United Nations University (UNU)

 http://www.unu.edu/

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

Data collection is via field surveys, questionnaires. Data comes from collaborative research.

- Chemical database: The LANDBASE on-line database offers an extensive set of chemical data developed by eight participating country laboratories in East Asia with the objective of providing policy options for an improved environment in the region.  See: http://www.geic.or.jp/landbase//
- Mountain ecology data - Chapter 13 Managing fragile ecosystems: Sustainable mountain development, Para 13.4, 13.7, 13.11, 13.12 - Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America.
- Data on the management of land and biota in smallholder agriculture areas in the tropics and sub-tropics - Chapter 14 Promoting Sustainable Agriculture and rural development, Para 14.4, 14.11, 14.14, 14.15, 14.17, 14.20, 14.44, 14.47, 14.48 - Africa, Latin America, Asia, Caribbean.
- Data on the management of freshwater resources - Chapter 18 Protection of the quality and supply of freshwater resources: Application of integrated approaches to the development, management and use of water resources, Para 18.7, 18.8, 18.19, 18.21, 18.23, 18.31, 18.34, 18.40, 18.44, 18.59, 18.62, 18.63 - Middle East, Asia.
- Data on biodiversity - Chapter 15 Conservation of biological diversity, Para 15.5, 15.6, 15.7, 15.10, 15.11 - Latin America, Africa, Asia, Caribbean.
- Data on marine protected areas - Chapter 17 Protection of the oceans, all kinds of seas, including enclosed and semi-enclosed seas, and coastal areas and the protection of their living resources, Para 17.6, 17.15, 17.17, 17.30, 17.38, 17.39 - Mediterranean Sea.

Data are collected with the full coordination of other UNU RTC/P's, affiliated organizations and other relevant UN agencies, including UNEP and WHO.

Methodologies, Quality Control, Harmonization
Standardization occurs via the development of standard methods for environmental monitoring aspects such as regional data generation, and on the research on compliance on environmental accords in the region. This is done through the project Environmental Monitoring and Analysis in the East Asian Region: Technology Transfer and Environmental Governance.

The development of quality control measures are undertaken through the project Environmental Monitoring and Analysis in the East Asian Region: Technology Transfer and Environmental Governance, by participating laboratories in the East Asian region.

The development of harmonization of data is undertaken through the project Environmental Monitoring and Analysis in the East Asian Region: Technology Transfer and Environmental Governance, through inter-calibration by participating laboratories in the East Asian region.

Field level data collection also uses anthropological and participating methodologies.

Assessment and Analysis
Area of assessment/analysis to be found in chapters 14 and 15 of Agenda 21 (Promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development and Conservation of biological diversity), the UNU/Academic Division (AD) has been actively involved in the assessment of land management practices and biodiversity loss in priority ecosystems through the PLEC project.

The UNU/AD is cooperating with several research and academic institutions as well as several UN organizations like UNEP, UNESCO, FAO, WHO and UNDP. The cooperation involves project co-management, as in the case of the projects PLEC, Mountain Ecology and Sustainable Development, and Environmental Monitoring. There is also considerable cooperation through project co-sponsorships.

The UNU/AD utilized the most appropriate tools and techniques for assessment and analysis depending on the project. Most methods involve analytical, as well as subjective tools and methodologies involving statistical analysis and subjective judgement. An example is the use of anthropological and participatory methodologies.

Indicators
Development of indicators of changes in agrodiversity and biodiversity at the landscape level in different regions through the project People, Land management and Environmental Change or PLEC. These indicators would be used to identify appropriate conservation approaches that are socially and financially sustainable.

Modelling
The UNU Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU/IAS) is involved in environmental modelling through ZERI (Zero Emission Research Institute) and other projects.

Expert Systems/Decision-support systems

Early Warning Mechanisms

Reports/Information dissemination

Most dissemination of work done by the UNU/AD is made either through UNU Press publications (books, abstract collections, reports, conference proceedings, etc.), or directly published by the UNU/AD either in print or electronically through its web page. Most UNU/AD publications are intended for distribution to the UN system, academic institutions, research and government offices, and the general public. The scope of distribution is global.

The UNU/AD's main information dissemination coordinating body is the UNU Press located at the UNU headquarters in Tokyo. The UNU Press functions like most academic presses and has formal distribution agreements with several organizations including book reprint agreements, local edition distribution, etc. Most information is directly disseminated to the UN System. UNU information dissemination is also made through the UNU Public Affairs Department. Since most of the electronic information on UNU's home page is readily available to everyone it is intended that decision-makers, especially UN-related agencies, would also benefit from the site.

The UNU/AD currently employ the help of several well-known publishing houses in cooperation with the UNU Press to disseminate information to certain target audiences. Certain examples include Elsevier Science, and UC Press.

As to meta-inventories, the UNU/AD for several years has been maintaining an electronic site on the world wide web of its activities as well as a special clearing house of information specifically for small island nations called the Small Island Network. The UNU/AD has also been maintaining a network on disaster information in cooperation with the International Institute for Disaster Mitigation Engineering (INCEDE) and Stanford University called GLODISNET (Global Disaster Mitigation Network).

In terms of information promotion and exchange the UNU/AD has maintained an electronic homepage on the Internet through its site on the world wide web. The environment programme's home hosts the Small Islands Network which serves as a clearing house of information for small island countries. The UNU also operates the Global Environment Information Centre (GEIC) which serves as a point of distribution for environmental information.

Network Development and Support
The UNU/AD manages and ensures coordination among the Small Islands Network; People, Land management and Environmental Change Network; Mountain Ecology Network, GLODISNET.

There is also interaction with the Mountain Development Forum, UN HiNet, INCEDE Network etc.

Capacity-Building
Most information generated by UNU/AD projects are partially intended for use by decision-makers with a focus on swaying policy and planning. This information comes from demonstration case studies as for the PLEC project, years of detailed research as in the mountain ecology study, and expert opinion throught UNU's network of researchers.

Most UNU/AD projects which involve case studies or demonstration projects tend to have a training component for data collection, assessment and transformation since most of the participants involved in the case studies are local researchers guided by UNU experts. An example is the environmental monitoring and analysis project of UNU. Training uses the CC:Train training package on climate change with comprehensive materials for trainers: lecture notes, overheads, plans, group sessions, and computer simulation. One module in English, French and Spanish. Also available on CD-ROM:  See: http://www.geic.or.jp/cctrain

It is common practice to identify data gaps in any case study or demonstration project. UNU/AD tries to identify and fill these data gaps through simulations, estimations and in some cases referral to related case studies.

Internet Access

Main UNU site: http://www.unu.edu/
 - General information about the UNU, its activities and programmes.

Environment and Sustainable Development Programme:  http://www.unu.edu/env including:
Global Environment Information Center (GEIC) site: http://www.geic.or.jp/
 - Information about the environment information center which is an initiative of the Environment Agency of Japan and the UNU/Academic Division. The site also hosts environment-related NGO's and information about environment-related NGO's.
 - UNU Islands Gateway: http://www.geic.or.jp/Islands/index.html

GLO-DISNET site: http://blume.stanford.edu:8080
 - Global Disaster Information Network.

Responsible Office/Person (for inquiries or follow-up):
Dr Zafar Adeel
Academic Programme Officer
The United Nations University Headquarters
Academic Division
53-70 Jingumae 5 chome Shibuya-ku
Tokyo 150,  Japan
Tel: +81 3 3499-2811
Fax: +81 3 3499-2828
Adeel@hq.unu.edu

Earthwatch Focal Point

Date of preparation: 5 February 1998, updated 30 April 1999

ORGANIZATION: United Nations University (UNU)