Rationalization of international nature conservation information systems. Final report, August 2002. DEFRA Research Project CR0252. ANNEXES

170 Pages·2002·5.9 MB·English

by  UNEP-WCMC

A
.
Rationalization of International
Nature Conservation Information
Systems
Final Report
August 2002
DEFRA Research Project CR0252
?muLL M-v**k.* fS*S i i^i
iff-
UNEP
VS C
TheORBIS INSTITUTE
The contents ofthis report do not necessarilyreflect the views orpolicies ofUNEP-
WCMC orcontributoryorganisations. The designations employed and thepresentations
UNEP-WCMC
do not implythe expressions ofanyopinion whatsoeveron thepart of or
contributoryorganisations concerningthe legal status ofanycountry, territory, city or
area, or its authority, orconcerning the delimitation ofits frontiers orboundaries.
Pageii RationalisationofIntematima]NatureConservationInformationSystems FinalReport August2002
11
TABLE CONTENTS
of
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1
INTRODUCTION
1 1
1.1 Background 11
1.2 Approach
1
1.3 Implementation 13
1.4 Acknowledgements 13
2 NATURE CONSERVATION INFORMATION NEEDS OF UK POLICY-
MAKERS
14
CURRENT SITUATION
3 16
3.1 Overview 16
3.2 Information sources and Services 18
3.2.1 Scope and Organisation 18
3.2.2 Clusters 20
3.3 Reference Guide 22
3.4 Harmonization andRationalisation Initiatives 24
3.4.1 Benefits ofHarmonization and Rationalisation 24
3.4.2 Overview ofHarmonization Initiatives 24
4 IMPROVING EXISTING SOURCES and SERVICES 26
4.1 Introduction 26
4.2 Areas forImprovement 26
4.2.1 Locating Information Resources 26
4.2.2 Consistency in Availability 26
4.2.3 Quality Management 27
4.2.4 Long-term Management ofDatasets 27
4.2.5 InflatedClaims 27
5 ACHIEVING HARMONIZATION and RATIONALISATION 28
5.1 Barriers 28
5.2 Methods andLevers 28
STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS
6 31
6.1 Introduction 31
6.2 Discussion and Recommendations 33
7 ANALYSIS and RECOMMENDATIONS by CLUSTER 36
7.1 CLUSTER 1 - Convention and Treaty Information Sendees 36
7.1.1 Introduction 36
7.1.2 Players 36
7.1.3 Issues and Concerns 36
7.1.4 PastHarmonization Initiatives 37
7.1.5 Current Harmonization Initiatives 40
7.1.6 Recommendations 42
7.2 CLUSTER 2 - Information on Sites 43
7.2.1 Introduction 43
RationalisationofInternationalNatureConservationInformationSystems FinalReport August2002 Pageiii
7.2.2 Players 44
7.2.3 Issues and Concerns 45
7.2.4 Current Harmonization Initiatives 45
7.2.5 Recommendations 48
7.3 CLUSTER 3 - Development Projects and Other Donor Information 50
7.3.1 Introduction 50
7.3.2 Players 50
7.3.3 Issues and Concerns 51
7.3.4 Current Harmonization Initiatives 51
7.3.5 Recommendations 53
7.4 CLUSTER4-Clearing-House Mechanisms andInformation Exchange Networks 54
7.4.1 Introduction 54
7.4.2 Players 54
7.4.3 Issues andConcerns 55
7.4.4 Current Harmonization Initiatives 55
7.4.5 Recommendations 56
7.5 CLUSTER 5 -Environmental Law 57
7.5.1 Introduction 57
7.5.2 Players 57
7.5.3 Issues andConcerns 58
7.5.4 Current Harmonization Initiatives 59
7.5.5 Recommendations 61
7.6 CLUSTER 6 - Global and Regional LongTermEcological Monitoring 62
7.6.1 Introduction 62
7.6.2 Players 63
7.6.3 Issues and Concerns 65
7.6.4 CurrentHarmonization Initiatives 66
7.6.5 Recommendations 67
7.7 CLUSTER 7-Taxonomic Information 68
7.7.1 Introduction 68
7.7.2 Players 68
7.7.3 Issues and Concerns 70
7.7.4 Current Harmonization Initiatives 73
7.7.5 Discussion 74
7.7.6 Recommendations 74
7.8 CLUSTER 8-Species Status Information 75
7.8.1 Introduction 75
7.8.2 Players 76
7.8.3 Issues andConcerns 77
7.8.4 Current Harmonization Initiatives 78
7.8.5 Recommendations 80
7.9 CLUSTER 9 - Policyand Strategy Information 82
7.9.1 Introduction 82
7.9.2 Players 82
7.9.3 Issues and Current Harmonization Initiatives 83
7.9.4 Recommendations 83
7.10 CLUSTER 10 -EuropeanNature Conservation INformation 83
7.10.1 Introduction 83
7.10.2 Players 84
7.10.3 Nature Conservation Policy-Making 86
7.10.4 Policyand Legislative Instruments 86
7.10.5 Principal EU and Pan-European Nature Conservation Information Sources 88
7.10.6 Issues andConcerns 91
7.10.7 Current Harmonization Initiatives 91
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7.10.8 Recommendations 94
7.1 1 Cross-Cutting Recommendations 96
7.1 1.1 Introduction 96
7.1 1.2 Recommendations 96
RECOMMENDATIONS for the FUTURE ofthe REFERENCE GUIDE 97
8.1 Introduction 97
8.2 Enhancements and Improved Functionality 97
8.3 Data Maintenance Considerations 98
8.4 Building and Broadening the Userbase 98
8.5 Alternative Hosts and Modalities ofMaintenance 98
8.6 Recommendations 100
RationalisationofInternationalNatureConservationInformationSystems FinalReport August2002 Pagev
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List ofAbbreviations and Acronyms
(inclusive ofAnnexes)
ABC AustralianBroadcastineCorporation
ARKive Projectshort-name ofthe WildscreenTrust
ASCIs AreasofSpecial ConservationInterest
BBC BritishBroadcastineCorporation
BCIS BiodiversityConservationInformationSystem
BDM BiodiversityData Management(UNEP-GEFproject)
BEG BiodiversityExpertGroup(ofEuropeanCommission)
BGBM BotanischerGartenundMuseumBerlin-Dahlem
BGCI Botanic GardensConservationInternational
BioNET Biologicalnetwork(partofCABI)
BIOSIS LegaltradenameofBiologicalAbstracts Inc
BRIM BiosphereReserves IntegratedMonitoring
BRU BiodiversityReportingUnit
CABI CAB International(formerCommonwealthAgriculturalBureau)
CABRI CommonAccesstoBiologicalResourcesandInformationService
CBD ConventiononBiologicalDiversity
CBD-CHM CBDClearing-HouseMechanism
CDDA CommonDatabaseonDesignatedAreas
CEE CentralandEasternEurope
CEEC CentralandEasternEuropeanCountries
CEH Centre forEcologyandHydrology(UK)
CELEX Centre forLexical information
CELIB ComputerisedEnvironmentalLawInformationBase(UNEP)
CGRS ChorologicalGridReference System
CHM Clearing-HouseMechanism
CIDA CanadianInternationalDevelopmentAgency
CIDS Inter-AmericanCommittee onSustainableDevelopment
CIESIN Consortiumforthe InternationalEarthScienceInformationNetwork
CITES ConventiononInternationalTradeinEndangeredSpecies
CMS ConventiononMigratorySpecies
COM Prefixidentifierforofficialmeetingsanddocumentsofthe EuropeanCommission
COP ConferenceofParties(COP7wouldrefertotheseventhCOP)
CORTNE CoordinationofInformationontheEnvironment(EEA)
CSD CommissionforSustainableDevelopment(UN)
CURIA CourtofJusticeandCourtofFirstInstance(EU)
DAC DevelopmentAssistance Committee (OECD)
DANIDA DanishInternationalDevelopmentAgency
DCMS Department forCulture,MediaandSport(UK)
DEFRA DepartmentforEnvironment, FoodandRuralAffairs(UK)
DEWA DivisionofEarlyWarningandAssessment(UNEP)
DflD DepartmentforInternationalDevelopment(UK)
DG DirectorateGeneral(ofEC)
DISP DonorInformationSharingProject
EAP EnvironmentalActionPlan
EBMI-F EuropeanBiodiversityMonitoringandIndicatorFramework
EC EuropeanCommissionorEuropeanCommunity
EC-CHM ECClearing-House Mechanism
ECN EnvironmentalChangeNetwork(UK)
ECNC EuropeanCentre forNatureConservation
ECOLEX Shortname forEnvironmental Lawinformation systemofIUCN &UNEP.
EEA EuropeanEnvironmentAgency
EFNCP EuropeanForumforNature ConservationandPastoralism
RationalisationofInternationalNatureConservationInformationSystems FinalReport August2002 Pagevii
)
EIONET EuropeanEnvironmentInformationandObservationNetwork
ELC Environmental LawCentre(ofIUCN)
ELIS Environmental Law Information Svstem
EMAN Ecological MonitoringandAssessmentNetwork(Canada)
EMG Environmental ManagementGroup
ENBI EuropeanNetworkforBiodiversityInformation
ENHSIN EuropeanNatural HistorvSpecimenInformationNetwork
ENVOC EnvironmentalVocabulary(UNEP)
ETC EuropeanTopic Centre
ETC/CDS EuropeanTopic Centre/CatalogueofData Sources
ETC/NPB EuropeanTopicCentre/Nature ProtectionandBiodiversity
EU EuropeanUnion
EUCC EuropeanUnionforCoastalConservation
EUNIS EuropeanNature InformationSvstem
EUR-Lex Shortname forEuropeanlawinformationsvstem
EuroMAB EuropeanManandBiosphereprogramme
EUR-OP OfficeforOfficialPublications(oftheEC)
Europarc UmbrellaorganisationofEurope'sprotectedareas
Eurosite NetworkoforganisationsmanagingEurope'snaturalheritage
Eurostat Statistical Office ofthe EuropeanCommunities
EWD EuropeanWildlifeDivision(ofDEFRA
FAO FoodandAgriculture Organization(UN)
FAOLEX Shortname forFAOlawinformationsvstem
FFI Fauna andFloraInternational
FIELD FoundationforInternational Environmental LawandDevelopment
FishBase Databaseoffishspeciesinformation(TheWorldFishCentre)
FCO ForeignandCommonwealthOffice(UK)
G30S Referringcollectivelytothe3 Global Observing Systems(GCOS,GOOS, GTOS)
GBIF GlobalBiodiversityInformationFacility
GCOS GlobalClimate Observing Svstem
GEF GlobalEnvironmentFacility
GEMET GeneralMultilingual EnvironmentalThesaurus
GEMS GlobalEnvironmentMonitoring Svstem(UNEP)
GEO GlobalEnvironmentalOutlook(GEO-3 referringtothethirdedition)
GIS Geographic InformationSvstem(genericterm)
GISP GlobalInvasive SpeciesProgramme
GOOS GlobalOceanObservingSvstem
GOSIC GlobalObserving SystemsInformationCentre
GRID GlobalResource InformationDatabase(UNEP)
GROMS
GlobalRegisterofMigratorySpecies
GTI GlobalTaxonomyInitiative(ofCBD)
GTOS GlobalTerrestrialObservingSvstem
GTZ GesellschaftfurTechnischeZusammenarbeit(Germany)
GWD GlobalWildlifeDivision(ofDEFRA)
HELCOM ShortnameforHelsinki Convention
HTML Hvper-TextMarkup Language
IABIN Inter-AmericanBiodiversityInformationNetwork
IAC InformalAdvisoryCommittee(totheCBD-CHM)
IACSD Inter-AgencvCommitteeon Sustainable Development
IBA ImportantBirdArea (ofEurope)
ICP International Co-operative Programmes (ofUN-ECE)
ICP/IM International Co-operative Programme/ IntegratedMonitoring(ofUN-ECE)
ICSU InternationalCouncilforScience
IEEP Institute forEuropeanEnvironmental Policy
IGO Inter-Governmental Organization
IIED InternationalInstituteforEnvironmentandDevelopment
USD International Institute forSustainable Development
Pageviii RationalisationofInternationalNatureConservationInformationSystems FinalReport August2002
ILTER International Long-TermEcological ResearchNetwork
IMG IssuesManagementGroup
INBio InstitutoNacional de Biodiversidad(CostaRica)
IPNI International PlantName Index
ISIS International Species InformationSystem
ISO InternationalOrganization forStandardisation
ITIS IntegratedTaxonomic InformationSystem
IUBS InternationalUnionforBiologicalSciences
IUCN WorldConservationUnion
IUCN-ELC IUCN Environmental LawCentre
IUCN-SIS IUCNSpecies InformationSystem
IUCN-SSC IUCN Species ServiceCommission
IUCN-WCPA IUCNWorldCommissiononProtectedAreas
JNCC JointNature ConservationCommittee(UK)
LTER LongTermEcological Research(USA)
MAB ManandtheBiosphereprogramme(ofUNESCO)
MAP MediterraneanActionPlan(ofUNEP)
MCE MainComponentElements(ofEIONET)
MEA MultilateralEnvironmentalAgreement
MEP MemberofEuropeanParliament
MNHN MuseumNationald'HistoireNaturelle(France)
NATLAN NATure/LANdCoverInformationPackage(EEA)
NatureServe Organisationname(ParmeroftheNature Conservancy)
NERC NaturalEnvironmentResearchCouncil(UK)
NFP NationalFocalPoint
NGO Non-Governmental Organization
NHM NaturalHistoryMuseum(UK)
NIS NewlyIndependent States
NoLIMITS NetworkingofLong-termIntegratedMonitoringinTerrestrial Systems(ECproject)
NRC NationalReferenceCentre(ofEIONET)
NSF NationalScience Foundation(USA)
ODBC OpenDataBaseConnector
OECD OrganizationforEconomic CooperationandDevelopment
OECD/DAC OECDDevelopmentAssistanceCommittee
OSPAR OsloandParis(shortname forConventionfortheProtectionoftheMarineFisheriesofthe
NorthEastAtlantic)
PEBLDS PanEuropeanBiologicalandLandscapeDiversifyStrategy
PEEN PanEuropeanEcologicalNetwork
RBG RoyalBotanic Gardens
REC Regional EnvironmentalCentre(forCentralandEasternEurope)
REMIB LaRedMundialde InformacionsobreBiodiversidad
RTNCIS RationalisationofNature ConservationInformationSystems(thisproject)
ROD ReportingObligations Database(EEA)
RSPB RovalSocietyfortheProtectionofBirds
SAC SpecialAreasofConservation
SBI SofiaBiodiversityInitiative
SBSTTA SubsidiaryBody forTechnicalandTechnologicalAdvice(oftheCBD)
SCOPE Scientific CommitteeonProblemsintheEnvironment(ofICSU)
SEDAC Socio-Economic DataandApplicationsCenter
SIDA SwedishInternational DevelopmentAgencv
SIS SpeciesInformation System(IUCN)
SNH ScottishNatural Heritage
SoE StateoftheEnvironment
SPA SpecialProtectionAreas
SPAW SpeciallyProtectedAreasandWildlife(ofthe WiderCaribbeanRegion)
SPREP SouthPacific Regional EnvironmentProgramme(UNEP)
SOL StructuredOuervLanguage
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SSC SpeciesSurvival Commission(IUCN)
STAP Scientific andTechnicalAdvisoryPanel (toGEF)
TDWG Taxonomic Databases WorkineGroup
TEMS Terrestrial EcosystemMonitoring Sites(DatabaseofGTOS)
TreeBASE Database ofphylogenetic knowledgeheldatUnivofBuffalo.
UN
UnitedNations
UNDP UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme
UNECE UnitedNations Economic CommissionforEurope
UNEP UnitedNations EnvironmentProgramme
UNEP.Net ShortName forUNEP informationdisseminationnetwork
UNEP-DEWA UNEPDivisionofEarlvWarningandAssessment
UNEP-GEMS UNEPGlobalEnvironmentMonitoringSystem
UNEP-GRID UNEPGlobalResource InformationDatabase
UNEP-ROE UNEPRegionalOffice forEurope
UNEP-WCMC UNEPWorldConservationMonitoringCentre
UNESCO UnitedNations Education, Scientific andCulturalOrganization
UNESCO-MAB UNESCOManandthe Biosphereprogramme
UNESCO-WHC UNESCOWorldHeritageCentre
UNU UnitedNationsUniversity
US-AID UnitedStatesAgencyforInternationalDevelopment
US-LTER UnitedStatesLongTermEcologicalResearch
UTM UniversalTransverse Mercator(mapprojection)
UVA UniversiteitvanAmsterdam
WCPA WorldCommissiononProtectedAreas(IUCN)
WDPA WorldDatabaseonProtectedAreas
WebCDS Catalogue ofDataSourcesontheWeb
WHC WorldHeritageCentre(UNESCO)
WHO
WorldHealthOrganization
WMO
WorldMeteorologicalOrganization
WR] WorldResourcesInstitute
WWF
WorldWideFundforNature
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