1995 has been the year of the burst of growth of Internet, the computer network for communication, and information resources accessible through Internet have flourished. Information on issues relating to NWFPs are made available by many agencies. This information is updated frequently and may be useful to policy-makers and researchers on NWFPs. The following list gives some of the international information resources on the Worldwide Web. Each listing consists of the name of the organization that maintains the "home page" on the Worldwide Web; the following line is the Internet address, or URL for the Web site; for some entries, a third line describes the information available.
This is only a partial list, since the resources that are accessible evolve every day. Our aim is to provide our readers with some interesting sites giving information on current issues regarding NWFPs. All readers are invited to contribute to the information on this page.
http://www.ftpt.br
Refers to a wide range of biological databases on tropical ecosystems,
especially in South America. It also lists collaborative projects
between BDT and international organizations and Brazilian institutions.
http://www.catie.ac.cr/
Includes information on CATIE's programmes in agroforestry and
the marketing of non-wood forest products in several countries
of Latin America (Spanish and English).
http://www.ciesin.org/IC/IUCN/IUCN.html
http://www.cnrs.fr/
Includes programmes on environmental and social research, biodiversity
and environmental technologies of France's national research agency
(French and English).
http://www.worldbank.org/html/gef/geffiles/gef.html
Contains information on GEF, which funds biodiversity projects
with NWFPs throughout the world. Also links with World Bank programmes
for microfinancing of projects.
http://info.er.usgs.gov/research/gis/title.html
Contains information and examples of mapping for a variety of
resources for policy and land-use planning.
http://www.unicc.org/ifad/home.html
Contains information on IFAD programmes.
http://turva.me.tut.fi/cis/home.html
http://www.inbio.ac.cr
Includes information on INBio's activities in biological resource
prospecting and mechanisms for funding technology transfer; also
includes databases on the flora and fauna of Costa Rica.
http://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/pidb-home.html
Includes searchable database on international treaties and their
implications.
http://gatekeeper.unicc.org/unctad/
Includes information on trade agreements affecting the NWFP sector
and environmental consequences.
http://www.unido.org/
Includes information on services focused on supporting women entrepreneurs
and women in industrial development; also includes information
on rural industrial options and financing.
http://www.info.usaid.gov
Includes information on programmes and research on forestry resources
conducted by USAID.
http://www.wcmc.org.uk/index.html
Includes information on biodiversity and endangered species, together
with maps of biodiversity and country profiles.
http://www.unicc.org/wto/
Contains information on trade restrictions affecting NWFPs, including
intellectual property rights.
http://www.metla.fi/info/vlib/
Includes contacts and information from forestry research and development
institutions.
(Source: Taylor, D. Income generation from NWFPs in upland conservation. Draft FAO Conservation Guide.)