This database was created and is maintained by UNEP-WCMC with financial support from the European Commission and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee of the United Kingdom.
It contains nomenclatural, distribution and legal data on CITES-listed species.
This information resource is a result of long-term collaboration between countless individual scientists worldwide and many organizations whose contribution is gratefully acknowledged.
Resource Type: Tools / ApplicationsCoastal and freshwater ecosystems are deteriorating in many areas and at a faster rate than any other ecosystem. Such changes are caused by intertwined factors, making it difficult to identify the problems early on. While progress in integrating these various factors in managing water and ecosystems has been made in some places, the majority of the world and its inhabitants increasingly suffers from a lack of priority given to environmental protection.
Resource Type: ReportsThe CITES Trade Database, managed by UNEP-WCMC on behalf of the CITES Secretariat, is a unique resource that holds over 11 million records of trade in wildlife and over 50,000 scientific names of taxa listed by CITES. Contracting Parties provide annual reports to the CITES Secretariat including full details of all export and import permits and certificates issued during the previous year. More than 850,000 records of trade in CITES-listed species of wildlife are reported annually.
Resource Type: Tools / ApplicationsDatasets Available from UNEP-WCMC: Excluding WDPA
Access to UNEP-WCMC datasets is provided on the understanding that you read and consent to be bound by the Terms and Conditions attached. For the purposes of this Agreement the “Data” comprise any of the spatial data and associated attribute data downloadable from the UNEP-WCMC website, excluding the World Database on Protected Areas.
This dataset shows the location of tropical montane cloud forest sites as recorded in a worldwide inventory compiled by UNEP-WCMC and published in "A Global Directory of Tropical Montane Cloud Forests", Aldrich et al., 1997. This inventory was compiled from literature searches and correspondence with regional experts, and contains a total of 529 sites. The central location for each site is recorded but does not identify the great variability in their size, which ranges from 50 hectares to hundreds of square kilometres.
Datasets Available from UNEP-WCMC: Excluding WDPA
Access to UNEP-WCMC datasets is provided on the understanding that you read and consent to be bound by the Terms and Conditions attached. For the purposes of this Agreement the “Data” comprise any of the spatial data and associated attribute data downloadable from the UNEP-WCMC website, excluding the World Database on Protected Areas.
The Global Marine Turtle Nesting database provides the distribution of
marine turtles. Information was obtained from published and unpublished
literature, and through liaison with turtle fieldworkers. It was intended that
the database would be of use to a wide audience, including biologists,
coastal planners and those concerned with emergency response to oil spills.
The marine turtles database of nesting and feeding sites was developed by
UNEP-WCMC over a number of years and contains source information from
1949 to 1993. This dataset is no longer being maintained and must be used
With caution.
Datasets Available from UNEP-WCMC: Excluding WDPA
Access to UNEP-WCMC datasets is provided on the understanding that you read and consent to be bound by the Terms and Conditions attached. For the purposes of this Agreement the “Data” comprise any of the spatial data and associated attribute data downloadable from the UNEP-WCMC website, excluding the World Database on Protected Areas.
This map is a simplified representation of the eight Biogeographical Realms of the world. This global map provides a useful general framework for conducting biogeographical or macroecological research. The realms are based originally on ecoregion delineations on hundreds of previous biogeographical studies, and refined and synthesized existing information in regional workshops over 10 years to assemble the global dataset. Ecoregions were then nested within two higher-order classifications to produce biomes (14) and biogeographic realms (8). Together, these nested classification levels provide a framework for comparison among units and the identification of representative habitats and species assemblages.
Resource Type: Spatial Data / MapsThis innovative tool provides users with initial estimates of embedded carbon within an identified spatial area such as a protected area or any user-defined polygon drawn on a global map.
Resource Type: Tools / ApplicationsDatasets Available from UNEP-WCMC: Excluding WDPA
Access to UNEP-WCMC datasets is provided on the understanding that you read and consent to be bound by the Terms and Conditions attached. For the purposes of this Agreement the “Data” comprise any of the spatial data and associated attribute data downloadable from the UNEP-WCMC website, excluding the World Database on Protected Areas.
The Global Marine Turtle Nesting and Feeding Sites database provides the distribution of marine turtles. Information was obtained from published and unpublished literature, and through liaison with turtle fieldworkers. It was intended that the database would be of use to a wide audience, including biologists, coastal planners and those concerned with emergency response to oil spills.
The marine turtles database of nesting and feeding sites was developed by UNEP-WCMC over a number of years and contains source information from 1949 to 1993.
This dataset is no longer being maintained and must be used with caution.
Recent climate talks in Bali have made progress toward action on deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, within the anticipated post-Kyoto emissions reduction agreements. As a result of such action, many forests will be better protected, but some land-use change will be displaced to other locations. The demonstration phase launched at Bali offers an opportunity to examine potential outcomes for biodiversity and ecosystem services. Research will be needed into selection of priority areas for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation to deliver multiple benefits, on-the-ground methods to best ensure these benefits, and minimization of displaced land-use change into nontarget countries and ecosystems, including through revised conservation investments.
Resource Type: Journal PapersThe CITES Trade Data Dashboards are a new, interactive and dynamic way of viewing the trade data submitted by CITES Parties in their annual reports to the Convention. The Global dashboard displays global trade trends (e.g. global trade in live reptiles), whereas the National dashboard shows information by country. The dashboards have been developed by UNEP-WCMC on behalf of the CITES Secretariat.
Resource Type: Tools / Applications©2013 UNEP All rights reserved