Biodiversity Information resources

The following section provides links to the main organizations and activities that are involved with biodiversity issues. A comprehensive list of links are also available on the FAO Biodiversity webpage.

Fundamental information

Biodiversity and Biological Collections Web Server
Information on issues of taxonomy, systematics, biological sciences; links to biological societies, general biodiversity resources; publications, journals, newsletters, books, etc.

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Convention Text, Convention Bodies and Convention Mechanisms, e.g. Conference of the Parties (COP) and its decisions, Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, Trustfunds, Clearing-house Mechanism and Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA).

Global Biodiversity Facility (GBIF)
Network of biodiversity databases and information technology tools. Links to international conventions, international, national and regional organizations, programmes and initiatives, databases, search engines and research institutions.

International organizations, institutions and initiatives

Biodiversity and WORLDMAP
The Biogeography & Conservation Lab's mission is to develop and apply appropriate, explicit and accountable methods to tackle problems in biogeography and in biodiversity assessment to meet conservation needs at any spatial scale.

Biodiversity Conservation Information System (BCIS)
BCIS is a consortium of ten international conservation organisations and programs of IUCN -The World Conservation Union, BCIS Members collectively represent the single greatest global source of biodiversity conservation information in the world. BCIS is a framework within which the Members' networks work together toward a common goal: to support environmentally sound decision-making and action by facilitating access to biodiversitydata and information. BCIS provides information on principles, procedures, custodianship, data access, metadata, standardization, quality assurance, core data sets, and tools and technology.

Biodiversity Support Program (BSP)
BSP's mission is to promote conservation of the world's biological diversity by supporting projects that combine conservation with social and economic development. Information is available on selected biodiversity issues and major biome types. Links to the Biodiversity Conservation Network (Asia and Pacific) and other programmes and projects are also available.

BioGIS: Israel Biodiversity Information System
A Geographical Information System established to create a national database of the flora and fauna of Israel. The database is open to the public and provides advanced tools for querying, analyzing, modeling, and visualizing patterns of species distribution.

Birdlife International
Information on background, structure and geographical coverage of the organization, general information on advocacy and action for the conservation of birds. Publications including books on threatened birds.

Center for Health and the Global Environment The Center for Health and the Global Environment was founded in 1996 at Harvard Medical School to expand environmental education at medical schools and to further investigate and promote awareness of the human health consequences of global environmental change.

Conservation International & Centre for applied Biodiversity Science
CI applies innovations in science, economics, policy and community participation to protect the Earth's richest regions of plant and animal diversity. Information on scientific programmes, local awareness campaigns, scientific information on conservation biology, planning, policy and economics are all available.

Consultative Group on international Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
CGIAR is a network of 16 International Agricultural Research Centers working in the fields of research, capacity building and policy support. Fields of research include crop production, forestry, agro-forestry, water management, aquaculture and livestock. Includes the CGIAR System-wide Information Network for Genetic Resources (SINGER).

DIVERSITAS
DIVERSITAS is an international global environmental change research programme which promotes integrative biodiversity science to provide the scientific basis for an understanding of biodiversity loss, and to draw out the implications for the policies for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

Expert Center for Taxonomic Identification (ETI) is a non-governmental organisation with a mission to develop and produce scientific and educational computer-aided information systems, to improve the general access to and promote the broad use of taxonomic and biodiversity knowledge worldwide.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Information on FAO activities which focus on agriculture/food security and biodiversity. Document database, FAO contacts, details on meetings and links.

Global Biodiversity Forum (GBF)
The mission of the GBF is to provide a mechanism to foster analysis and critical dialogue among a wide range of stakeholders on key ecological, economic, social and institutional issues related to biodiversity. Information on GBF, sessions and workshop teams and access to publications are available. GBF is an initiative of WRI, IUCN and UNEP.

Global Environment Facility (GEF)
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) helps developing countries fund projects and programs that protect the global environment. Established in 1991, GEF is the designated financial mechanism for international agreements on biodiversity, climate change, and persistent organic pollutants. Contains information on projects, policies, results, documents, etc.

Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI) was created under the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) to provide the taxonomic information and expertise needed to support implementation of the CBD.

International Biodiversity Observation Year 2001-2002 (IBOY) IBOY is a window in time in which scientists and educators across the world are joining forces to increase communication of important science-based information about biodiversity to a broad audience.

International Union of Biological Science (IUBS)
The International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS) is a non-governmental, non - profit organisation, established in 1919.IUBS promotes the study and research of biological sciences and conducts international collaborative research programmes in close cooperation with its members. Programmes of interest include biosystematics, bionomenclature and DIVERSITAS.

Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB)
UNESCO's Programme on Man and the Biosphere (MAB) develops the basis, within the natural and the social sciences, for the sustainable use and conservation of biological diversity. The site contains information on the biosphere reserves, thematic networks, monitoring programmes, and the MAB Flora and Fauna databases.
Searchable database on MAB flora and fauna inventories.

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment The MA is a “multiscale” assessment, consisting of interlinked assessments undertaken at local, watershed, national, regional, and global scales. Sub-global assessments directly meet needs of relevant decision-makers; strengthen the global findings with on-the-ground data; and support the local findings with broader perspectives, data, and models.

NatureServe mission is to unify, support, and represent the network of Natural Heritage Programs, Conservation Data Centres and other cooperators in the mission of collecting, interpreting, and disseminating ecological information critical to the conservation of the world's biological diversity.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
The OECD groups 30 member countries sharing a commitment to democratic government and the market economy. With active relationships with some 70 other countries, NGOs and civil society, it has a global reach. Information focuses on Biotechnology, a field trade database, publications and links can all be accessed.

Red List
The IUCN - The World Conservation Union, through its Species Survival Commission (SSC) has for four decades been assessing the conservation status of species, subspecies, varieties and even selected subpopulations on a global scale in order to highlight taxa threatened with extinction, and therefore promote their conservation. The site has information on the Red List programme, data organization, data sources and quality, categories and criteria for threat status, and habitat threat types.

Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE)
SCOPE is an interdisciplinary body of natural and social science with a worldwide network of scientists and scientific institutions.

Society for Conservation Biology (SCB)
SCB is an international organization dedicated to promoting the scientific study of the phenomena that affect the maintenance, loss, and restoration of biological diversity.

Species Survival Commission (SSC)
The Species Survival Commission is a knowledge network of some 7,000 volunteer members working in almost every country of the world. Members include wildlife researchers, government officials, wildlife veterinarians, zoo employees, marine biologists, wildlife park managers, and experts on birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, plants, and invertebrates.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
General information on UNEP activities including resources on the state of the global environment. Its Environmental Network provides national and regional environmental profiles, and atlases and maps of protected areas and other selected areas.

United Nations Environment Programme's World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)
Contains information on species, habitats (forests, marine, freshwater, polar regions), protected areas and biodiversity assessment. Has a number of resources including maps and databases including the Protected Areas searchable database and World Heritage Information Network (WHIN)

World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA)
WCPA mission is to promote the establishment and effective management of a world-wide representative network of terrestrial and marine protected areas, as an integral contribution to the IUCN mission.

World Conservation Union (IUCN)
IUCN is linked to the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) and the Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM). The website contains information on biodiversity programmes including the Biodiversity Policy Coordination Division (BPCD), the Species Survival Commission (SSC), and the Red List. Partners, Regional Offices and Publications are all accessible.

World Resource Institute (WRI)
Information on species, genetics, ecosystems, diversity, conservation guidelines, biodiversity strategies and bioregional management. Contains a downloadable online resource section with data tables, biodiversity assessments and action plans for different regions and countries. Project information, publications, papers and newsnotes are also accessible

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
Information on international and regional programmes and the Living Planet Campaign (e.g. species, oceans and rivers, forests).
Directory of offices

National organizations, institutions and initiatives

North America