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  Global Marine Assessments: A survey of global and regional assessments and related scientific activities of the marine environment »

  In 2003, UNEP and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO published 'A survey of global and regional marine environmental assessments and related scientific activities' in response to the call of the UN General Assembly (Resolution 57/141) and the Heads of States and Governments at the World Summit on Sustainable Development to establish a regular process for the global reporting and assessment of the state of the marine environment. Today, the urgency to understand the state and functioning of our oceans is even greater than ever. In December 2006, the 61st session of the United nations General Assembly adopted a new resolution (A/RES/61/222) on Oceans and the Law of the Sea, renewing the commitment of Member Stats to support the implementation of the start-up phase: the Assessment of Assessments of the Regular Process.

  Resource Type: Reports
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  Safeguarding and enhancing the ecosystem-derived benefits of REDD+ »

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  Ecosystems and Human Wellbeing: A Manual for Assessment Practitioners »

  This Manual makes the methods of the MA and associated sub-global (local and regional) assessments widely accessible. While the MA is the most comprehensive assessment of ecosystems carried out to date, there are other related assessment processes such as Global Environment Outlook (GEO), Global International Waters Assessment (GIWA), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands (LADA), International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) and World Water Assessment. Lessons learned from these assessments supplement the best practice of ecosystem assessment identified through the MA. The publication of this Manual aims to encourage more assessments at scales which are relevant to policy and decision makers.
   

  Resource Type: Reports
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  Protected areas: an effective tool to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries? »

  Successful implementation of REDD is likely to require the reduction of deforestation rates on a national scale. Designation of new protected areas and strengthening of the current protected area network could form one strategy for achieving this. This review aims to inform the debate through an assessment of the effects of forest designation and management on deforestation rates, and through consideration of the design and management-related factors that influence protected area effectiveness in reducing deforestation. The evidence suggests that protected areas are an effective tool for reducing deforestation within their boundaries. The extent to which this deforestation is displaced to surrounding areas is unclear. Protected areas designated under the more restrictive IUCN categories (I-II) seem to be more effective than those that may include a focus on sustainable use (V-VI). However, there are only a small number of studies on deforestation within category V-VI protected areas.

  Resource Type: Reports
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  Global Biodiversity Outlook-3 »

  The third edition of Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO-3) summarizes the latest data on status and trends of biodiversity and draws conclusions for the future strategy of the Convention. GBO-3 is based on a range of information sources, including National Reports, biodiversity indicators information, scientific literature, and a study assessing biodiversity scenarios for the future.

  Resource Type: Reports
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  The impacts of biofuel production on biodiversity: A review of the current literature »

  This report reviews the current state of knowledge on the biodiversity impacts (both positive and negative) of biofuel production, with an emphasis on the potential influence of current and future government policies. Although the focus is primarily on first generation biofuels, second and third generation biofuels are also discussed. The potential for sustainability criteria to ameliorate biodiversity impacts is also assessed.

  Resource Type: Reports
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  UN-REDD Workshop Identifying and Promoting the Ecosystem Co-Benefits from REDD+ »

  A UN-REDD workshop on ‘Identifying and promoting ecosystem co-benefits from REDD+’ was held from 27th-29th April 2010 in Cambridge, UK, convened by UNEP-WCMC. Forty-four people participated in the workshop, including representatives from five UN-REDD pilot countries, one observer country, and a number of different institutions, agencies and NGOs.

  Resource Type: Reports
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  The Environmental Food Crisis: The Environment's Role in Averting Future Food Crises (2009) »

  A new rapid response assessment report released by UNEP warns that up to 25% of the world's food production may become lost due to environmental breakdown by 2050 unless action is taken. Prepared by the Rapid Response Assessment Team at UNEP/GRID-Arendal and UNEP-WCMC, the report provides the first summary by the UN of how climate change, water stress, invasive pests and land degradation may impact world food security, food prices and life on the planet and how we may be able to feed the world in a more sustainable manner. The report concludes that we need to get smart and more creative about recycling food wastes and fish discards into animal feed. While major efforts have gone into increasing efficiency in the traditional energy sector, food energy efficiency has received too little attention.
   

  Resource Type: Reports
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  1997 United Nations List of Protected Areas »

  The United Nations List of Protected Areas is an essential reference document for all who want to understand the progress made in responding to the challenges of biodiversity loss and other environmental threats around the world. It is a record of extraordinary human achievement over 125 years - a commitment by nations, peoples, groups and individuals to safeguard areas of land and sea from destruction. Protected areas represent human ideals at their best - they express a long term vision and a broad sense of responsibility towards people and nature.

  This version of the list is the twelfth in a series, each recording steady expansion in the total area protected. There are now some 12,754 areas in the UN List, covering almost 8% of the land surface of the world (a far smaller proportion of the oceans is protected). Compared to the previous, 1993 edition of the of the UN List, this report includes 2,933 more sites covering 3.9 million more square kilometres. At the end of the century it can be said that practically every country has protected areas; some have a very sophisticated network of sites.

  Resource Type: Reports
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  UNEP-WCMC 2010-2013 »

  UNEP-WCMC responds to UNEP’s Medium Term Strategy as well as mandates derived from UNEP’s Governing Council and the decisions of biodiversity-related Multilateral Environmental Agreements. UNEP works to a Programme of Work that spans a four year period and this document is designed to give colleagues and partners an insight into the approach that UNEP-WCMC will take through the period 2010 – 2013. This is a seminal period for biodiversity spanning the International Year of Biodiversity, in which our 30th anniversary coincidentally falls, and which is likely to result in the creation of an International Panel for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in which we are ready to play a major supporting role.

  L’UNEP-WCMC répond à la Stratégie à moyen terme du PNUE ainsi qu’aux mandats provenant du Conseil d’Administration du PNUE et des décisions issues des Accords Multilatéraux sur l’Environnement relatives à la biodiversité. Le PNUE travaille selon un Programme de Travail qui s’étend sur quatre ans et ce document est censé donner à nos collègues et à nos partenaires une idée de la procédure que l’UNEP-WCMC suivra durant la période 2010-2013. Cette période est majeure pour la biodiversité puisqu’elle couvre l’Année Internationale de la Biodiversité, coïncidant aussi avec le 30ème anniversaire de notre centre, qui pourrait résulter en la création d’un Comité International sur la Biodiversité et les Services Éco-systémiques dans lequel nous sommes prêts à jouer un rôle majeur.

  Resource Type: Reports