United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

http://www.unhcr.ch

UNHCR provides protection and assistance to the world's refugees. OSCEA is responsible for developing a new environmental policy (with new tools) within UNHCR activities. UNHCR's new policy must be more operational and field oriented. This reformulated policy applies to environmental issues associated with the presence of refugees. Among the major environmental problems linked with the presence of refugees are deforestation, soil erosion, depletion and degradation of water resources as well as socio-economic impacts of such problems on refugees and local communities. It is hoped that the reformulated policy and operational outcomes set up, to be introduced in a step by step manner over the coming three to four years, will enable UNHCR to make focused, meaningful contribution to resolving these refugee related environmental problems.

AGENDA 21 CHAPTERS AND PROGRAMME AREAS OF PARTICULAR FOCUS OR INTEREST:
See check list in annex.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF AND LINKS TO INFORMATION ACTIVITIES:

Data Collection, Observation, Monitoring

The data are mainly collected by: field survey, questionnaire, satellite images, aerial photos/video cameras and GPS receivers.

The detailed data (in terms of scale and operation) are either collected directly from the field or with the aforementioned tools. Data on a more general scale mainly come from: the UN system (e.g UNEP, FAO, etc.), NGOs (WCMC, etc.), universities and private companies. Such data are mainly in a digital format in order to be directly readable into a GIS database. As to satellite images, they come either from existing databases (UNEP, FAO) or private companies (SPOT, EOSAT).

Type of data collected is general information from various databases at global scale: Climatic, Forest, Wetlands, Protected areas, etc. (Agenda 21, Chapters 5, 7, 11, 12).
Country specific: Rwanda, Ex-Yugoslavia, Caucasus region: socio-economic and socio-demographic databases.
Detailed information UNHCR projects.
1. Africa - Congo: Biodiversity/forest (Virunga Park)/satellite images/GIS/cartography (Chapters 11, 13, 15, 35C, 36B, 40).
2. Africa - Tanzania (Kigoma and Kagera regions): Biodiversity/forest/satellite images/GIS database/cartography (Chapters 11, 14, 15, 34, 35, 37, 40).
3. Africa - Kenya: Biodiversity/degradation of environment/ satellite images/GIS database/ cartography/ refugee population (Chapters 11, 12, 15, 35, 36, 40).
4. Asia - Myanmar, Rakhine State: Demography (Chapters 3, 5, 14, 34, 37, 40).

The data is mainly collected from in-house Environmental database/UNHCR projects, so data collection coordination is internal. Advertising of the project is made through an internal network (mainly UNEP/WFP/FAO), sometimes in collaboration with UN agencies or NGOs in accordance with specific programmes.

Methodologies, Quality Control, Harmonization
 Standardization exists, as does quality control. Harmonization consists of classifications and legend of the document produced.

Use of GIS and GPS for various purposes, such as: camp planning, refugee population sampling etc.

Assessment and Analysis
Area is environment degradation/assessment (forest, water, air etc. linked to a refugee population).

Cooperation consists of sharing environmental degradation/geographical/environmental information with UNEP, FAO, WFP, WHO, World Bank etc.

Data gathered using mainly field assessment with the help of satellite images, GPS and GIS.

Indicators
Yes.

Modelling
Extrapolation of deforested areas according to the time evolution of a given refugee population.

Expert Systems/Decision-support systems

Early Warning Mechanisms

Reports/Information dissemination

Dissemination via press, Inter- UN organization, WWW, e-mail, surface mail, fax etc. to UN bodies, donor community, decision-makers, researchers, academia.
Coordination of dissemination happens within both UN framework and personal network.

On-going assessment using personal network, Internet and WWW has produced meta-inventories.

Promotion of information use by sensitization through the UN system.

Providing information for decision makers is a constant aim in all activities developed by OSCEA (poster, newsletter etc.).

Network Development and Support
There are no networks managed by OSCEA at the moment. However, there is interaction withAFTES and the Advisory Committee on Information on Environment, the World Bank ATIBT: Technical International Association on Tropical Woods.

Capacity-Building
Encourage use of information by decision-makers by training and awareness through concrete examples, dissemination of working papers. Training is accomplished through Manual, Guidelines, notes.

Basic geographical information collection is needed on a world wide basis through all the UN agencies in a constant effort for various domains.
Particular effort must be made regarding the following points:
- detailed cartography using satellite images for sensitive areas,
- increase of up-to-date population census,
- information on ethnic groups for early warning purposes,
- up-to-date and detailed information and cartography on sensitive areas (protected areas, wildlife, etc.)

Internet Access

http://www.unhcr.ch

Responsible Office/Person (for inquiries or follow-up):
Mr. Yuji Kimura
Senior Coordinator on Environmental Affairs
UNHCR
Case Postale 2500
1211 Geneva 2 depot, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 739 7963
Fax: +41 22 739 7301
kimura@unhcr.ch

Mr. Jean Yves Bouchardy
Senior Information Officer Environment
Environment Unit
UNHCR
Case Postale 2500
1211 Geneva 2 depot, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 739 7963
Fax: +41 22 739 7301
bouchard@unhcr.ch

Date of preparation: February 1997

ORGANIZATION: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): Environment Unit, Office of the Senior Coordinator on Environmental Affairs (OSCEA)