A practical guide for coastal resource managers to reduce damage from Catchment areas based on best practice case studies
Resource Type: Tools / ApplicationsSeagrasses are unique as they are the only marine flowering plants. Seagrass beds form complex physical structures and are a highly productive ecosystem. This enables them to support a considerable biomass and diversity of associated species. For the first time the World Atlas of Seagrasses summarises the opinion and science of the world's leading experts on the global status of the ecosystem.
The Atlas is a collaboration of more than 50 authors from 25 nations. Fully illustrated, the Atlas contains the first global and regional maps of seagrass distribution and a wealth of information on key issues concerning this 'forgotten' ecosystem.
Resource Type: Books One third of the world’s population lives in coastal areas and rapid development of these areas has meant increased construction of coastal infrastruc- ture (e.g. ports, navigation channels, coastal de- fence) and related activities (e.g. land reclamation, beach nourishment), which has inevitably led to conflicting priorities between coral reef conservation and economic growth. The key impacts of these ac- tivities, if not managed, include:
• Direct loss of coral reef caused by the removal or burial of reefs
• Lethal or sub-lethal stress to corals caused by elevated turbidity and sedimentation rates
Dredging and port construction activities potentially affect not only the site itself, but also surrounding ar- eas, through a large number of impact vectors (e.g. turbid plumes, sedimentation, release of contami- nants, bathymetric changes). Effects may be imme- diate or develop over a longer timeframe and may be temporary or permanent in nature, depending on a large number of factors.
The World Mangrove Atlas is the first significant attempt to provide an overview of the distribution of mangroves worldwide. Mapped data were gathered from a wide range of sources and synthesised into a series of regional maps. Related texts describe the species, areal extent and other summary information on the currently known status of mangroves in each country. Produced in association with the International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME) and the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), The World Mangrove Atlas presents a baseline inventory of mangroves at the end of the twentieth century.
Resource Type: BooksThe World Atlas of Coral Reefs is an invaluable resource to be enjoyed and used by a broad audience ranging from global travellers to scientists, including all those with an interest in the natural history of coral reefs, resource managers, travel organisations and university students. The book also caters to the needs of amateur divers and boat owners as a key information resource.
Resource Type: BooksThese posters celebrate:
* The International Year of Ecotourism (2002)
* The International Year of Mountains (2002)
* The International Year of Freshwater (2003)
This poster series was created to highlight issues in mountain biodiversity, in celebration of the International Year of Mountains, 2002.
Resource Type: PostersThese posters, about Mountain Protected Areas and Indigenous Community Conserved Areas, were created for the 10th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity, October 2010.
Resource Type: Posters
This poster series was created in 2004 to highlight the work of the UNEP Coral Reef Unit.
Resource Type: PostersInternational Coral Reef Action Unit posters
Resource Type: Posters©2013 UNEP All rights reserved