Biodiversity
1. BIODIVERSITY (WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE) - COASTAL AND MARINE RESOURCES
Since 1984, the World Resources Institute has focused extensively on issues supporting the conservation, sustainable use, and equitable distribution of the benefits of biodiversity - the totality of genes, species, and ecosystems - throughout the world. This site provides a great deal of information about marine biodiversity, threats to marine resources, and sustainable management. This site is highly relevant to those interested in biodiversity as it relates to coastal management.
2. COMISION NACIONAL PARA EL CONOCIMIENTO Y USO DE LA BIODIVERSIDAD
CONABIO's (the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity) fundamental task is to promote and coordinate the efforts that are currently being made by numerous institutions and groups in Mexico along three main lines: 1) knowledge of the country's biodiversity, particularly through inventories, databases, and networking; 2) sustainable use; and 3) diffusion of knowledge about biodiversity to society. This site presents information about CONABIO, its budget, its objectives, and similar agencies.
3. CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
This site contains a great deal of information pertinent to integrated coastal management generally and biodiversity specifically. Topics include the Jakarta Mandate, biosafety, traditional knowledge, and forest biodiversity.
4. EUROPEAN WORKING GROUP ON RESEARCH AND BIODIVERSITY (EWGRB)
The European Working Group on Research and Biodiversity created a research agenda titled "Understanding Biodiversity." According to the "European Community Biodiversity Strategy," presented in February, 1998, the EWGRB's research agenda will form the basis for future European Union research in the field of biodiversity. "Understanding Biodiversity" is available at this site. The site also offers a clearinghouse with information about conferences and events related to biodiversity research. Additionally, a discussion forum on a variety of subjects including marine biodiversity, non-indigenous species, and strengths and weaknesses of European biodiversity research is available at this site.
5. NATIONAL BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE
The NBII is an electronic gateway to biological data and information maintained by federal, state, and local government agencies; private sector organizations; and other partners around the nation and the world. This site provides information about education, invasive alien species, and biodiversity, as well as state, national, and international biological information. This site also allows visitors to search the NBII web pages and the NBII metadata clearinghouse.