Coastal information resources
TEMS includes more than 40 networks, some of which have sites in coastal areas
monitoring issues of importance to the coastal assessment and management. To see
the list of networks, the sites that belong to them and links to their websites;
select Networks in the navigation bar
at the top of the page.
To directly link to documents available on the web relating to coastal organisations,
conventions and assessments go to the Literature section.
The links listed below cover a range of issues and information regarding coastal areas,
their management, and connecting people with these interests. Browse and enjoy!
Global links
Global coastal assessment programmes
Intergovernmental coastal monitoring and observation bodies
Intergovernmental institutions with coastal mandates
Regional links
Global links
Fundamental information on coastal management
- Coastalmanagement.com
- Coastalmanagement.com is a not-for-profit venture to help coastal managers find
resources to help do their job more effectively, and to keep them up to date
on the latest trends worldwide. It sources interesting and informative websites
to assist to sustainably manage, use and research the world's coasts.
- Global Islands Network
- The Global Islands Network represents a hub that connects and coordinates efforts to help
ensure a healthy and productive future for islanders.
- Integrated Coastal Management
- This web service on integrated coastal management (ICM), is a cooperative undertaking
among the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UNESCO, the National Ocean
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Center for the
Study of Marine Policy (University of Delaware), and the World Bank, in conjunction
with a number of other partners around the world. It strives to provide timely
and accurate information on the following: definitions of basic concepts in
ICM; global and regional information; national profiles and country contacts;
coastal laws; examples of specific ICM problems (such as beach management; problems
and case studies; resources for ICM practitioners (international guidelines,
major international agreements, information on education and training in the
field, and a list of ICM publications); feature new developments on ICM; meetings;
and links.
- Net Coast - A guide to Integrated Coastal Area Management
- NetCoast is a website hosted by the Dutch government for professionals of Integrated
Coastal Zone Management to get up-to-date relevant information, knowledge, documents,
publications and software systems. Net Coast offers regularly updated links to
other sites and is a virtual meeting place, providing opportunities for professional
collaboration.
- River Basin Initiative
- The River Basin Initiative is a global activity under the joint work plan of
both the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Ramsar Convention on
Wetlands. It aims to establish a global network to share information and link
and support activities where the principles of integrated management of biodiversity,
wetlands and river basins are demonstrated.
-
World Deltas Network (WDN)
- The World Deltas Network (WDN) is a white water to blue water partnership between
FAO, NOAA and UNEP inaugurated October 18, 2004 following recommendations of the
Coastal Working Group of the Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS).
WDN is a data, information, and research support service for deltas,
to advance integrated science in the coastal zone, spanning physical, biological, and
sociological disciplines.
Global coastal assessment programmes
- Global International Waters Assessment
- The aim of GIWA is to produce a comprehensive and integrated global assessment
of international waters, the ecological status of and the causes of environmental
problems in 66 water areas in the world, and focus on the key issues and problems
facing the aquatic environment in transboundary waters.
- Global Seagrass Monitornig Network - SeagrassNet
- SeagrassNet is a global monitoring program to investigate and document
both the status of seagrass resources world wide and the threats to this
important and imperilled marine ecosystem. The program started in 2001 in
the Western Pacific and now includes 28 sites in 15 countries; a globally applicable
monitoring protocol and web-based data reporting system have been established. The
ultimate aim is to preserve the seagrass ecosystem by increasing scientific
knowledge and public awareness of this threatened coastal resource.
- Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific
Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection - GESAMP
- GESAMP was established in 1967 by a number of United Nations Agencies. Its purpose
was to provide advice to the agencies and, through them their Member Governments
on a problem that was just beginning to be recognized as a major threat. Since
then the Joint Group has met regularly and in 1993 its role was extended to
cover all scientific aspects on the prevention, reduction and control of the
degradation of the marine environment to sustain life support systems, resources
and amenities. GESAMP report nr 71 "Protecting the oceans from land-based
activities" might be of special iinterest regarding coastal issues.
- Millennium Assessment
- The Millennium Assessment Condition Working Group Assessment Report assesses:
...conditions and trends of ecosystems, services provided by ecosystems, causes
of changes to ecosystems, and the consequences of this change for human well-being
and other life on earth. The report is divided into four major parts and 29 chapters.
Expansive information is included on Inland water systems, Coastal systems,
and Marine systems (Chapters 23-25) in PART III: Systems - condition and causality.
- World Resources Institute - Global
Marine Strategy
- The goal of WRI's Global Marine Strategy is to improve management and conservation
of coastal and marine resources while enhancing and strengthening the security
of people who depend upon them. The website provides information on how the
WRI specifies its goal in four objectives, and it wants to achieve these objectives
through thirteen interventions and a set of projects.
- WRI Pilot analysis of
global ecosystems (PAGE): Coastal ecosystems
- The Pilot analysis of global ecosystems (PAGE) provides a "big picture"
view of ecosystems using indicators and maps at global and continental scales.
One of the five PAGE reports is on Coastal and marine ecosystems. The study
analyses quantitative and qualitative information and develops selected indicators
on the condition of the world’s coastal zone.
Intergovernmental coastal monitoring and observation bodies
- Coastal Ocean Observations
Panel - COOP
- The COOP will plan and facilitate implementation of an end-to-end observing
system to provide systematic data sets and products to users. Goals are to monitor,
assess, and predict effects of natural variations and human activities on the
marine environment and ecosystems of the coastal ocean. Principal foci are on
issues of ecosystem (including human) health, living marine resources, natural
hazards, and safe and efficient marine operations.
- Global Coastal Observing Panel - Coastal activities
- Goals are to monitor, assess, and predict effects of natural variations
and human activities on the marine environment and ecosystems of the coastal
ocean. Principal foci are on issues of ecosystem (including human) health,
living marine resources, natural hazards, and safe and efficient marine
operations.
- Global Terrestrial Observing Panel - Coastal activities
- The primary goal of the GTOS coastal initiative (C-GTOS) is to detect, assess
and predict global and large-scale regional changes associated with land-based
and freshwater ecosystems along coasts.
- Integrated Global Observing Strategy - Coastal activities
- The IGOS Coastal Theme will coordinate and strengthen present and future
coastal observational (in-situ and space-based) capabilities and the attendant
decision-making process by developing a strategy for integrated global observations
that will provide improved understanding of Earth system variability and
change in the coastal zone.
- International Hydrological Programme
- IHP
- The International Hydrological Programme
(IHP), UNESCO's intergovernmental scientific co-operative programme in water
resources, is a vehicle through which Member States can upgrade their knowledge
of the water cycle and thereby increase their capacity to better manage and
develop their water resources.
- Land coast interactions
in the coastal zone international project - LOICZ
- The LOICZ Project is one of eleven Programme Elements of the IGBP and focuses
on the area of the earth's surface where land, ocean and atmosphere meet and
interact. The overall goal of this project is to determine at regional and global
scales: the nature of that dynamic interaction; how changes in various components
of the Earth system are affecting coastal zones and altering their role in global
cycles; to assess how future changes in these areas will affect their use by
people and; to provide a sound scientific basis for future integrated management
of coastal areas on a sustainable basis.
- Strategic Initiative for Ocean
and Coastal Management - SIOCAM
- SIOCAM is a Global Project of UNDP. Its objective of enhancing the capabilities
of existing and future ocean and coastal management projects through the systematic
identification, documentation and sharing of best practices and lessons learned,
is realised through thsi website.
Intergovernmental institutions with coastal mandates
- Intergovernmental Oceanographic
Commission - IOC
- The IOC focuses on four major themes: develop, promote and facilitate international
oceanographic research programmes to improve our understanding of critical global
and regional ocean processes and their relationship to the sustainable development
and stewardship of ocean resources; ensure effective planning, establishment
and co-ordination of an operational global ocean observing system to provide
the information needed for oceanic and atmospheric forecasting, for oceans and
coastal zone management by coastal nations, and for global environmental change
research; provide international leadership for education and training programmes
and technical assistance essential for systematic observations of the global
ocean and its coastal zone and related research; and ensure that ocean data
and information obtained through research, observation and monitoring are efficiently
handled and made widely available.
- IOC Marine Sciences and Observations
for Integrated Coastal Area Management
- ICAM was adopted as an independent programme by the 19th session of the IOC
Assembly, and in November 1998 the programme was established. The objective
for this programme is to assist IOC Member States in their efforts to build
marine scientific and technological capabilities in the field of Integrated
Coastal Management as follow up of UNCED, Agenda 21. The programme will provide
reliable marine scientific data, develop methodologies, disseminate information
and build interdisciplinary capacity through symposia, workshops, seminars and
training courses.
- UNEP Regional Seas programme
- The Regional Seas programme is an action-oriented programme and focuses
not only on the mitigation or elimination of the consequences but also on
the causes of environmental degradation. It has a comprehensive, integrated,
result oriented approach to combating environmental problems through the rational
management of marine and coastal areas.
- UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre
- The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) provides information
for policy and action to conserve the living world. UNEP-WCMC has an active marine
programme that is engaged in a number of activities assessing marine and coastal
habitats, protected areas, and key species.
Regional links
Africa
Asia
Australia
Europe
North America
South America
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