UNEP-WCMC

This publication provides a much needed and timely tool to assist in the collective effort to find new and better solutions to address the various threats to the marine biological diversity and productivity. It provides evidence-based recommendations on improving and accelerating actions on delivering ocean protection and management through marine protected areas and facilitates the sharing of experiences and lessons learned.

This volume gives the most up-to-date information on the distributions and conservation status of species in all inland water ecosystems across mainland continental Africa and the reasons behind their declining status. This represents the most comprehensive assessment yet of freshwater biodiversity at the species level for an entire continent. For managers, this information will assist in designing and delivering targeted action to mitigate and minimise these threats.

This Poverty Environment Partnership (PEP) report is dedicated to the increasingly popular topic of 'Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation' (REDD). Making REDD Work for the Poor outlines how the design of REDD could infuence its poverty implications and the key requirements for ensuring that REDD works for the poor.

Extensively illustrated with maps, color photographs, and graphics, this state-of-the-art reference offers a comprehensive and authoritative status report on the world's 100,000 parks, nature reserves, and other land and marine areas currently designated as protected areas. Now covering over 12 percent of the Earth's land surface, protected areas are the great strongholds of biodiversity and landscape conservation.

The system of protected area management categories lies at the centre of IUCN's work and its mission; their effective use is of fundamental concern to the Union and its members. This project has looked at the successes, failures, strengths and weaknesses of the categories after a decade of use, with the intention of giving guidance on steps needed to improve their future effectiveness in response to changing needs and conditions.

The Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 and the catastrophic hurricane season in the Gulf of Mexico in 2005 have had tragic and devastating consequences for the global community and have drawn attention to the vulnerability of tropical coastal ecosystems. The lessons learnt from these events are critically relevant to future management of the coast. More than ever it is essential to consider the full value of ‘ecosystem services’ when making decisions about coastal development.

The 2005 version of the CITES Checklist not only provides an alphabetical list of the fauna and flora included in Appendices I, II and III of CITES as adopted by the Conference of the Parties, but includes as well a CD-ROM containing the Annotated Appendices which have an index to family names and common names.

The system of protected area management categories lies at the centre of IUCN's work and its mission; their effective use is of fundamental concern to the Union and its members. This project has looked at the successes, failures, strengths and weaknesses of the categories after a decade of use, with the intention of giving guidance on steps needed to improve their future effectiveness in response to changing needs and conditions.