United Nations Environment Programme
World Conservation Monitoring Centre

*About UNEP-WCMC
Jobs
One Ocean Programme
Ecosystem Assessment Programme
Biodiversity & Climate Change
*Parks & Protected Areas
*Interactive Maps
*Species Information
*Global Biodiversity Atlases
*Critical Ecosystems
*Biodiversity Indicators
Biodiversity Assessment
*International Policy
Proteus: Decision Makers
*Emergency Response
*Computational Tools
*UNEP-WCMC Publications
Search our Library Catalogue

<!---Biodiversity foldout PDF: 727KB--->Global Biodiversity Outlook
 
Facts on Biodiversity & Human Well-being
 

 

Other Publications



Review on the economics of biodiversity loss: Scoping the science Review on the economics of biodiversity loss: Scoping the science (2008)

This report was produced under contract to the European Commission, with the objective of providing a coherent overview of existing scientific knowledge upon which to base the economics of the review on the economics of biodiversity loss proposed as part of the Potsdam Initiative by the G8 in March 2007 ("The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity"). The project was a collaboration between the University of Cambridge, IEEP, Alterra and UNEP-WCMC.

Download the report from the European Commission website (PDF file).


The Cost of Policy Inaction: The case of not meeting the 2010 biodiversity target The Cost of Policy Inaction: The case of not meeting the 2010 biodiversity target (2008)

This report was produced under contract to the European Commission, with the objective of providing sustantive input to the review on the economics of biodiversity loss proposed as part of the Potsdam Initiative by the G8 in March 2007 ("The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity"). The project was a collaboration lead by Alterrra, and including IEEP, Ecologic, the Netherlands Environment Assessment Agency and UNEP-WCMC among others.

Download the report from the European Commission website (ZIP file).


Scoping the potential benefits of undertaking a MA-style assessment for England Scoping the potential benefits of undertaking a MA-style assessment for England (2008)

This report was produced under contract to the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with the aim of: reviewing the current evidence base for assessing ecosystem services associated with the terrestrial and marine environment; identifying the current monitoring and research gaps; exploring the policy needs for such an assessment and the extent to which these needs are currently being fulfilled by existing initiatives; enabling a critical review to be made of the case for and against undertaking a comprehensive ecosystem assessment for England in the style of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA); and concluding by reviewing the options open to Defra, making recommendations on how such work can best be taken forward. The project was lead by researchers at the University of Nottingham, working with MRAG, ORMI Consulting and UNEP-WCMC.

Download the overview report from the Defra website (PDF file).
Download the full technical report from the Defra website (PDF file).


Biodiversity and Poverty Reduction: The importance of biodiversity for ecosystem services Biodiversity and Poverty Reduction: The importance of biodiversity for ecosystem services (2007)

This report reviews existing scientific knowledge regarding the links between biodiversity and the sustainable provision of ecosystem services, and considers the implicatons of these links for the World's poor, and for international development policy.

Download Report

High Resolution download the high resolution report [691 KB]
Low Resolution download the low resolution report [420 KB]

Environment on the Edge 2006 - 2007 Environment on the Edge 2006 - 2007

This publication presents five of the lectures from the 2006 - 2007 'Environment on the Edge' lecture series. It includes the following themes:

  • Europe on the edge
    Professor Jacqueline McGlade
  • Are we running out of oil?
    Dr Jeremy Leggett and Dr Ian Vann
  • The impacts of the Three Gorges Dam
    Professor Zhang Jing
  • Humans and carbon: a Faustian bargain?
    Professor Berrien Moore III
  • Valuing sustainability
    Richard Saxon CBE
  • Transport: a case of systematic sclerosis?
    Professor David Fisk

This lecture series is the result of collaboration between New Hall and St. Edmund's College, Cambridge University, the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre and the British Antarctic Survey. The lectures and this publication are sponsored by BP.

Download Report

High Resolution download the high resolution report [1,827 KB]
Low Resolution download the low resolution report [866 KB]

Ozzy Goes Island Hopping Ozzy Goes Island Hopping

The fourth issue of the "Ozzy Ozone: Defender of our Planet" comic book series, entitled "Ozzy Goes Island Hopping" features ozone depletion and climate change with a special focus on Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).

In this story Ozzy and Zoe Ozone travel from the stratosphere to visit their friends Alida, the leatherback turtle; Guno, the sand crab and Ronaldo, the red snapper in Suriname to learn about the effects of climate change in small islands and low-lying coastal states. They also journey to Fiji to meet Tau, the crested iguana to learn about the importance of phasing out HCFCs, which are gases used to replace ozone depleting substances but themselves can contribute significantly to climate change. At the end of their travels they meet Frank the Frog and Maakanaa, the Grey Heron in the Maldives to learn some simple actions that young people can take in their daily lives to help protect the ozone layer and diminish the impacts of climate change.

Ozzy Goes Island Hopping is a joint publication of UNEP, UNICEF, UNESCO and Scouts International with participation of the governments of the hosting islands.

Download Publication

High Resolution download the high resolution report [4,214 KB]
Low Resolution download the low resolution report [2,819 KB]

Millenium Development Goals Millenium Development Goals

The United Nations, in its 2000 Millennium Declaration, recognized the fundamental importance of environmentally sustainability in development and called for a new ethic of conservation and stewardship in environmental actions. This was enshrined in Millennium Development Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability. MDG Target 9, under Goal 7, is to ‘Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources.’ One of five indicators chosen to demonstrate progress towards this target is ‘Ratio of area protected to maintain biological diversity to surface area.’

This indicator acknowledges both the vital role that biological diversity plays in providing environmental goods and services and the importance of protected areas in maintaining biological diversity.

Please note: changes in the MDGs since publication of this booklet can be seen at http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Default.aspx

Download Publication

High Resolution download the high resolution report [277 KB]
Low Resolution download the low resolution report [222 KB]


Environment on the Edge 2005 - 2006 Environment on the Edge 2005 - 2006

This PDF presents five of the lectures from the 2005-6 'Environment on the Edge' lecture series. It includes the following themes:

  • Nature's capital: the key to poverty eradication - Dr. Klaus Töpfer
  • Human development in China - Dr Zhao Baige
  • Agriculture and food production: Quo vadis - Dr Hans Rudolf Herren
  • The changing face of cities - Professor Anne Power
  • Women and conservation - Kathryn Fuller

This lecture series is the result of a collaboration between New Hall and St. Edmund's College, Cambridge University, the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre and the British Antartic Survey. The lectures and this publication are sponsored by BP.

Download Report

High Resolution download the high resolution report [755 KB]
Low Resolution download the low resolution report [459 KB]

CITES Checklist and Annotated Appendices Marine and Coastal Ecosystems and Human Well-Being (2006)

Humankind depends on the oceans and coasts for its survival, with one third of the world's population living in coastal areas, approximately 4% of Earth's total land area. Global changes and a range of other drivers are causing degradation or loss of ecosystem services. Changes to ecosystem services such as food security and employment of nearly 38 million people in the fisheries industry will cause impacts that will reach far beyond the coastal zone.

This report is a synthesis of the findings from the reports of the four MA Working Groups (Conditions and Trends, Scenarios, Responses, and Sub-global Assessments) concerning marine and coastal ecosystems. The preparation of this synthesis report has been coordinated by UNEP-WCMC and UNEP's Division of Early Warning and Assessment (DEWA) in recognition that the loss of marine and coastal services has impacts on human wellbeing. The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Development Cooperation, kindly funded the preparation and publication of this report.

The aim of this synthesis report is to contribute to the dissemination of the information contained within the MA to decision-makers and a wide range of stakeholders of marine and coastal ecosystems through seven key messages.

Download Report

High Resolution download the high resolution report [4.04MB]
Low Resolution download the low resolution report [2.03MB]

Environment on the Edge 2004 - 2005 Environment on the Edge 2004 - 2005

This PDF presents five of the lectures from the 2004-5 'Environment on the Edge' lecture series. It includes the following themes:

  • The Day After Tomorrow - Sir Crispin Tickell
  • Oceans on the Edge - Dr. Jane Lubchenco
  • Antartica on the Edge? - Professor Chris Rapley
  • Biodiversity on the Edge - Dr. Cristián Samper
  • Transport on the Edge - Dr. Bernard Bulkin.

This lecture series is the result of a collaboration between New Hall and St. Edmund's College, Cambridge University, the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre and the British Antartic Survey. The lectures and this publication are sponsored by BP.

Download Report

High Resolution download the high resolution report [550 KB]
Low Resolution download the low resolution report [460 KB]

CITES Checklist and Annotated Appendices CITES Checklist and Annotated Appendices (2005)

This book and accompanying CD-ROM provide a checklist of the fauna and flora listed in Appendices I, II and III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. UNEP-WCMC produces an updated Checklist and Annotated Appendices following each Conference of the Parties to CITES.

The 2005 Checklist of CITES Species contains updates from the Thirteenth Conference of the Parties, held in Bangkok, Thailand in 2004.

Download Report

Full Report download the high resolution report [4.3 MB]

ISBN 2 88323 027 7 | This publication has now sold out.


Guidelines for Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring for Protected Areas Guidelines for Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring for Protected Areas (2005)

These Guidelines are the result of the "Building Capacity for Biodiversity Monitoring and Assessment in Nepal" project. They are based on the practical experience of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC) and the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre in the development of a biodiversity monitoring system for the management of the Annapurna Conservation Area. They are the result of a productive collaboration and it is hoped that they will be of wide relevance for protected area managers throughout Nepal and beyond.

Download Report

Full Report download the high resolution report [1.2 MB]

After the Tsunami: Rapid Environmental Assessment After the Tsunami: Rapid Environmental Assessment (2005)

This report is produced by the UNEP Asian Tsunami Task Force in close partnership with national environmental authorities in the affected countries. It summarizes the interim findings from ongoing environmental assessments in Indonesia, the Maldives, the Seychelles, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Yemen, which are the countries that specifically requested cooperation and assistance from UNEP. In Somalia, the report is based on desk study only, as security restrictions did not allow an assessment mission to be fielded. The Government of India did not request assistance, but has shared with UNEP the initial findings of its own environmental assessment.

The assessments give evidence of environmental concerns that require serious attention and immediate action. The short-term clean-up programme must be coupled with policy development and strengthened institutions. The recovery agenda requires an 'environmental reconstruction programme', which will immediately clean up contamination hotspots, start rehabilitation of critical livelihoods and ecosystems and strengthen environmental policies and institutions.

Download Report

Download Report from UNEP Website download the report [9.33 MB]

ISBN 92 807 2565 3


Biodiversity Trends and Threats in Europe Biodiversity Trends and Threats in Europe: development and test of a species trend indicator (2005)

At the global level, Heads of State and Government have agreed to significantly reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010. Within Europe, they have decided on an even more ambitious target of halting biodiversity loss in the same period.

These 2010 targets will require strong will and focussed action across a wide range of human activities and resulting pressures on biodiversity to ensure that they are reached successfully. They will also require better quality data and information to help achieve and to monitor progress.

Indicators are increasingly recognised as one of the most important forms of information for tracking progress and showing where action is reaquired.

This report provides a major contribution to the development of a species trend indicator by reviewing available data within Europe and showing how these data can be aggregated to produce an index (or composite indicator) for a range of species for which good data are already available.

Buy from IUCN World Conservation Bookstore


Measuring Extent and Effectiveness of Protected Areas – Indicator for meeting Global Biodiversity Targets (2005)

This paper published by the Royal Society reviews the current global extent of protected areas in terms of geopolitical and habitat coverage, and considers their value as a global indicator of conservation action or response.

The paper discusses the role of the World Database on Protected Areas and collection and quality control issues, and identifies areas for improvement, including how conservation effectiveness indicators may be included in the database to improve the value of protected areas data as an indicator for meeting global biodiversity targets.

The paper was presented at a discussion meeting held July 2004, Beyond extinction rates: monitoring wild nature for the 2010 target.

The complete publication is available from the Royal Society website.

Download Report

Full Report download the report [200 KB]

BINU – Experience and Guidance Biodiversity Indicators for National Use – Experience and Guidance (2005)

This 20-page booklet present the lessons learned and guidance from the project ‘Biodiversity Indicators for National Use’, or BINU for short, which was sponsored by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and others. The overall aim of the project was to develop operational national-level biodiversity indicators to support planning and decision-making in the four participating countries: Kenya, Ecuador, Ukraine and Philippines.

The project developed a process, or series of steps, in producing biodiversity indicators for national use. This report presents our experience and lessons learned so far at each stage, although it is not intended to be a detailed manual on how to undertake this work. Some examples are given of the indicators that have been developed.

Download Report

Full Report download the report [312 KB]

Rising to the Biodiversity Challenge Rising to the Biodiversity Challenge (2004)

This report was prepared at the request of the World Bank to highlight the suitability of the Living Planet Index and allied approaches for monitoring the state of biodiversity at national levels, with a view to reporting on progress toward the 2010 biodiversity target. It reviews the background to the 2010 biodiversity target and recent discussions of how to assess and monitor the state of biodiversity, including CBD discussions of biodiversity indicators and especially the recent meeting in London organised by the CBD secretariat, UNDP and UNEP-WCMC. It evaluates the Living Planet Index as a tool for monitoring biodiversity, considering its background, strengths and weaknesses, and discusses the opportunities for, and constraints on adapting the methodology of the LPI for use at the national level.

Authors: Martin Jenkins, Valerie Kapos and Jonathan Loh

Download Report

Full Report download the full report

The Fall of the Water The Fall of the Water (2004)

This report illustrates several of the cumulative environmental impacts of piecemeal infrastructure development, population growth, water shortage and climate change in the Greater Asian Mountain region. The scope of this report is the broad, regional scale land use change.

Edited by Christian Nellermann of UNEP GRID Arendal, with contributions from many authors including Philip Bubb, Ian May, Lera Miles and Julian Caldecott of UNEP-WCMC

Download Report

Download as a PDF from the UNEP Grid Arendal website download the report

Environmental Risks from Agriculture in Europe Environmental Risks from Agriculture in Europe (2004)

This report, written by a team of international environmental experts and conservationists, describes an innovative methodology and results of a three-year study that applied agri-environmental indicators and European datasets to identify the main agricultural risk areas in Europe.

It covers:

  • soil erosion
  • nutrient enrichment
  • pesticide use and their integrated risks for biodiversity and landscapes.

Editors: Ben Delbaere and Ana Nieto Serradilla, European Centre for Nature Conservation

ISBN 90 76762 17 1 | Order from European Centre for Nature Conservation | Download from www.ecnc.org


Speaking a Common Language Speaking a Common Language: Uses and performance of the IUCN System of Management Categories for Protected Areas (2004)

This report provides an overview of the use of Management Categories for Protected Areas. It looks at the emergence of the system of protected area management categories, the original purposes of the system and new uses being made of it. Suggestions are made as to how the system can be used more effectively. Finally there is a set of recommendations, along with a vision as to the place of the categories in the future.

Download Report

Download from IUCN Website download the report

ISBN 1 902647 48 3 | Buy from IUCN World Conservation Bookstore


Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean (2004)

Coral reefs are an integral part of the Caribbean fabric, threading along thousands of kilometres of coastline. Unfortunately, these valuable ecosystems are degrading rapidly under the mounting pressure of many human activities. Understanding the nature and extent of these threats and their likely economic impacts on the future productivity of Caribbean coral reefs is of central importance to conservation and planning efforts.

The Reefs at Risk in the Carribean project was launched to help protect and restore these valuable, threatened ecosystems by providing decision-makers and the public with information and tools to manage coastal habitats more effectively.

The project focuses on compiling, integrating and disseminating critical information on these precious resources for the entire Caribbean region. This information is intended both to raise awareness about the threats to and value of Caribbean reefs and to encourage greater protection and restoration efforts.

Authors: Lauretta Burke, Jonathan Maidens

ISBN 1 56973 567 0 | Full text available on WRI website


Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program - Framework Document Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program - Framework Document. CAFF CBMP Report No. 1. CAFF International Secretariat, Akureyri, Iceland. 46pp (2004)

The CBMP is being developed by the Conservation of Arctic Fauna and Flora programme as a coordinating entity for biodiversity monitoring programmes in the Arctic, for data gathering and data analysis, and for coordinating the communication of the results.

Authors: Petersen, A., Zöckler, C., Gunnarsdóttir, M.V.

ISBN 99979-59526-9-5 | PDF obtainable from the CAFF website


Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program - Framework Document Discussion Paper: Data Management and Communication for the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program - A Cooperation Strategy between CADD and UNEP-WCMC. CAFF CBMP Report No. 8. CAFF International Secretariat, Akureyri, Iceland. 10pp. (2004)

The CBMP is being developed by the Conservation of Arctic Fauna and Flora programme as a coordinating entity for biodiversity monitoring programmes in the Arctic, for data gathering and data analysis, and for coordinating the communication of the results.

Authors: Zöckler, C. and Harrison, J.

ISBN 99979-59526-9-5 | PDF obtainable from the CAFF website


Checklist of CITES Species 2003 Checklist of CITES Species 2003

This book and accompanying CD-ROM provide a checklist of the fauna and flora listed in Appendices I, II and III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, as adopted by the Conference of Parties, valid from 13 February 2003.

The CD-ROM also includes the Annotated Appendices, which have an index to family names and common names. It is hoped that these lists will act as an aid to Management and Scientific Authorities, Customs officials, and all others involved in implenting and enforcing the Convention.

Download Report

Full Report download the report [2.45 MB]

ISBN 1 899628 23 1 | GBP £40.00 | Buy from IUCN World Conservation Bookstore


UN Protected Area List 2003 2003 UN List of Protected Areas

The 2003 UN List of Protected Areas, the thirteenth produced since 1962, records the global community's endeavour to conserve the Earth's natural places. This is the first version to attempt a comprehensive presentation of all the world's known protected areas, listing 102,102 sites covering 18.8 million sq km compared to just over 1,000 protected areas in 1962.

Significant progress has been made in conserving representative areas of the world's terrestrial biomes, although some including Lake Systems and Temperate Grasslands, remain under-represented. It 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.

The UN List is produced through a partnership between IUCN, the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), UNEP and the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre and the valuable contributory role of more recent partners.

Download Report

Download the analyses and introduction download the report [528 KB]

ISBN 2 8317 0746 3 / 92 807 2362 6| GBP £30.00 Buy from IUCN World Conservation Bookstore


Global Climate Change and Biodiversity 2003 Global Climate Change and Biodiversity (2003)

The Earth's climate is changing and the impacts are already being felt by biodiversity and wildlife habitats across the planet. This summary report from the international conference Global Climate Change and Biodiversity presents some of the latest scientific research into how the natural world is being affected by climate change - and also how the natural world might respond in the future.

The conference, held at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK in April 2003, was organised jointly by the RSPB, WWF-UK, English Nature, UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre and the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.

Authors are: Rhys E Green, Mike Harley, Lera Miles, Jörn Scharlemann, Andrew Watkinson and Olly Watts

Download Report

Download publication download the report [1.21 MB]

Reefs at Risk in South East Asia Reefs at Risk in South East Asia (2002)

South East Asia contains nearly 100,000 km2 of coral reefs, almost 34% of the world total. With over 600 of the almost 800 reef-building coral species, these reefs have the highest levels of marine biodiversity on earth. Heavy reliance on marine resources across South East Asia has resulted in the overexploitation and degradation of many coral reefs. An estimated 88% of them are threatened by human activity.

Despite widespread recognition of this threat, specific information about it is limited. This inhibits effective decision making concerning coastal resources. The Reefs at Risk project was designed to address this by creating standardized indicators that raise awareness about threats to coral reefs and highlight the linkages between human activity and coral reef condition.

Authors: Lauretta Burke, Elizabeth Selig, Mark Spalding

ISBN 1 56973 490 9 | Full text available on WRI website


Great Apes - The Road Ahead (2002) Great Apes - The Road Ahead (2002)

The Great Apes, including the chimpanzee, gorilla and orangutan, are threatened with extinction. All species are rapidly declining in abundance, even within protected areas.The main factors responsible for this decline are loss and degradation of habitat, and hunting. Construction of roads in forest areas is particularly damaging, as such development facilitates hunting and other activities which lead to habitat destruction.

This report assesses the impact of infrastructural development on great ape populations, using the GLOBIO modelling approach. GLOBIO is a multivariable spatial model, which estimates the extent of land area with reduced abundance and diversity of living organisms, as a result of infrastructural development. The model can also be used to develop scenarios of possible future impacts, based on the current rates of infrastructural development.

Download Report

Download Report download the report [4.92 MB]

Forest Biodiversity Indicators Forest Biodiversity Indicators (2001)

This is a brief introduction to biodiversity indicators in a forest environment - their definition, source, presentation and uses.

Prepared by: V. Kapos, M. D. Jenkins, I. Lysenko, C. Ravilious, N. Bystriakova and A. Newton

Download Report

Download Report download the report [3.34 MB]

Impacts of Climate Change on Wildlife Impacts of Climate Change on Wildlife (2001)

This report was published by the RSPB on hehalf of English Nature, WWF-UK, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre and The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Edited by: Rhys E Green, Mike Harley, Mark Spalding, Christoph Zöckler

ISBN 1 901034 29 7 | Download as a PDF from the English Nature website