CEPNEWS Vol. 11, No. 2, June 1997
NEWSLETTER OF THE UNEP CARIBBEAN ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME
(THIS NEWSLETTER IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN FRENCH AND SPANISH)

NOTICE TO READERS We welcome your inputs on activities that are relevant to the CEP. CEPNEWS is published quarterly and distributed in March, June, September and December. The deadline for news items is one month in advance. The next issue is scheduled for September, 1997, so please submit your news items before 1 August, 1997.

Table of Contents

CEPNEWS Archive

Editorial The RCU - 10 Years Old! Articles * Management of Coastal and Marine Areas in Suriname
Cuba and the Hawksbill Turtle
Cuba Curbs Fishing
Low Ebb for Olive Ridleys
The 1996 Florida Manatee Die-Off
TED Video Available
Colombia, Ecuador added to Embargo on Wild-Harvest Shrimp CTF Update

Personnel

Exhibition Coral Reefs: Caribbean Connections Past Events

Employment Opportunities

Training Opportunities Masters Course in Environmentally Sustainable Development
Rural Training Initiative
Belize: Glover's Reef Marine Research Station
Postgraduate Water Studies
Environmental Impact Assessment
EPOMEX, Mexico Publications Available Global Environment Outlook
Land, Sea and Human Effort in the Caribbean
The Diversity of the Seas: a regional approach
Spatial data Sets for Environmental Assessment: Towards Bridging the Data Gap
I Invite You to Know the Earth 1
Integrated Coastal Zone Management - Training Manual
The Oil Crisis in our Oceans Upcoming CEP Sponsored Events

Other Upcoming Events of Interest

Editorial The RCU - 10 Years Old!


Six years after the adoption of the Caribbean Action Plan in Montego Bay in 1981, the Regional Co-ordinating Unit (RCU) of the Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP), officially opened its doors on 11 May 1987. The RCU was established to ensure regional cooperation and coordination in the implementation of the Action Plan, as well as to serve as the regional presence of UNEP for the Secretariat of the Cartagena Convention and its Protocols.

The RCU, which operates under the joint authority of the Monitoring Committee and UNEP, is staffed by nationals recruited from the States and Territories participating in the Programme.

The principal function of the RCU is to provide policy consistency, administrative oversight, technical guidance, and co-ordination to national and international institutions participating in the Action Plan. Another important function of the RCU is to organize the government expert and Intergovernmental Meetings that monitor the Action Plan and make recommendations on its future implementation.

The RCU does not conduct itself research, but rather, it serves as a focus for the collection, review, and dissemination of information on the results of work performed under the aegis of the Action Plan.

In this context, one of the main tasks of the RCU has been to ensure that member Governments of the CEP have access to environmental information related to the management of coastal and marine resources in the Wider Caribbean. This includes information generated inside and outside the region on integrated coastal area management, protected areas and wildlife conservation, education, training and awareness, land-based sources of pollution and data from information systems. A major part of this information is generated by CEP scientific and technical studies co-ordinated by RCU staff and implemented through national and technical focal points, bodies of experts, scientific and academic institutions, regional and sub-regional institutions, and individual consultants.

In reviewing the accomplishments of the RCU through these past 10 years, it is clear that the RCU has been instrumental in providing the States and Territories of the Region with the environmental information required for the sustainable development of their resources. The majority of these are developing countries, many of them are islands heavily dependent on the marine environment and its resources. The RCU has also been successful in developing partnerships with international and governmental donors, such as: the Swedish International Development Authority (Sida), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). More recently the RCU entered into a Memorandum of Co-operation with the Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to assist with the implementation of the CBD through the activities of the Programme.

We believe that the RCU has also been instrumental in assisting Governments to incorporate environmental considerations in the planning and implementation of economic growth by promoting rational use of limited natural resources and the minimization of environmental degradation.

The Secretariat hopes to continue the process and to improve the delivery and effectiveness of the RCU and the Action Plan in the years to come, in order to better serve the Governments of the Wider Caribbean Region.

Among the important goals for the future development of the CEP is to have the adopted SPAW Protocol (Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife) and the soon to be finalized LBSMP Protocol (Land-based Sources of Marine Pollution) entered into force as soon as possible. It is crucial for the future support to the CEP that the States and Territories in the Wider Caribbean Region show that there is a political commitment to care about their common marine environment. A working Cartagena Convention, together with its Protocols, puts demands on actions to be taken in order to implement measures to protect and manage the natural resources of the Wider Caribbean Region. This presents an exciting challenge to the Secretariat to work with and to assist the countries of the Region.

Articles Management of Coastal and Marine Areas in Suriname


The Ministry of Natural Resources in Suriname through the Nature Conservation Division of the Suriname Forest Service has developed a very interesting management plan for the coastal and marine areas of the Commewijne and Marowijne districts. This project activity has been supported by UNEP-CAR/RCU through the IPID project "Development of Pilot Integrated Management Plans for Small Islands and Coastal Areas". Funds have been made available by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida).


The management plan for this Multiple-Use Coastal Management Area (MUMA area) addresses the integration of economic, social, demographic and environmental considerations into overall government policy development and administration.

The coast of Suriname is part of the very dynamic "wild coast" of the Guyanas. The coastal landscape comprises vast tidal mud flats, narrow sand and shell beaches and mangrove swamps. The area of the management plan consists of the shallow sea zone and the estuarine zone of the Commewijne and Marowijne districts between the Suriname river in the west and the border to French Guyana in the east. The estuarine zone comprises a highly productive coastal wetland complex. The shallow sea zone is the area of small scale fisheries, while the estuarine zone consists of former mud flats, which now are covered by different kinds of mangrove forests, coastal lagoons and brackish swamps. Suriname has some of the most impressive mangrove forests in South America.

Within the MUMA area there are four nature reserves including sea turtle nesting beaches, nesting and feeding areas for coastal birds and migratory birds and nursery grounds for shrimp and fish. Within the management area there are also old plantations that are abandoned and overgrown with vegetation as well as areas used for agriculture, husbandry and for development of aquaculture. The people inhabiting the area, mostly farmers and fishermen, live in small villages.

Over the years it has become clear that nature conservation along the very dynamic coast of Suriname is not simply adequate by establishing some nature reserves. To manage coastal areas like those of the Commewijne and Marowijne districts, which have both great natural and economical values, it is necessary to have an integrated approach to the protection and use of the area. The multiple use management area programme/plan is a good example of such an approach, which can also be referred to as an Integrated Coastal Area Management Plan.

Integrated Coastal Zone Planning can be regarded as a continuous process for the integration of environmental and socio-economic concerns into the management plan. Integration also includes interaction, involvement, participation and co-operation. The management plan of the Commewijne and Marowijne districts is a result of such a planning process that tries to integrate environmental and socio-economic concerns into overall policy development and subsequent co-ordinated sectoral decision making.

The management plan, complemented by several maps, addresses environmental conditions and different uses within the MUMA area as well as in relevant drainage basins outside the area. Each ecological and economic zone is briefly characterized. The human activities and their potential are described, the environmental impacts are identified and assessed, and management rules and recommendations are formulated. The administrative and legal matters essential to a co-ordinated implementation of the integrated management plan are presented. Contacts and meetings with the local communities have been organised throughout the planning period in order to strengthen the cohesion among members of the communities. To improve the general level of environmental awareness among the local population, training and education is to be organised in the area of sustainable use of their land and water.

With this management plan, the Government of Suriname has an important and valuable background document for policy development and decision making in line with Agenda 21 and in support of a sustainable development of the Commewijne and Marowijne districts.

If you want to know more about this project and its results, please contact: Mr. Baal/Mr. Muhadin, Ministry of Natural Resources, Suriname Forest Service, Nature Conservation Division. Tel: (1-597) - 47 94 31; Fax: (1-597) - 42 25 55
Cuba and the Hawksbill Turtle

At the forthcoming 10th CITES Conference of Parties (Zimbabwe, June 1997), the Government of Cuba will propose that hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) be transferred from Appendix I to Appendix II. The Cuban proposal explains that this will allow for limited but strictly controlled traditional trade in E. imbricata shell derived from a comprehensive and responsible conservation and management programme. International trade will be restricted to one shipment per year from one Party (Cuba) to another (Japan).

This will include harvest of E. imbricata to a maximum of 500 individuals per year over the next three years, when this limit will be reassessed on the basis of the measured impact of the harvest as revealed by monitoring. Cuba will also organize the immediate export of stocks of shell accumulated since 1992 (6 tonnes) in one shipment to Japan, where equally strict controls are in place, and where no re-export will take place. Additionally, experiments with ranching will continue over the next three years and the shell produced during that time from both ranching and traditional harvest will be shipped once a year to Japan. The proposal explains that a percentage of the resources derived from the sale of the current stockpile will be used to ensure that conservation, management and research programmes are maintained and improved (on the basis of research results) over the next 3 years.

Cuban people have traditionally harvested sea turtles for food since the first recordings in history. The shell of E. imbricata is a valuable by-product, exported since the 1500's. The traditional E. imbricata fishery was expanded significantly in 1968 and increased regulation and conservation and research initiatives were later introduced.

By 1976, the world population of E. imbricata was listed in Appendix I of CITES. The status of E. imbricata in Cuba was not known to the Parties at that time.

In 1990, as part of a fisheries rationalisation programme, Cuba phased down its harvest of sea turtles so that the fishing effort could be diverted primarily to export fisheries. The remaining harvest now represents 10% of previous traditional harvest levels. International trade in E. imbricata shell ceased in 1992.

According to WIDECAST and to sea turtle biologist Dr. J.G. Frazier, hawksbill conservation and exploitation in Cuba is much better controlled and documented than in several other tropical island nations. The proposal to set annual legal exploitation at 500 turtles represents a reduction to 10% of former levels. However, they also agree that there are several issues that leave the "Cuban Proposal" wide open to criticism. They explain that much of the sustained harvest argumentation is scientifically inadequate and based on insufficient information. The main issue of contention is the fact that the proposal overlooks the highly migratory nature of hawksbills throughout the Caribbean and thus the harvest of turtles in Cuba undermines the conservation efforts of other Caribbean States.

According to WIDECAST, in many Caribbean states, especially in the West Indies, hawksbill nesting has been reduced to a few tens per year. Since 1990, several countries (for example Anguilla, Belize, Bonaire, Curacao, Mexico, St. Lucia and soon Barbados) have closed their hawksbill fisheries. Other states (for example USA, Jamaica and the Bahamas) have legally protected hawksbills for many years. In all cases, these actions were taken at the personal expense of people who once depended on the harvest of sea turtles. In an effort to promote consistent conservation goals throughout the Wider Caribbean Region, Parties to the UNEP Cartagena Convention agreed in 1991 to include hawksbills in Annex II of the SPAW Protocol, conferring full protection to the species in recognition of its endangered status throughout the region.

At the moment, the best scientific information does not support the sustained harvesting of long-lived, slow-maturing species such as hawksbills, especially if the harvest is concentrated on the actively reproductive part of the population.

Another fundamental problem involves uncertainty in predicting and even understanding the demographic characteristics, and responses to harvesting, of animals with complex life cycles. Thus, to answer the question of how an annual take of 500 hawksbills of mixed genetic origin will affect recovery efforts in other nations, research should be undertaken to determine the ratio of national stocks foraging in Cuban waters. From this information, the ratio of national stocks comprising the annual sanctioned harvest can be determined, and from that, the estimated effect on the viability of populations in the nations of origin. These questions, which can be answered using well-established techniques, are not academic; they drive to the heart of the issue of the sustainable use of a shared resource. In this context, WIDECAST, as a scientific network, emphasizes that they are not against sustainable use of sea turtles or any other resource. And it is not their position that Cuba be denied access to its hawksbills resource. It is their position that: (1) range states (defined as those states whose nesting population may be depleted because juveniles which would otherwise return to nesting beaches outside Cuba are killed in Cuban territory) have a compelling interest in eliminating Appendix I, protection of hawksbills in Cuban waters, (2) hawksbills should be afforded more not less, protection by national and international law in the Caribbean region, and (3) Cuba should be supported in its desire to seriously investigate whether or not its hawksbill population can sustain ongoing commercial harvest.

Furthermore, WIDECAST suggests that funding agencies, such as the World Bank, should explore the possibility of providing a one-time grant to Cuba, equivalent to the value of the stock-pile of shells with the condition that hawksbills be fully protected in Cuba and that the destruction of the stock-pile be mandatory. WIDECAST wonders if a "debt-for-nature" type of agreement could be developed for Cuba that would encourage the real conservation of the internationally-shared hawksbill resource which depends so heavily on the critical habitat found in Cuba. In return, the cancellation of international debt may assist Cuba financially, and/or a grant (in an amount commensurate with the value of the unsold stock-pile) might be allocated to enhance the livelihood of former turtle fishermen and their communities. So doing, we avoid a CITES debate and return to the real issue - sustainable development in Cuba and the protection of a widely shared marine resource that only the most careless observer would argue does not qualify as being endangered throughout the Wider Caribbean Region.

For more information, please contact: WIDECAST, Secretariat, 17218 Libertad Dr, San Diego, CA 92127, USA. Tel: (1-619) 451 6894; Fax: (1-619) 451 6894


Cuba Curbs Fishing


Decree Law 164, a new national fishing law, was announced by Cuba in July 1996. The legislation classifies fishing zones into those for commercial use and those where recreational fishing will be allowed. Apart from shore fishing, however, all fishing activity, including farming, requires permission of the authorities following a redoubled fishing effort by Cubans when trade links with the former Soviet Union were dissolved and resulted in shortages of basic foodstuffs in Cuba.

While forbidding the capture of certain endangered species like Caribbean manatees (Trichechus manatus) and hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) (both CITES Appendix I), the new law honours the practice of Cubans to fish for their own food: underwater fishing outside zones allocated to the commercial sector is allowed, with the provision that it rely on lung power, without supplementary air supply. Source: Traffic USA


Low Ebb for Olive Ridleys


There have been renewed calls for greater protection of Mexico's beaches following the illegal removal of hundreds of thousands of sea turtle eggs from just one beach in the southwestern state of Oaxaca which, it is alleged, involved the complicity of police officers.

In October 1996, the largest illegal operation on record involved egg trafficking was uncovered when a lorry carrying over 500,000 eggs of Olive Ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) was searched by authorities in Mexico City. Source: Reuters


The 1996 Florida Manatee Die-Off


The U.S. Marine Mammal Commission, in a report to Congress published in early 1997, provides details on the unprecedented manatee die-off in Florida in 1996.

From early March to late April 1996, a number of manatees, variously reported by the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection, died in an epizootic event on the southwest coast of Florida. Mortalities were centered around the estuarine areas of the Caloosahatchee River, northward to Venice, and southward to Marco Island, just south of Naples. Deaths attributed to the epizootic event constituted more than 12 percent of the February 1996 west coast manatee count. These losses, combined with human-related and other mortality since January 1996, brought the known mortality for 1996 to 415 animals. This is the highest annual mortality ever reported and is a level of loss that the population cannot sustain on an annual basis.

After a number of environmental studies and necropsies by a number of institutions and scientists from Sea World, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Services, University of Miami, University of Florida, and others, it was concluded that the death of more than 150 manatees was associated with a red-tide occurrence in south-western Florida.

Histopathological analyses focussed on either an infectious agent, a toxin, or both. There was no indication of any toxic spill in the area. Water samples had been unremarkable, there had not been any association with die-offs of other species even though red tide was present (a point with which others took issue). There was no evidence that the manatee mortality event was directly related to recent mortality events of sea turtles, dolphins, cormorants or catfish. Viral isolation was also done on tissue samples and whole blood. Brain tissue was examined for herbicides and pesticides. Among the carcasses recovered, all animals shared one common finding: lung lesions indicating pneumonia. Most dead animals had been large and otherwise healthy adults. At the same time, a disoriented manatee was reported having trouble swimming, a possible sign of red tide intoxication.

By November 1996, the Marine Mammal Commission presented a review on the event and concluded that in a fairly reasonable period of time and under difficult circumstances, the team had gathered scientifically persuasive evidence that brevetoxin was the cause. The team did a commendable job of incorporating data from various sources into a geographic information system to plot the course of the event and to assess relationships among databases. The response to the die-off was handled primarily by personnel at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection/Florida Marine Research Institute, with the assistance of numerous collaborating institutions and individuals.

Unfortunately, the response team had to proceed without the benefit of a contingency plan that should have been in place for dealing with manatee die-offs. Therefore, the team had to adopt an ad hoc approach to the investigation, and it is remarkable that so many aspects of the response were done as well as they were. Most deficiencies in the die-off response, from first notification, through administration, coordination, and specimen and data collection, can be attributed directly or indirectly to the lack of a contingency plan.

In light of the manatee die-off in the spring, the lessons learnt need to be applied to any future die-offs, and the high levels of human-related manatee deaths. The Commission recommended that a contingency plan for manatee die-offs be developed in early 1997, so that it would be in place should there be another die-off in March or April 1997.

For further information please contact: John R. Twiss Jr., Executive Director, U.S. Marine Mammal Commission, 4340 East-West Highway, Room 905, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.


TED Video Available


"Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs): Safeguarding Shrimp Fisheries and Endangered Sea Turtles" video is now available in English and Spanish, thanks to the Sea Turtle Restoration Project of Earth Island Institute. These videos are available free of charge.

For more information, contact: Todd Steiner, Sea Turtle Restoration Project, Earth Island Institute, P.O. Box 400, Forest Knolls, California 94933, USA; . Fax: (1-415) 488-0372. Please specify English or Spanish.






Colombia, Ecuador added to Embargo on Wild-Harvest Shrimp


The US State Department has dropped Colombia and Ecuador from the list of countries eligible to export wild-harvested shrimp to the United States. In the annual determination on May 1, the Department listed 40 countries as meeting U.S. turtle protection requirements that serve as a condition for exporting shrimp for the U.S. Market.

A State Department official said that Colombia and Ecuador were certified in previous years for having adopted programmes requiring their shrimp boats to use turtle-excluder devices (TEDs), but they were later decertified after U.S. officials observed that they were not enforcing those programmes.

In 1994, U.S. imports of shrimp from Colombia amounted to $29 million and $455 million from Ecuador. Most of the shrimp from Ecuador is raised by aquaculture and not subject to State Department certification.   Environmental Information for the Caribbean Basin

The Center for Marine Conservation (CMC) and the National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution (NMNH) are initiating a programme to increase the availability of information on sustainable development and environmental planning within the Wider Caribbean Region.

The programme will be based on an extensive survey, conducted by correspondence, that will assess the information needs of Caribbean organizations. These will include grassroots groups, academic institutions, and government agencies or institutes charged with the responsibility of managing resources and information in the public interest. An assessment of the needs of Caribbean institutions for general and specific types of information will form the basis for designing and executing a "delivery system" in a subsequent phase of the programme.

The CMC and NMNH request contact information from Caribbean organizations that are interested in participating in the assessment of information needs and in the delivery programme which it will be based upon. This survey will be carried out over the next six months and will examine the accessibility of various forms of information and how the information is being used in universities, research institutes, scientific societies, conservation groups and other organizations. It will seek to identify specific barriers that prevent effective access to information. It also aims to examine the availability and use of electronic information systems and the Caribbean content of such systems. The survey will result in an analysis of information accessibility that will be available to the public and shared with all participants. A preliminary review of the extensive survey will be outlined in a special workshop in association with INFO 97 in Havana, Cuba, in October 1997.

Following this extensive survey, site visits will be carried out to a subset of institutions in response to their requests and subject to limited funds. The visits will be conducted by specialists in information acquisition and management and they will result in reports to the host institutions that will include recommendations for strategic planning in the area of information management. The reports will be designed to provide Caribbean institutions with an objective review that would be of value to the host institutions in their independent fund-raising activities. A regional conference of leaders in environmental information will be held during the following year at the National Museum of Natural History. The Conference will help set the priorities for delivery of information and technology, based on priorities identified through the assessment.

The project organizers are soliciting contact information from parties interested in participating in this process. Please send the name and address of your institution or department, and the name and title of a contact person, to:

Michael Smith, Center for Marine Conservation, 1725 deSales Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20036 USA.

Tel (1-202)429-5609; Fax: (1-202)872-0619; E-mail: msmith@cenmarine.com

CTF Update




As per 31 May 1997, the following countries have so far paid their arrears (or part thereof) to the Caribbean Trust Fund:

Cayman Islands
France
Haiti
Jamaica
Mexico
Montserrat
Panama
Turks & Caicos Islands

The countries that so far have paid the 1997 pledges are:

Cayman Islands (partly paid)
Colombia (partly paid)
France
USA

In addition, Sweden has contributed to the CTF for 1997.

Personnel




Dr. Jacques Mougeot, the former Legal Officer left the office in April after having worked with the Secretariat for 31/2 years. In addition to his legal expertise he embellished the office with his other talents - cooking, party organising and good sense of humour. Jacques will be missed!

Exhibition Coral Reefs: Caribbean Connections


In June 1996, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), a Bureau of the Smithsonian Institution with headquarters in the Republic of Panama, and the University of Panama, co-sponsored the 8^th International Coral Reef Symposium. The Symposium took place in Panama City and gathered more than 1,300 coral reef specialists from 58 countries. As part of the public program of the symposium, STRI scientists and educators have developed a bilingual travelling exhibition that highlights the current situation of coral reefs in the Caribbean and the efforts being made by the community to preserve them.


The Exhibition was developed with the financial support of the Smithsonian Institution, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Fundacion Natura. The Exhibition was also developed as part of the activities to celebrate the Smithsonian Institution's 150^th anniversary.

Nuestros Arrecifes: Unidos por el Caribe/Our Reefs: Caribbean Connections is a bilingual (English and Spanish) exhibition that focuses on Caribbean reefs. It includes samples of coral reef conservation projects from around the world, features basic information about coral reefs and the current threats to their survival and the efforts to preserve and use them in a sustainable manner.



SCHEDULE

May 14 - June 3: Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, D.C.,
June 5 - June 16: World Bank, Washington, D.C.,
June 18 - July 7: Union Station, Washington, D.C.
Third week of July to third week of October: Honduras
Last week of October 1997 to last week of January 1998: Jamaica

Past Events The Fourth International Conference of Remote Sensing for Marine and Coastal Environments Technology and Applications, Orlando, Florida, 17-19 March 1997
The CEP Secretariat was represented at this interesting event which took place in Orlando, Florida. The Conference gathered several hundred participants and exhibitors. A number of technical presentations were made. The sessions on Oil Spills and Marine Pollution, Ecosystems, and Living Resources Information Systems were of great interest to the work of the CEP. It was also interesting to learn about the development of the NOAA CoastWatch Programme. NOAA is currently installing a CoastWatch Regional Node in Miami (at the National Hurricane Center) for the Caribbean. The CoastWatch Programme makes available satellite data products and in-situ data from NOAA environmental buoys. Contact will be maintained with NOAA in Miami for possible collaboration between the CEPNET/IDB Project (see CEPNEWS, Vol. 10, No. 4) and NOAA CoastWatch. Presently, the primary product is sea surface temperature data.

The Conference proceedings are very extensive (2 volumes) and should be a valuable source of information on remote sensing for coastal and marine studies.

More information can be obtained from:

The Environmental Research Institute of Michigan (ERIM), P.O Box 134001, Ann Arbor, MI 48113-4001, USA.

Tel: (1-313)994 1200; Fax: (1-313)994 5123.


First Meeting of Experts on Marine and Coastal Biological Diversity


The meeting was convened by the Secretariat of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) in Jakarta, Indonesia, 7-10 March 1997. Fifteen experts, drawn from the roster of names submitted by countries, on the basis of relevant expertise and regional representation, were invited to take part in the Meeting. Representatives of six international agencies also attended (FAO, IDCR, IOC/UNESCO, UNEP and the World Bank).

The Meeting considered the five thematic areas of the Jakarta Mandate, i.e.: alien species; mariculture; sustainable use of marine and coastal resources; marine and coastal protected areas; and, integrated marine and coastal area management.

The meeting presented conclusions and recommendations on the implementation of marine and coastal biodiversity activities; application of the Precautionary Approach to Biodiversity Impacts; implementation of integrated and coastal area management and other issues such as defining "healthy ecosystem"; regional implementation capacity; open ocean ecosystems; and, eco-labelling. Elements of a three-year workplan were also identified by the Meeting for the thematic areas. The Meeting emphasized the need to co-ordinate activities with relevant global and regional initiatives and to undertake or review those activities to avoid duplication.

For additional information, contact: Ms. Ina Pronoto, Programme Officer, CBD Secretariat, 393 St. Jacques Street, Suite 300, Montreal H2Y 1N9, Quebec, Canada.

Tel: (1-514)228-2220; Fax: (1-514)228-6588; E-Mail: biodiv@mtl.net


NOAA's Florida Environmental Valuation Workshop


The RCU was invited by NOAA to attend the above-mentioned workshop held in Orlando, 14-15 May 1997.

The Workshop was very well attended and included participants from Barbados, Mexico and the USA. The Workshop was organized for managers of coastal and marine resources, planners and environmentalists. It provided a general overview of the existing tools and techniques available to consider economic approaches to environmental issues. Information was provided on techniques such as benefit-cost analysis, cost effectiveness analysis, economic impact analysis, natural resource damage assessment, and sustainable development tools. The differences between use and non-use values were also addressed. The Workshop included a session on the review of case studies. A number of these were of great relevance to CEP, including those on a marine protected area, non-point sources of pollution in a marina, artificial reef management and fisheries management.

It would be useful to develop similar workshops tailored to the needs and conditions of the Wider Caribbean Region.

The manual on "Economic Valuation of Natural Resources" distributed at the Workshop, is available from NOAA's Office of Policy and Strategic Planning.

For further info, contact: Mr. Rodney Weiher, Chief Economist, Office of Policy and Strategic Planning, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce - Room 5811, 14^th & Constitution Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20230, USA; Tel: (1-202) 482-5181; Fax: (1-202) 501-3024.

Employment Opportunities Director for Toxics Policy


The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), an international non-profit organization working worldwide for the conservation of nature, seeks a Director for Toxics Policy within its International Policy Programme. This position is located at WWF-US headquarters in Washington, DC.

The Director for Toxics Policy will have primary responsibility for implementing several major new and existing projects, directing policy aspects of the global Toxics Initiative, and for developing WWF's future work in this area. This position requires an advanced degree in a relevant scientific or policy field and at least ten years of experience related to conflicts and synergies between wildlife and humans, the use of chemicals and/or alternative approaches in various sectors, or in public health. Required expertise includes 1) designing and implementing projects or campaigns that form policy debates and effect policy-level change; 2) conducting policy level research; 3) writing/editing reports; 4) working with multiple stakeholders; 5) communicating effectively with various audiences, including the media, government agencies and foundations; 6) supervising staff and/or consultants; 7) managing a budget.



Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume IMMEDIATELY by mail to: World Wildlife Fund, Human Resources Department, Department 572M, 1250 24^th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037.




UNEP posts in the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)


The CBD Secretariat recently announced a number of positions to be filled, which include:

Economist, Programme Officers, Legal Officer and others. More information can be found on the CBD home page at: http://www.biodiv.org - click on Secretariat and the Vacancy Announcements or go directly to:

http://www.biodiv.org/press/vaca97-1.html

The deadline for applications are 7 July 1997.

Contact: CBD Secretariat, World Trade Centre, 393 St Jacques Street, Office 300, Montréal, Québec, Canada H2Y 1N9. Tel: +1-514-288-2220; Fax: +1-514-288-6588; Email: biodiv@mtl.net

Training Opportunities

Masters Course in Environmentally Sustainable Development



The Development Planning Unit has been conducting courses in urban and regional planning and management for the past 25 years and in any one year has hosted students from some 30 countries; they also organize courses and advise training institutions in developing countries.

Their environmental programme was initiated in the early 1980s, at first introducing environmental issues into existing courses and later organizing a series of short courses in aspects of environmental management, including environmental auditing. Since the end of the 1980s, however, and with increased urgency since the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the concern for 'environment' has shifted to a concern for 'sustainable development': environment can no longer be considered as an add-on to the economic development process but rather the development process must take environmental - and social - considerations into consideration from the outset. The adoption of 'Agenda 21' at UNCED, and the subsequent development of procedures and practices to implement this - particularly at the local level through 'Local Agenda 21' processes - is providing a basis for sustainable forms of development. Further impetus was given to this at the Habitat Conference, held in Istanbul in 1996.

The Development Planning Unit offers a Masters course specifically to train government officers, staff of non-government agencies, academic staff and graduate students in sustainable development. The course is designed to give a thorough grounding in the theoretical background to sustainable development and to provide a practical basis for action which participants can take when they return to their countries. The course compares and contrasts the problems faced by industrialized as well as developing countries, and emphasizes what can be done in a practical way particularly at the regional and local level, within the general framework of 'Local Agenda 21'.

For more info, please contact: Dr. Adrian Atkinson, Development Planning Unit, University College London, 9 Endsleigh Gardens, London WC1H OED Tel: (44-170) 388 7581; Fax: (44-171) 387 4541; E-mail: dpu@ucl.ac.uk

Rural Training Initiative


A new training initiative will be launched at the University of Aberdeen later this year.

Postgraduate students taking the MSc Course in Rural and Regional Resources Planning (one of the UK's oldest nationally and internationally recognized rural training programmes) will be offered two new options as of September - Rural Environmental Management and European Rural Development.

The former option focuses on natural resource planning in the rural context, and is designed to produce professionals capable of articulating and implementing more environmentally sustainable forms of rural living in the face of increasing demands on the natural resource base.

Aberdeen and North-east Scotland are among the strongest areas in Europe for environmental and rural research, training and consultancy, with more than 3,500 scientists working in that field.

For more information on the course, contact: Professor Brian Clark, Tel: (44-1224) 272353 or Alison Ramsay, Tel: (44-1224) 273778


Belize: Glover's Reef Marine Research Station


Glover's Reef Atoll and Marine Reserve is located approximately 50 km off the coast of central Belize. It is considered the most pristine and important coral reef site in the Caribbean. Due to its isolation, there is little direct influence from coastal sedimentation or pollution, making the reef one of the best sites in the world to conduct coral reef research. Consequently, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), in co-operation with the Government of Belize, has established a permanent research station at Middle Cay located on Glover's Reef.

WCS invites scientists and students interested in using this facility to contact: Glover's Reef Research Station, P.O. Box 2310, Belize City, Belize; Tel: (501) 2 33855; Fax: (501) 2 31963; E-mail: jpowell@btl.net or jcarter@mailbox.une.edu


Postgraduate Water Studies


An international symposium, Water 97 - Transnational Issues (June 97) will launch the Centre's postgraduate programme in Water Studies. Multi-disciplinary courses in water law, policy and management will be offered at the CPMLP, University of Dundee in October 97. Programmes at the LLM, MSc, MBA, and PhD levels will be available in the areas of law, economics, engineering, environmental studies, hydrology and business. In keeping with the Centre's motto, "Academic Excellence, Professional Relevance", the courses should be of interest to academics, practitioners and policy-makers.

For further information, please contact: Executive Director, Professor Thomas W.` Walde, Professor of International Investment, Petroleum & Mineral Law, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 4HN, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Tel: (+44-1382)344300; Fax: (44-1382)322578;

E-mail cpmlp@dundee.ac.uk

Home page: http://www.dundee.ac.uk/petroleumlaw/


Environmental Impact Assessment


This is a practical three-day course for preparers and reviewers of environmental assessments and/or environmental impact statements, 21-23 July, 1997, at Holiday Inn - Dallas/Ft. Worth, Airport South, (4440 West Airport Freeway, Irving, Texas 75062). The course is planned for practioners from governmental agencies, consulting firms and private enterprise. It will offer an interdisciplinary perspective, thus individuals from a wide range of backgrounds will benefit.

Contact: Environmental Impact Training, P.O. Box 2301, Norman, OK 73070-2301; Fax: (1-405) 321-2730;


EPOMEX, Mexico

Pollution and Environmental Impact in Tropical Coasts, 7-19 July 1997

The tropical coastal zones represent one of the priorities of many countries, not only for the good values and services which it gives to the society, but also for the impact of serious problems. The course provides the students with technical elements, theory and methodology, for the analysis, evaluation and management of the principal problems of pollution and environmental impact in tropical coastal zones. The course is divided into three modules: Ecology of the Coastal Zone, Pollution, Evaluation of Environmental Impact.

Remote Sensors and GIS applied to Coastal Ecosystems, 21 July - 2 August 1997

Dynamics and Evaluation of Fishing Resources, 18-30 August 1997

Contact: Centro EPOMEX - UAC, Av. Agustin Melgar and Juan de la Barrera s/n, Apartado Postal 520, Campeche 24030, Campeche, Mexico; Tel: (52-981) 116 00; Fax: (52-981) 659 54.

Publications Available Global Environment Outlook For Life On Earth, UNEP, 1997

This first issue of the biennial Global Environment Outlook (GEO) is a snapshot of an ongoing world-wide environmental assessment process. It was initiated in response to the environmental reporting requirements of Agenda 21 and to a UNEP Governing Council Decision of May 1995, which requested production of the first in a new, comprehensive State of the Environment Report series in time for the next UNEP Governing Council in January 1997. The decision recognized the need to advance consensus on several essential environmental issues and on the implementation of the recommendations of Agenda 21.

This groundbreaking report presents information on the state of the global environment. It indicates that world-wide, profound changes continue to occur in social, institutional and economic systems. It reports on the continued impoverishment of large parts of the global population. It points to the increased disparities both within and among nations. It describes the environmental implications of rapid globalization, particularly through developments in information technology, transport and trade regimes. It shows us that significant progress has been made in confronting environmental challenges at the local, national, and regional level. In the end, GEO-1 concludes that during the past decade, the environment has continued to degrade and significant problems still persist.

If there is one conclusion to be drawn from GEO-1, it is that despite progress, the pace at which the world is moving toward a sustainable future is simply too slow. Internationally and nationally, funding and political will and dedication are insufficient. We know that the knowledge and technological base to solve the most pressing environmental issues are available. However, the sense of urgency of the early 1990s is lacking.

By reporting on the state of the environment through its GEO series, UNEP is providing the world with an essential tool to speed up the pace of our environmental action, to set priorities, to provide an early warning system, and to support informed decision-making at all levels of society.

Since the Rio Conference in 1992, UNEP has broadened its scientific focus to better address the information requirements of international environmental policy setting and to help bridge the gap between scientific understanding and the actions of the society. The GEO series places high priority on reflecting regional perceptions and realities, while at the same time reporting on the status of the global environment.

GEO-1 is designed to build consensus on critical environmental issues, setting priorities among the plethora of environmental concerns, and identifying issues that the international community needs to address. GEO-1 addresses regional policy responses and explores the possible future state of the global environment, using a scenario of the future in which no major policy or structural changes would be implemented - an unlikely scenario indeed, and one which, we hope, the GEO report will help to divert.

In a single volume, and with a production time of slightly more than one year, not every environmental issue in every region can be covered in great detail. GEO-1, thus, should not be read as a comprehensive work on the state of the environment in a specific region. Rather, it should give the reader - whether a policy-maker, a corporate leader, a student, an activist, or an interested citizen, a 'feel' for the environmental concerns of priority in each region. This will give direction for possible environmental response strategies to address the overall concerns in each region and the overall health of the planet.

For more information, contact: United Nations Environment Programme, P.O. Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya; Tel: (1-254) 262 1234; Fax: (1-245) 222 6890


Land, Sea and Human Effort in the Caribbean Proceedings of the 28^th International Geographical Congress, Symposium "The Caribbean basin", The Hague, August 7-8, 1996


This publication is a compilation of ten (out of thirteen) papers presented at the IGU-Symposium on the Caribbean Basin. It covers articles on sustainable development in the Caribbean, tourism and agriculture as well as urban development issues.

For more information, please contact: Dr. Beate M.W. Ratter, University of Hamburg, Institut für Geographie, Bundesstrasse 55, D-20146 Hamburg, Germany. Tel: (49-40) 4123 5211; Fax: (49-40) 4123 4967.


The Diversity of the Seas: a regional approach WCMC Biodiversity Series No. 4, UK, 1996
This report has its origin in a compilation of country-level coastal and marine biodiversity data prepared under contract to UNEP in 1995. The structure of the material was revised in late 1995 to give an overview of biodiversity in sea areas covered by the UNEP Regional Seas Programme (of which the Caribbean Environment Programme is part). New information was added in 1996, and additional support to allow the document to be completed in its present format was provided by IUCN, the UK Joint Nature Conservation Committee and WCMC.

Available from: IUCN Publications Services Unit, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0DL, UK. Tel: (44-1223) 277314; Fax: (44-1223) 277136; E-mail: info@wcmc.org.uk


Spatial data Sets for Environmental Assessment: Towards Bridging the Data Gap Environmental Information and Assessment Technical Report: UNEP/DEIA/TR.97-4, 1997
The document includes examples of recently developed, global and continental topographic, drainage basin, land cover and population data for analysing environment and developmental interactions. Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) images are used for mapping vegetation conditions and land cover classes over large areas. Within each geographic region, sample Landsat satellite images depicting a wide range of themes, have been selected to demonstrate how they can be utilized in environmental assessment. All of the data used are in the public domain and available to those who wish to use them. While most of the data sets are available at no charge, others are available at the cost of reproduction.

For further information, please contact: Dr. Ashbindu Singh, UNEP, EROS Data Center, Sioux Falls, SD 57198, USA. Tel: (1-605)594 6117; Fax: (1-605)594 6119; E-mail: grid@grid1.cr.usgs.gov; Home page: http://grid2.cr.usgs.gov
I Invite You to Know the Earth 1
This textbook is written for children 7 to 9 years of age who have progressed beyond the initial stage of learning to read and write. It includes a teacher's guidebook and textbook filled with exercises particularly related to tsunamis and earthquakes. With the help of Tommy Tsunami, the books give the pupils an understanding of these natural phenomena as well as knowledge on what to do when they occur.

The text guide for the Preparatory School teacher is composed of objectives planned by behavior and content, as well as several suggestions for activities focussed on helping to accomplish those objectives. A list of materials necessary to carry out such activities is also provided.

For more information, contact: Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), 1 rue Miollis, 75732 Paris Cedex 15, France. Fax: (33-1) 4568 5812.


Integrated Coastal Zone Management - Training Manual EAS/RCU Technical Reports Series No. 12 - UNEP, Bangkok, 1996


Pursuant to the obligations imposed on coastal States for the protection and sustainable development of the marine and coastal environment and the call of Agenda 21 to co-operate with coastal States in their capacity-building efforts, UNEP has encouraged the development of this report which consists of seven training modules in integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) to be used by States in the East Asian Seas region.

The modules are designed to be used by trainers throughout the region, but the report should also be of great interest to ICZM personnel in other parts of the world. Materials for specific training tasks can be selected from the training manual and adapted for use in the local context. The material is also designed to allow for wider usage: to address stake-holders at all levels, from the local community, to top policy decision-makers in the region.

These modules are the result of an urgent programme of work by a number of coastal management specialists with experience in South East Asia. Their development began with a workshop held in Bali, Indonesia, in late 1994 at which a range of specialists presented their proposals on the training materials to meet the priority needs of South East Asia. On the basis of the discussions at this workshop, individual specialists then developed training modules which were subsequently edited by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) and the UNEP Regional Co-ordinating Unit for the East Asian Seas Action Plan (EAS/RCU) to produce a consistent package of modules.

Some modules may be taught over an extensive, two-week period while others may be offered as a series over an extensive period of time or packaged as remote learning, self-administered materials. It may take a year or more for a student to complete all the modules presented.

The material has been prepared to reflect the best contemporary understanding of integrated coastal zone management in 1995. Users will develop their own materials including translation into local language, incorporation of local examples and topics not covered in the modules.

For copies of this publication, contact: UNEP - Regional Coordinating Centre for the East Asian Seas Action Plan (RCU/EAS), 10^th Floor, UN Building, Rajadamnern Avenue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand; Tel: (66-2) 281 2428; Fax: (66-2) 267 8008


The Oil Crisis in our Oceans


On January 7, 1994, the barge tank "Morris J. Berman" ran aground on a reef off the coast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, spilling 798 gallons of No. 6 diesel fuel into Caribbean tropical waters. The accident was the result of a series of preventable man-made mistakes and poor judgement.

"Oil Crisis in Our Oceans" is the result of a nearly three-year quest for answers to why the spill happened, and how future spills can be prevented. The author, a part-time resident of Puerto Rico, analyzed voluminous data and interviewed almost 100 individuals in the industry: marine biologists, USGC staff, local volunteers, NGOs, IMO authorities, insurance experts and government agency lawyers. The book examines what oil spills do to our coral reefs, the impacts of man on our oceans, and the status of coral reefs worldwide.

The above mentioned can be ordered from: Tageh Press, P.O. Box 401, Glenwood Springs, CO 81602, USA. Tel: (800) 468-2434; E-mail: tageh@rof.net

Upcoming CEP Sponsored Events

Convention to Negotiate a Final Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-based Sources and Activities, tentatively scheduled for February 1998 in Kingston, Jamaica

For more information, please contact: UNEP CAR/RCU, 14-20 Port Royal Street, Kingston, Jamaica; Phone: (1-809) 922-9267 to 9; Fax: (1-809) 922-9292; E-mail: uneprcuja@toj.com

Other Upcoming Events of Interest


United Nations, Earth Summit +5, Special Session of the General Assembly to Review and Appraise the Implementation of Agenda 21, 23-27 June 1997, New York, U.S.A.

It was agreed at the Earth Summit that the implementation of Agenda 21, over a five-year period, would be reviewed during a Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The special session will evaluate how well countries, international organizations and society have responded to the challenge of the Earth Summit. "Earth Summit +5" will involve heads of State and Government policy-makers in broad-based consultations at all levels, from the local to the international, to undertake a comprehensive and honest assessment of where we stand in realizing the goals set out at the Earth Summit. Its purpose is to identify and recognize the positive achievements in implementing the Earth Summit agreements and to promote their replication throughout the world. It will also seek to pinpoint shortcomings and failures and suggest corrective action. The review will further the global partnership needed to achieve sustainable development and will strive to renew the commitment of governments, non-governmental organizations, major group representatives and citizens-at-large, to the challenges of the next century. An important aim is to identify the priorities and objectives and outline a workplan for the next phase of Earth Summit implementation, leading into the twenty-first century.

For further information contact: Division for Sustainable Development, Department for Policy co-ordination and sustainable DevelopmentNew York, NY, 10017, U.S.A; Tel: (1-212) 963-0902; FaxL 1-212) 963-4260; E-mail: dpcsd@un.org; Web Address: http:\\www.un.org\dpcsd or Development and Human rights Section, Department of Public Information, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, U.S.A; Tel: (1-212) 963-3771; Fax: (1-212) 963-1186; E-mail: vasic@un.org



Seminar and Workshop on Integrated Water Resource Management in the Caribbean: Institutional and Policy Reforms, 24-27 June 1997, the Holiday Inn, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

Contact: United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean Council for Science and Technology; P.O. Box 1113, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago; Tel: (1-809) 623-5595; Fax: (1-809) 623-8485; E-mail: ccst@eclaops.undp.org



Earth-Ocean-Atmosphere: Forces for Change, 1 -9 July 1997, Melbourne, Australia.

This conference aims to reflect the present challenge facing the world's scientific community to respond to the pressure to provide relevant knowledge and solutions to a public that is increasingly concerned with the changes in their natural environment. No further details on conference topics are available at present.

Contact: IAMAS/IAPSO Secretariat, Convention Network, 224 Rouse Street, Port Melbourne, Victoria 3207, Australia; Fax: (61-3) 96467737.



The Third SPREP Climate Change & Sea Level Rise Conference will be held 18-22 August 1997 in Noumea, New Caledonia.

Presenters may submit an executive summary (no less than half an A4 page) prior to 30 June 1997, with full paper by 31 July 1997.

Contact: Dr. Chalapan Kaluwin or Mr. Penehuro Lefale, SPREP, P.O. Box 240, Apia, western Samao; Tel: 685-21-929; Fax: 685-20-231; E-mail: niaawen@talofa.net



The Second International Exhibition of Environmental Technology, Enviro-Pro Brazil 97, 26-29 August 1997, Expo Centre Norte, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Contact: Lanette Vaston or Shane Poblete, E.J. Krause & Associates, Inc., 7315 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 450 North, Bethesda, MD 20814, Tel: (1-301) 986-7800; Fax: (1-301) 986-4538.



International Geographic Union Regional Conference: The Atlantic - Past, Present and Future, 30 August - 2 September 1997, Lisbon, Portugal.

Contact: Prof. Dra. Carminda Cavaco, Centro de Estudos Geograficos (CEG), Faculdad de Letras, Alameda da Universidade, 1699 Lisboa Dodex, Portugal. Tel: (351-1) 796 5469; Fax: (351-1) 793 690; E-mail: ceg@mail.telepac.pt



5^th International Carbon Dioxide Conference, 8-12 September 1997, Cairns, Australia.

Theme of the Conference is recent advances in determining the global budget of carbon. The two key processes of interest are exchanges of carbon between atmosphere, oceans and terrestrial reservoirs and carbon dioxide cycling in the ocean.

Contact: Carbon Dioxide Conference Secretariat, CSIRO Division of Atmospheric Research, Provate Bag 1, Aspendale, victoria 3195, Australia; Fax: (613) 92394444; E-mail: 97c02@dar.csiro.au



Parliamentary Conference of the Americas - Towards the Americas of the Year 2005: Democracy, Development and Prosperity, 18-22 September 1997, Quebec, Quebec City

Contact: Secretariat de la Conference Parlementaire des Ameriques Assemblee Nationale, 1025, rue des Parlementaires Bureau RC 12, Quebec, G1A 1A3; Tel: (1-418) 643-7391; Fax: (1-418) 643-1865; E-mail: copa/padm/rp@assnat.qc.ca Home page: http://www.assnat.qc.ca/copa



Global Change Science in the Coastal Zone, 10-13 October 1997, Noorwijkerhout, The Netherlands.

The third conference in the LOICZ Open Science Meeting series intends to provide a forum for review of on-going and planned LOICZ science to identify methods for integrating science into models for global analysis. Topics include: integration of socio-economic and natural sciences; biogeochemical studies; and, fluxes of water and materials across the continental shelf.

Contact: LOICZ Core Project Office, Netherlands Institute for sea Research, P.O. Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg-Texel, The Netherlands; Fax: 31-222-369430; E-mail: loicz@nioz.nl



XI World Forestry Congress, 13-22 October 1997, Antalaya, Turkey.

Contact: Mesut Y. Kamiloglu, Secretary General, OGM Gazi Tesisleri, 1'Nolu Bina, Kongre Salonu, 06560 Gazi, Tturkey; Tel: (90) 312-212-4965; Fax: (901) 312-212-8482;

E-Mail: obdi-f@seervis.net.tr



ECOSUD 97: Ecosystems and Sustainable Development, 14-16 October 1997, Peñiscola, Spain.

Contact: Liz Kerr, ECOSUD 97, Wessex Institute of Technology, Ashurst Lodge, Ashurst, Southampton, SO40 7AA, UK. Fax: (44-1703) 292853; E-mail: liz@wessex.witcmi.ac.uk



Symposium on Climate Variability, Climate Change and Water Resource Management, 26-29 October 1997, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA.

Contact: Betty Neal, Hagler Bailly Services Inc., PO Box 3524, Eagle, CO 81631, USA.

Home page: http://civil.colorado.edu/climate



Workshop on Revenue Generation for Protected Areas, 27-31 October 1997, CANARI, St. Lucia.

National Parks and other protected areas are important tools for the conservation of critical natural and cultural resources, and the promotion of sustainable development in rural and coastal areas. While their numbers have increased rapidly in recent years, many of the protected areas in the insular Caribbean are in crisis due to inadequate financing. Financial requirements often are not considered or are underestimated when parks are established, or support gradually diminishes as scarce funds are reallocated for other purposes. There are a few countries in the region, however, where careful planning, combined with public/private sector partnerships, have resulted in protected areas which are financially self-sufficient and well managed. This workshop will examine some of those successes, and assist participants in translating the lessons learned into workable funding strategies for their own countries or protected areas.

Contact: CANARI, Clarke Street, Vieux Fort, St. Lucia; Tel: (1-758) 454-6060; Fax: (1-758) 454-5188; E-mail: canari@isis.org.lc or 1113 Strand Street, Christiansted, St. Croix, U.s. Virgin Islands 00820; Tel: (1-809) 773-9854; Fax: (1-809) 773-5770; E-mail: ac6636@virgin.usvi.net



International Expert Meeting on Environmental Practices in Offshore Oil and Gas Activities, 17-20 November 1997, Noordwijk, Netherlands

The Expert Meeting is a follow-up to the Fourth Meeting of the Commission on Sustainable Development (1996), which concluded "to encourage relevant and competent international and regional bodies to make available appropriate inputs to expert meetings to be held in the Netherlands on offshore oil and gas activities, in which national and regional experiences could be exchanged". The Netherlands and Brazil (where regional meetings recently took place on this subject), were invited to make available to Commission members and other interested States, the outcome of these expert meetings. The Meeting will be conducted in English only.

Contact: Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management, North Sea Directorate, Mr. Aart Tacoma, P.O. Box 5807, 2208 HV RIJSWIJK, The Netherlands; Tel: +31 70 3366600; Fax: +31 70 3900691;

E-mail: a.tacoma@dnz.rws.minvenw.n .



2^nd International Workshop on Geoecological Land Planning, 17-22 November 1997, Havana, Cuba.

Deadline for abstracts: 31 July, 1997.

Contact: Dr. Eduardo Salinas Chavez, Geography Faculty, University of Havana, Zona 6 Alamar, CP 12500, La Habana, Cuba. Tel: (537) 651304/65105/652221; Fax: (537) 652221;

E-mail geo@fgeo.uh.cu



Third Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1-12 December 1997, Kyoto, Japan.

The aim of COP-3 is to adopt the draft negotiating text for international agreement which will commit developed countries to cutting their emissions of greenhouse gases. Discussion and debate on national communications on greenhouse gas inventories and the pilot phase of activities implemented jointly will continue.

Contact: UNFCCC Secretariat, P.O. Box 260 124, D-53153 Bonn, Germany; Fax: 49-228-8151999;

E-mail: secretariat@unfccc.de.



Third Congress of the Conservation of Caribbean Biodiversity, 14-17 January 1998, Santo Domingo.

Deadline for abstracts: 30 Oct. 1997. Cost of participation US$50.00.

Contact: Felicita Heredia L, Lourdes Rojas, Beatriz Rola y Julia M. Mota,, Department of Biology, Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo R.D; Tel: (1-809) 686-3348; Fax: (1-809) 533-1106 (UASD) and (1-809) 687-5766 (PRONATURA).



International Conference on the Use of Pesticides in Developing Countries, 23 February 1998 - 1 March 1998, San Jose, Costa Rica.

The objective for the Conference is to discuss information regarding pesticides: their impact on the environment, health, economic aspects and regulation, policies and clean technology in developing countries.

Contact: M.Sc. Yamileth Astorga, PPUNA, Universidad Nacional, AA.P. 86-3000, Heredia, Costa Rica.. Tel: (1-506) 277-3584; Fax: (1-506) 277-3583; E-Mail: ppuna@irazu.una.ac.cr