by Zuali H. Malsawma
(May 2005) Among the many websites on the environment, here are several that are particularly useful for statistical data, reports, and other information on the environment and its links to population and health.
Environmental Profiles (United Nations Environment Programme) www.unep.net/profile
For 79 countries, this site provides profiles of the national environment outlook, issues, policy responses, national state of the environment, and contacts.
GEO: Global Environment Outlook 3 (United Nations Environment Programme) www.unep.org/geo/geo3
GEO-3 presents an overview of global and regional environment and development issues over the past 30 years, analyzes state of the environment and policy, discusses human vulnerability to environmental change, presents visions of the future, and provides options for policy actions. A data portal, data compendium, and electronic references are also included.
National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) www.cnie.org
NCSE is a nonprofit organization working to improve the scientific basis for environmental decisionmaking. Its website contains organizational and conference information and news; a National Library for the Environment that includes information on programs; hot topics; featured links; Congressional Research Service reports; and other online reference resources.
World Resources Institute (WRI) www.wri.org
WRI, an environmental think tank, provides a wealth of resources on its site including the EarthTrends portal. This portal leads to information on regional and country-specific coastal and marine ecosystems, water resources, climate, population and health, economics, energy, biodiversity, agriculture, forests, and environmental governance and institutions. Under each topic you will find a searchable database, data tables, country profiles, maps, and features.
Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) www.fao.org
The FAO is one of the largest UN specialized agencies, mandated to raise levels of nutrition and standards of living, improve agricultural productivity, and to better the conditions of rural populations. Its site provides a wealth of information on FAO activities, including access to statistical databases and reporting on agriculture, economics, forestry, fisheries, sustainable development, nutrition, and more.
Linkages (International Institute for Sustainable Development) www.iisd.ca
This site provides the latest news, information, and analysis from international environmental and development negotiations including meetings, media reports, publications, and online resources.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) www.panda.org
WWF's site provides regional and country-specific conservation program information, WWF strategy and partnerships, news, fact sheets and other publications, and activist information.
Environmental Change and Security Project www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=topics.home&topic_id=1413
This project of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars offers current events and many full-text reports on environment, population, and security.
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) www.redlist.org
The Red List catalogs and highlights animal and plant species that are facing a high risk of global extinction. Included are species' taxonomy details, scientific name, common names, assessment date, country/region of occurrence, population trends, and data sources.
People & the Planet www.peopleandplanet.net
This website is devoted to the inter-related issues of population, poverty, consumption, health, and the environment. Key topics offered include population pressures, food and agriculture, reproductive health, pollution, coasts and oceans, renewable energy, poverty and trade, climate change, green industry, ecotourism, biodiversity, mountains, forests, water, and cities.
Earth Policy Institute www.earth-policy.org
The Institute is dedicated to providing a vision of what an eco-economy (an environmentally sustainable economy) looks like. The site provides publications, key indicators and scheduled events.
World Bank's Environment Information http://lnweb18.worldbank.org/essd/envext.nsf/41bydocname/environment
The World Bank's work on environmental issues is categorized under themes, strategy, regions, mainstreaming, projects, analytical and advisory assistance, operational policies, capacity development and knowledge shareing, publications, partnerships, and media contacts. Each category provides links to relevant activities and resources across the Bank's many sectors.
Population Reference Bureau's Environment section www.prb.org/environment
The Environment section on PRB's website offers data and in-depth analysis in the form of articles, datasheets, reports, and graphs. Links to relevant websites and resources are also provided.
Population Action International's Environment section www.populationaction.org/issues/environment/
PAI's site on the environment contains full-text publications including fact sheets and several reports.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) & the Environment www.usaid.gov/our_work/environment
The site provides information on USAID's programs to tackle major environmental problems worldwide. Country-specific environmental activities can be accessed through the section "Locations."
National Audubon Society's Population & Habitat Program www.audubonpopulation.org
This program website contains information about the program, news, fact sheets, publications and videos, legislative updates, and activist resources.
National Wildlife Federation's Population & Environment www.nwf.org/international/pop
This section of the NWF website includes information about this program, other key resources, fact sheets, and reports & testimony.
Sierra Club's Global Population and Environment Program www.sierraclub.org/population
Several articles on population and environment issues are available here, including a newsletter and activist resources.
Worldwatch Institute www.worldwatch.org
Worldwatch informs policymakers and the public about emerging global problems and trends and the complex links betweeen the world economy and its environmental support systems. The website contains publications, a resource center, a press room, scheduled live discussions with a researcher, and information on global partners.
PopPlanet www.popplanet.org
Developed by the National Council for Science and the Environment in partnership with the Population Reference Bureau, PopPlanet focuses on the relationship among population, health, and environmental issues. It features an online moderated bulletin board in English, Spanish, and French, and profiles for selected countries.
Population-Environment Research Network www.populationenvironmentresearch.org
This project of the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population provides an annotated eLibrary of resources, membership invitation, conference calendar, listing of jobs/funding, cyber seminars, and links to related sites.
Facing the Future www.facingthefuture.org
This site provides educational materials for teachers, students, and the public on global issues addressing population, environment, consumption, peace & conflict, and poverty & equity. Information is also provided on the organization's teacher partnership program, partners, supporters, publications and awards, and staff.
Zuali Malsawma is a librarian at the Population Reference Bureau