shows thatthere is a wealth of data already available.
The data in this document includes abstracts of papers presentedin seminars of cleaner production and provides the full text of100 case studies on cleaner production, including technilogical,materials balance and economic data.
For more information or to order, please contact: MaterialsInformation, The Institute of Materials, 1 Carlton House Terrace,London SW1 5DB, United Kingdom, or directly to the Chief, IndustrialInformation Centre, UNIDO, P.O. Box 300, A1400, Vienna, Austria.
The NOAA Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) has amission to record meteorological, oceanographic and solar-geophysicaldata in support of operational requirements. It currently operatestwo satellites in low-altitude polar orbits. The DMSP has availablesets of (1) 22 slides showing 1995 season hurricanes, and (2)23 slides showing 1995 typhoons. The satellite's unique pointof view allows study of the structure, magnitude, and locationof storms. Each slide displays a storm in either visible or infraredwavelengths. The name of the storm and time of image are printedon the slide. Captions in an attached information booklet describethe magnitude and path of each storm.
Also available are scientific and educational slide sets on earthquakes,volcanos, auroras and sunspots and tsunamis.
Order from: DMSP, National Geophysical Data Centre,Code E/GC2, Dept. 979, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO80303-3328, USA;Tel: +1-303-497 6761; Fax: +1-303-4973328; E-mail: info@ngdc.noaa.gov.
This guide was prepared as a stimulus for action. It has beendesigned to enable ordinary citizens and communities overcomeobstacles to environmental protection by providing basic factsabout the environment, by demonstrating how these problems affectthe lives of citizens, by proposing alternative solutions basedon the best information available and by suggesting how individualsand groups can participate in achieving sustainable solutions.Overall, the theme of this manual is in line with the messageconveyed by Article 10 of the Rio Declaration and also with theprominence given in Agenda 21 to the critical role of the MajorGroups in society for the changes that must be made in our comsumptionand production patterns if we are to conserve the environment.
For further information, please contact: UNEP Headquarters(and Africa Regional bureau), P.O. Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya.Cable Address: UNITERRA NAIROBI. Tel: +254-2-621234; Fax: +254-2-226886or 226890. Telex: 22068 UNEP KE
The 22 minute video focuses on the practice of community forestryin the Caribbean. It examines the concept of community forestryand illustrates some of the ways in which Caribbean communitiesare managing forests and forest resources for their social, economicand ecological benefit. Trees for People, People for Trees wasproduced by Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) withsupport from the British Development Division in the Caribbean.
Trees for People, People for Trees is a useful training tool andcan be used in formal or non-formal educational settings. It issuitable for use by community animators, extension officers, teachersor anyone with an interest in community forestry in the Caribbean.
The video can be obtained directly from either of CANARI's officesin St. Croix or St. Lucia at a cost of US$15.00/EC$40 per copy.
To order, please contact: CANARI, 1113 Strand St., Christiansted,St. Croix, US. Virgin Islands 00820. Tel: +1-809-773 9854; Fax:+1-809-773 5770; E-mail: ac636@virgin.usvi.net, or:CANARI, Clarke St., Vieux Fort, St. Lucia, Tel: +1-758-454 6060;Fax: +1-758-454 5188; E-mail: canari@isis.org.lc
The Book "State of the Environment Reporting: Source Bookof Methods and Approaches, is jointly published by UNEP, EnvironmentCanada and the Netherlands National Institute of Public Healthand Environment. The principal author was Mr. Paul Rump, who untilrecently, worked in Environment Canada. He was guided by an internationalteam of State of the Environment (SOE) experts,
Good environmental information is essential for effective sustainabledevelopment policymaking and action planning. Accurate informationincreases the chances for correct decisions.
For more information, please contact: UNEP, Informationand Public Affairs, Gigiri Estate, P.O. Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya.Tel: +2542-230 084; Fax: +2542- 226831.
Governments, companies, nongovernmental organizations and citizensare becoming increasingly interested in the life cycle assessment(LCA) of products. This method of environmental analysis, whichassesses the environmental impact of products throughout theirentire life cycle - 'from the cradle to the grave' - is now comingof age. The number of applications for LCA is also growing: itis now being used in the improvement of both products and processes,in setting criteria for ecolabelling, and in decision making aboutpurchasing. LCA is thus becoming increasingly important in thedevelopment of cleaner production. This is why UNEP's CleanerProduction Programme is helping to advance the concept of LCAand promoting its dissemination.
LCA will play an increasingly important role as a tool to supportthe decisionmaking process in governments, companies and nongovernmentalorganizations. The information it provides will also be of assistanceto individual consumers. Many international bodies, national governments,universities, consultancy agencies and private companies now acknowledgeboth the usefulness of LCA and the need for further developmentof the technique. We hope that this report will help to promotethe application of LCA in the development of an increasingly sustainablesociety.
For more information, please contact: see UNEP - I &E below.
In an effort to help countries to establish environmental standardsand guidelines for potentially polluting industrial wastes aspart of their environmental strategies, UNEP Industry and Environmenthas set up an in-house database called Industry and EnvironmentEmission Standards and Guidelines Information Clearinghouse (IE-ESGIC)and has published IE-ESGIC compendiums covering a range of industrialsectors in: Textile Industry (Volume I), Pulp & Paper Industry(Volume II), Iron & Steel Industry (Volumes IIIa and IIIb).
For more details, please contact: UNEP Industry andEnvironment, 3943, Quai Andre Citroen, 75739 Paris Cedex 15, France.Phone: +33-1-44371450; Fax: +33-1-44371474; E-mail: unepie@unep.fr.
Beginning with an explanation of the International Standards Organization,"ISO 14000: Understanding the Environmental Standards"details what the current standards are, the plans for complyingwith these standards, and the similarities with other environmentalmanagement standards.
Author Dr. von Zharen directs you through the implementation processof ISO 14000 presenting the practical guidelines on documentation,environmental audits, and potential legal ramifications.
Requirements for certification are discussed in detail as well.You will successfully learn all of the nomenclature associatedwith an environmental management system under the ISO 14000 series.
To order, please contact: Government Institutes, Inc.,4 Research Place, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. Phone: +1-301- 9212355
The results of the Global Waste Survey provide a unique mine ofinformation on industrial and hazardous waste management practicesaround the world.
The data highlighted in this report represent only a portion ofthe information contained in the Global Waste Inventory and thepilot National Waste Management Profiles. The information focuseson industrial and hazardous waste management as defined and practisedin different countries and regions of the world, and assessesthe relative impact that a global ban on ocean dumping of industrialwaste will have in those countries and regions.
The body of information contained in this report has been collatedand summarized under six headings, namely: state of national wastemanagement programmes; ocean dumping of waste generated by land-basedestablishments and operations; existing land-based waste managementfacilities; waste generation; legislation, regulations, institutionalorganization and enforcement; and priority problems and actions.
For copies of this publication, contact: The InternationalMaritime Organization, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR.France.
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For more info, please contact:
UNEP CAR/RCU, 1420 Port Royal Street, Kingston, Jamaica;Phone: +1809-922 9267 to 9; Fax: +1809-922 9292; Telex: 3672 UNEPCARJA;E-mail: uneprcuja@toj.com.org
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Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation, 4-8 March,1997. Delta Orlando Resort, Orlando, Florida, USA.
Contact: Jeanette Wyneken, Department of BiologicalSciences, Florida Altantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton,Fla. 33431, USA; Telefax: 1-561-3672749; Electronic Mail: jwyneken@acc.fav.edu.
The Oceanography Society's 1997 Scientific Meeting - "OceanInitiatives", April 1-4, 1997. Seattle, Washington, USA.
The Oceanography Society (TOS) announces its 1997 scientific meeting,to be held in Seattle, WA, at the Seattle Sheraton Hotel (plenarysessions) and the Washington State Convention & Trade Center(posters and exhibits).
The meeting format will include morning plenary sessions of invitedtalks on the daily session themes and contributed poster abstractsin the afternoons focusing on, but not limited to, the day's sessiontheme (no poster session the last day). Commercial exhibits willbe co-located with the contributed posters.
Registration fee will include daily continental breakfast, morningand afternoon coffee breaks, and one reception (possibly more).Students are invited to attend and participate. 100 students willbe permitted to register at half the regular registration fee.The half-price registrations will be allocated on a first-comebasis, but preference will be given to students submitting abstractsand presenting posters. Poster abstracts will be accepted forreview December 1, 1996 - February 21, 1997.
Some financial support will be available from SCOR for oceanographersfrom developing countries; applications for this support mustbe received at TOS headquarters by January 31, 1997.
For further information, contact: The OceanographySociety, 4052 Timber Ridge Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23455, USA;Telephone: +1-757-4640131; Fax: +1-757-4641795; E-mail: jrhodes@ccpo.odu.edu
International Conference On Cultural Heritage In Islands AndSmall States, 8-10 May 1997. Valetta, Malta.
The objectives of the Conference are:
Authors are invited to submit papers on topics related to thetheme of the conference. The papers are to be written in English.The suggested length is between 6,000 words and 10,000 words.
An abstract of the paper not exceeding 300 words should be submittedby 1 March 1997 and three copies of the full text of thepaper, together with a diskette copy, are to be submitted by15 April 1997.
For further information, contact: The Secretary, InternationalConference, CULTURAL HERITAGE IN ISLANDS AND SMALL STATES, Islandsand Small States Institute, Foundation for International Studies,University Building, St. Paul Street, Valletta, Malta; Telephone:+356-248218, 234121/2; Telefax: +356-230551, e-mail lbrig@cis.um.edu.mt.
Symposium on Marine Conservation Biology, a component of theSociety for Conservation Biology Annual Meeting, 6-9 June, 1997.Universityu of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Contact: Dr. Elliot Norse, President, Marine Conservation BiologyInstitute, 15806 NE 47th Court, Redmond, WA 5805, USA. Telefax:1-206-8833017; Electronic Mail: enorse@u.washington.edu.
Coastal Zone 97: "Charting the Future of Coastal ZoneManagement: The next 25 years". 20-26 July 1997, Boston,Mass.
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). 11-14 August 1997, Stockholm, Sweden. (NB! New dates)
Contact: Stockholm Water Symposium/EMECS Conference 1997. StockholmWater Company, S-106 36 Stockholm, Sweden. Fax: (46-8) 736 2022. E-mail: sympos@sthwat.se