Professor Jon Hutton, Director of UNEP-WCMC explains the organisation’s role in integrating and disseminating information on biodiversity and discusses the collaborative nature of their work

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Metals Economics Group (MEG) and the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre are pleased to partner to provide information for mining companies on their proximity to national parks and other internationally important protected areas. This valuable new data layer in MEG’s online service will increase awareness within the sector about biodiversity conservation, providing additional context to mining-related development and investment.

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This report sets out some of the most commonly used methods for economic valuation of ecosystem services, and to explore their pros and cons in a practical context in marine and coastal environments. It is intended to be used by UNEP Regional Seas coordinators, as a guide to ecosystem service evaluation techniques that might be relevant to their specific management projects.

Download the report.

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A vacancy has arisen for a Head of Human Resources. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer and as a member of the Management Team, the successful candidate will work to ensure that HR policies and practices across the Centre are of the highest standards. He or she will work alongside senior managers to enhance the collaborative culture and capability of the Centre, leading the HR plan and team.

This is a varied, hands-on role which would best suit someone with a strong operational background and the hunger and potential to move into a more strategic role.

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The new-look GCDD was launched in Samoa last week at the 25th General Meeting of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) (8-12 November, 2010). The GCDD is an online database for coral disease information, providing interactive maps and dynamic statistics of world-wide coral disease distribution, highly customizable search options and a number of supporting functions, including guidance on survey methods.

To visit the website, go to www.coraldisease.org.

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Staff at UNEP-WCMC have contributed to the following publication: How a stable climate and a productive biosphere can be secured together. Why this is an opportunity for green growth. And how a closer partnership between multilateral environmental agreements, in particular the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, can help both to achieve their respective aims.

The report was launched at the Convention on Biological Diversity’s 10th Conference of the Parties meeting in Nagoya, Japan (see press launch).

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What is a 'Key Biodiversity Area'? Why is it important, how was it established and what is its relevance to business? The answers to these and other key questions can be now found on the 'A-Z Areas of Biodiversity Importance' website. Spotlighting some 35 important areas worldwide -such as Ramsar, World Heritage sites and Protected Areas -this electronic guide also explains the species and habitats they seek to protect as well as in their legal status and the extent to which local communities are present.

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Moving from the breathtaking fjords of western Norway to Australia’s only active volcanoes, touring 150,000 of the world’s protected areas from an armchair is now possible with the click of a mouse.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has joined forces with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to create protectedplanet.net – an interactive, social media-based website that provides in-depth information on both the leading lights and hidden gems of the conservation world.

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UNEP-WCMC, with support from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation and the UN-REDD Programme, has launched four new country reports highlighting how spatial analysis can help to identify areas where carbon management activities could secure additional benefits for biodiversity and ecosystem services. New maps have been developed for Cambodia, Jiangxi Province in China, Ecuador and Nigeria in collaboration with national partners.
 

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