8. Sustainable Resource Management

8.1 African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)

African Centre for Technology Studies [updated March 2004]
PO Box 45917
Nairobi
KENYA
Contact: Prof Judi Wakhungu, Director
Tel: +254 2 524700 / 524000 /
Fax: +254 524701 / 524001
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.acts.or.ke Geographic coverage: Africa
Languages: English
Subject areas: Environmental policy; Biodiversity; Climate change; Desertification; Policy analysis; Science; Technology
Publications: A list of publications is available online

ACTS is an international, intergovernmental policy research and training organisation located in Nairobi, working on policy issues in science, technology and the environment. Its activities focus on biological diversity, climate change and desertification. Its members include the governments of Kenya, Uganda, Malawi and Malta, as well as the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) and the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS).

The objectives of ACTS are to:

contribute to the building of national capacity in public policy analysis in Africa in the areas of environment and technology by offering training to government, private sector and NGO officials, and through providing affiliation and fellowships to researchers;
undertake public policy research in international environmental agreements, technological change, industrialisation and the environment, economic reform and environmental management, and local/community natural resource management systems;
initiate and provide inputs into policy reform processes to facilitate national efforts to implement global and national environmental agreements and programmes;
disseminate research findings through publications, public fora and other means.

The Centre actively publicises its research results by means of its outreach activities, which include publication of books, monographs and magazines, and through national and regional seminars and consultations, international conferences and other fora.

8.2 African Energy Policy Research Network (AFREPREN)

African Energy Policy Research Network [Updated June 2004]
PO Box 30979
Nairobi
KENYA
Contact: Stephen Karekezi, Director
Tel: +254 2 566032 or 571467
Fax: +254 2 561464 or 566231 or 740524
E-mail: [email protected] / [email protected]
Web: http://www.afrepren.org/
Geographic coverage: Africa
Languages: English
Subject areas: Energy; Policy and planning; Sustainable development
Publications: AFREPREN Quarterly Newsletter; AFREPREN Update

The African Energy Policy Research Network, AFREPREN, initiated in1987 brings together 106 African energy researchers and policy makers from Africa who have a long-term interest in energy research and the attendant policy-making process. AFREPREN has initiated policy research studies in 19 African countries namely: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. AFREPREN also maintains close collaborative links with energy researchers and policy makers from Cote D'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Senegal.

AFREPREN's main objective is to strengthen local research capacity and to harness it in the service of energy policy making and planning. AFREPREN members decide on the structure, direction and mode of operation of the Network. Its secretariat, established in Nairobi, Kenya, co-ordinates the research programme of AFREPREN and provides the requisite administrative and technical support.

AFREPREN is involved in the following studies and initiatives that address energy and poverty issues in Eastern and Southern Africa:

A Global Network on Energy for Sustainable Development (GNESD) sponsored study on the impact of power sector reforms on the poor in collaboration with the UNEP Riso Center
A Heinrich Boll Foundation (HBF) sponsored study on the status and potential of renewable energy technologies in Eastern and Horn of Africa.
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) initiative aimed at promoting renewables and energy efficiency systems in a reforming power sector.
An ESMAP sponsored survey to assess the outsourcing opportunities for SMEs in the reforming electricity sector of East and Southern Africa
Global Development Network (GDN) sponsored study on the linkages between research and policy in the energy sector in Eastern and Southern Africa.

AFREPREN's research findings have been disseminated through:

major publications: based on the research findings;
working papers: these are the research findings and they are available on an exchange basis;
newsletters: the AFREPREN Quarterly Newsletter is one of the Network's key publications, circulated to donors, regional and international energy agencies as well as individual energy researchers and decision-makers globally.
workshops and seminars: involving policymakers from various countries. The issues discussed are usually based on AFREPREN research;
national policy seminars: these are organised by the researchers as a means to present their research findings to policymakers and key stakeholders in their respective countries;
website: the AFREPREN website provides information on the Network.
AFREPREN Update: published every two months, it serves to inform individuals on the activities that have been, and will be undertaken by AFREPREN.

All publications are distributed on an exchange basis.

8.3 AGRHYMET

AGRHYMET
BP 11011
Niamey
NIGER
Tel: +227 73 31 16
Fax: +227 73 24 35
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.agrhymet.ne/
Geographic coverage: Sahel
Languages: French
Subject areas: Climatology; Hydrology; Livestock management; Meteorology; Plant protection
Publications: Agrhymet Info

AGRHYMET aims to:

undertake research applied to the common problems of the countries in the Sahel region and to develop new technologies;
collect and disseminate information with the support of CILSS (Comité Permanent Inter Etats de Lutte Contre La Sécheresse au Sahel);
train personnel in the region in climatology, agrometeorology, hydrology, plant protection, livestock management and maintenance of equipment;
act as a source and disseminator of information;
work closely and in collaboration with other like-minded organisations.

8.4 ASEAN Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation (ARCBC)

ASEAN Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation
Headquarters
PO Box 35015
Los Baños, Laguna 4031
PHILIPPINES
Tel: +63 49 536 1659/3989/4042
Fax: +63 49 536 2865
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.arcbc.org
Geographic coverage: Asia
Languages: English
Subject areas: Biodiversity; Conservation
Publications: ASEAN Biodiversity Online!

ARCBC serves as the central focus for networking and institutional linkage among ASEAN Member Countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam), and between ASEAN and European Union partner organisations. It aims to enhance the capacity of ASEAN in promoting biodiversity conservation through the National Biodiversity Reference Units located in the ASEAN countries.

ARCBC intends specifically to:

promote regional networks and intra-ASEAN and ASEAN-EU links;
identify and help overcome information gaps;
analyse, document and disseminate information;
establish and maintain an appropriate database referral system;
support institutions in analysing biodiversity legislation and in policy development;
identify needs and assist in training;
organise workshops, conferences seminars, etc., and assist in upgrading curricula.

Publications: networking and the exchange of knowledge and experience are key functions of the Regional Centre. Brief information on salient documents published by ARCBC, by the various National Biodiversity Conservation Units and by European partner institutions is held on its website, and copies of the literature are obtainable from the publishers on request.

ASEAN Biodiversity Online! - its magazine, a tool for sharing significant experiences and lessons learned, is an invaluable source of information on biodiversity conservation and management in Southeast Asia.

8.5 Asociación de Corporaciones Autónomas Regionales, de Desarrollo Sostenible y Autoridades Ambientales de Grandes Centros Urbanos (ASOCARS) [Association of Regional Autonomous Corporations, of Sustainable Development Autonomous Corporations and Environmental Authorities of Extended Urban Areas]

ASOCARS
Calle 70 No. 11 A - 24
Bogotá D.C.
COLOMBIA
Contact: Rocío del Pilar Tovar, Communications Manager
Tel: +57 2 3172655 or 3172711 or 3172888 or 3107772
Fax: +57 2 3170164 or 3479297
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.asocars.org.co/
Geographic coverage: Colombia
Languages: Spanish
Subject areas: Sustainable development

ASOCARS is an association of 26 Corporaciones Autónomas Regionales (participatory bodies, the main environmental authorities in each region of Colombia); seven Corporaciones de Desarrollo Sostenible (Corporations for Sustainable Development); and four Autoridades Ambientales Urbanas (urban environmental authorities) - in total it includes 37 environmental authorities of different regions in Colombia.

ASOCARS aims at supporting its members in their development, promoting horizontal networking and stronger institutional and technical interventions, locally and regionally. It promotes processes aiming at sustainable development through participatory and decentralised environmental management. It has five main lines of action: strategic thinking; organisation; representation; coordination; strategic services.

8.6 Biomass Users Network in Zimbabwe (BUN-Zimbabwe)

Biomass Users Network in Zimbabwe
Private Bag 7768
Causeway
Harare
ZIMBABWE
Contact: M. C. Mapako, Director
Tel: +263 4 793395 or 793396
Fax: +263 4 793313
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] or [email protected]
Geographic coverage: Africa
Languages: English
Subject areas: Biomass; Natural resource management

The main aim of the Network is to help develop and strengthen national capabilities in developing countries, and to increase production and use of biomass resources as a means of advancing economic and social wellbeing, primarily in rural areas.

BUN-Zimbabwe is part of Biomass Users Network International (BUN), a non-profit-making membership organisation created by and for developing countries. The Network helps identify opportunities for improving rural economies in an environmentally sustainable manner through the innovative production and efficient use of biomass resources. It facilitates information dissemination, scientific and technical cooperation, and funding for demonstration projects in biomass production and use.

BUN believes that ecologically sound agriculture and forestry, along with local, value-added processing, is the key element in reducing poverty, promoting efficient management of natural resources, and ultimately in achieving sustainable development in rural areas of most developing countries. This is viewed as crucial in helping to maintain global environmental stability.

BUN exists in Brazil, Costa Rica, India and Zimbabwe. These offices are autonomous and have the overall responsibility of fund raising, project implementation and accounting. Each office is involved in network development, information and training, communications, and setting up demonstration projects.

8.7 BioNET-INTERNATIONAL: The Global Network for Taxonomy

BioNET-INTERNATIONAL
Technical Secretariat
Bakeham Lane
Egham
Surrey TW20 9TY
UNITED KINGDOM
Contact: Dr Nicholas King, Director
Tel: +44 1491 829036/7/8
Fax: +44 1491 829082
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.bionet-intl.org/
Geographic coverage: Global
Languages: English; French; Spanish
Subject areas: Agricultural development; Biodiversity; Natural resource management; Taxonomy
Publications: BioNET Bulletin; BioNET Newsletter

BioNET-INTERNATIONAL, The Global Network for Taxonomy, an intergovernmental initiative for taxonomic capacity building in developing countries, is an association of institutions with expertise in taxonomy.

BioNET-INTERNATIONAL is dedicated to supporting regional and national poverty eradication programmes - via sustainable use of natural resources, agricultural development and conservation of biodiversity - by enabling developing countries to achieve realistic self-reliance in the skills, infrastructure and technologies needed to discover, identify, name, classify, and to understand the relationships of all organisms which constitute our living environment.

It is comprised of subregional LOOPs (Locally Organised and Operated Partnerships) of developing country institutions, supported by a consortium of developed country institutions (BIOCON), and a Technical Secretariat (TecSec). Currently there are LOOPs in the Caribbean (CARINET), East, West and southern Africa (EAFRINET, WAFRINET and SAFRINET, respectively), Southeast Asia (ASEANET), South Pacific (PACINET), and Europe (EuroLOOP) - a total of 120 countries. Others are being developed in East Asia, West Asia, South Asia and the Andean subregion.

Publications include:

BioNET Bulletin - a monthly bulletin in English, French and Spanish available either online or by E-mail, it is intended to keep its readers up to date with events and developments in the world of taxonomy;
BioNET Newsletter - free subscription;
World Taxonomist Database - a directory dedicated to the taxonomist profession, produced by the Expert Centre for Taxonomic Identification (ETI), that allows users to register online (http://www.eti.uva.nl/database/WTD.html) and can also be accessed from the BioNet website.

8.8 Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI)

Caribbean Natural Resources Institute
Fernandes Industrial Centre
PO Box 383
Administration Building
Eastern Main Road
Laventille
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

Dock Road
Vieux Fort
ST LUCIA
Contact: Alisa Mitchell, Programme Assistant
Tel: +1 868 626 6062
Fax: +1 868 626 1788
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.canari.org/
Geographic coverage: Caribbean
Languages: English; Spanish
Subject areas: Capacity building; Natural resource management; Radio broadcasts
Publications: A publication list is available on request.

The Caribbean Natural Resources Institute is an independent development organisation with more than 20 years of service to the countries and territories of the insular Caribbean.

CANARI, in seeking to create avenues for the equitable participation and effective collaboration of Caribbean communities and institutions in managing the use of natural resources critical to development, has focused on the adoption of policies and programmes that support increased participation and collaboration in natural resource management. Its activities have included research and analysis, advocacy and active engagement in community-based conservation projects. CANARI has shared the results of its work through documents, reports and training in all the languages of the Caribbean.

CANARI relocated its headquarters from St Croix to Trinidad & Tobago in 2001, and is maintaining its programme designed to build capacity within the Caribbean for participatory natural resource management. Its research agenda in this context focuses on understanding policy processes, designing institutional arrangements, developing procedures for sustainable resource use, and testing resource management interventions. Its advocacy work aims to build a foundation for the acceptance and use of participatory processes and collaborative arrangements in natural resource management, centred around issues identified in its research agenda. Its activities in this context include sharing of information and analysis through scientific and technical papers, seminars, policy papers, case studies, and radio and TV programmes; transfer of skills through training activities, guideline publications and instructional videos; and provision of technical support through small grants, technical assistance and library services.

CANARI maintains a Documentation Centre and has published a wide range of reports and studies based on its extensive work in the Caribbean. A publication list is available on request.

8.9 CARINET (The Caribbean Biosystematics Network)

CARINET-The Caribbean Biosystematics Network [updated July 2004]
c/o CAB International Regional Office
Gordon Street
Curepe
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

Contact: Dr Ronald Barrow, Technical Coordinator
Tel: +1 868 662 6732 Fax: +1 868 663 2859
Geographic coverage: Caribbean
Languages: English
Subject areas: Biodiversity; Ecotourism; Information management; Sustainable agriculture
Publications: CARINET Newsletter QuarterlyE-mail: [email protected] Web: http://carinet.ecoport.org/welcome.htm

CARINET was established in 1993 with the agreement of the Standing Council Of Ministers of Agriculture, the policy body for agriculture of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), as a sub-regional programme. It became operational in March 1996 with the establishment of the CARINET network coordinating institute (NECI) as a local organised and operated subsidiary (LOOP) of BioNET-International. CARINET is mandated by the Caribbean region's urgent need to conserve and utilise sustainably its biological resources. While the Caribbean is renowned for its species diversity and endemism, the problems of small size, isolation and fragility threaten the very resources on which the region depends. This applies to its marine, coastal and terrestrial resources.

CARINET is the taxonomic capacity building network of the Caribbean involved in biosystematics of arthropods, nematodes, microorganisms, non-vascular and vascular plants.

Role and function of CARINET:

to provide biosystematic services to the Caribbean sub-region and so develop and maintain sustainable systems in the agricultural and environmental sectors;
to offer species identification services at minimal cost to member countries;
to progress the initiative of self-reliance in biosystematics through continued training, upgrade of reference collections, information services and the development and adaptation of user-friendly technologies;
to provide support to national programmes in areas related to plant quarantine, wise use of the environment and biodiversity, and eco-tourism;
to establish North-South, South-South linkages to facilitate the implementation of the programme of work.
Objectives:
to assist CARIFORUM member countries to meet their commitments to Agenda 21 on UNCED and their obligations as signatories to the Convention on Biological Diversity;
to provide CARIFORUM member countries, international organisations and non-governmental organisations with the best advice and biosystematic services to support their national programme;
through training, to establish and sustain within the Caribbean self-reliance in biosystematics with emphasis on arthropods, nematodes, microorganisms and non-vascular plants.

CARINET's activities are focused on information and communication services, training, rehabilitation of resources, and development and application of new technologies.

CARINET is directly involved in the production of original information in the development of its databases covering biosystematics, directories of experts and laboratories, the development of museum collections, and the publishing of taxonomic keys and other research publications. In addition, its other activities, training and rehabilitation of resources are value added information components, providing personnel with the knowledge and tools to meet CARINET's stated objectives.

Publications include: CARINET Annual Report, CARINET News Quarterly and BioNET Bulletin (produced monthly by BioNET-International)

8.10 Centre for Energy, Environment, Science and Technology (CEEST)

Centre for Energy, Environment, Science and Technology
B3-16 TIRDO Estates
PO Box 5511
Dar es Salaam
TANZANIA
Tel: +255 51 66759-69
Fax: +255 51 666079
E-mail: [email protected]
Geographic coverage: Africa
Languages: English
Subject areas: Energy; Environment; Natural resource management; Science; Technology; Water; Women
Publications: A publications list is available on request

CEEST was incorporated in 1992 as a company limited by guarantee. CEEST's mission is to develop and sustain expertise and a capacity for independent policy analysis, research and information dissemination in the fields of energy, environment, water and sanitation, and natural resource use and management.

Specific objectives of the Centre are to:

undertake studies in fields related to energy, water and sanitation, the environment, science and technology and development;
undertake studies and research, and offer expertise in the management of natural resources including agriculture and food production;
provide training in energy, water and sanitation, the environment, science and technology, for researchers and students from within and outside the country, through short-term attachments;
publish and disseminate information on energy, water and sanitation, the environment, science and technology through seminars, symposia, workshops and the media;
offer expertise and provide services to government, NGOs, bilateral agencies and the private sector on matters related to energy, water and sanitation, the environment, science and technology and development;
forge links between institutions with similar endeavours in other countries and institutions in Tanzania;
initiate and carry out collaborative work on energy, water, natural resources, the environment, science and technology, with other institutions within and outside the country;
carry out the business of publishers, producing all kinds of reading matter.

Core programmes: the provision of policy technical analyses and research to governmental and other institutions has been the main thrust of CEEST. In order to achieve its objectives, the Centre has identified five major core programmes:

Environment Assessment and Management;
Energy Development and Management;
Water and Health and Sanitation Development and Management;
Science and Technology Development and Management Training;
Women and Development.

The Centre has established a documentation centre with over 3000 reference materials recorded and fully computerised using the CDS/ISIS software, and has published a wide range of materials covering its main areas of interest.

8.11 Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE) [Tropical Agriculture Research and Higher Learning Center]

Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza
CATIE
Turrialba 7170
COSTA RICA
Contact: Director General
Tel: +506 556 6431
Fax: +506 556 1533
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
Web: http://www.catie.ac.cr/catie/
Geographic coverage: Caribbean and Latin America
Languages: English; Spanish
Subject areas: Agricultural research; Education/training; Natural resource management; Tropical agriculture
Publications: Agroforestry in the Americas Journal, Central American Forestry Journal and Integrated Pest Management Journal

Overall objective: CATIE is a non-profit, autonomous civil international association whose mission is to improve the wellbeing of humanity through the application of scientific research and higher education to development, conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

Activities include:

education - through formal degree and technical training courses, CATIE is one of the key professional institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean;
research - CATIE's research provides knowledge, techniques and technology for the efforts to confront poverty and natural resource and environmental deterioration;
communication services - through the provision of information services and online databases;
advice - CATIE provides technical advice to national public institutions, private organisations, academic and scientific organisations and NGOs.

CATIE has regular and affiliated members. Regular members are: Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).

8.12 Comité Permanent Inter Etats de Lutte Contre La Sécheresse au Sahel (CILSS) [Permanent Inter-State Committee in the Fight against Drought in the Sahel]

CILSS
Executive Secretariat
03 LP 7049 Ouagadougou 03
BURKINA FASO
Tel: +226 37.41.25/26
Fax: +226 37.41.32
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.cilssnet.org/
Geographic coverage: Africa
Languages: English; French
Subject areas: Dryland ecosystems; Food security; Livestock management
Publications: Flash CILSS (newsletter); Sahéliens reflections; Pop Sahel; Studies and Sahéliennes Research

CILSS was created in 1973. It is an intergovernemental organisation covering nine countries in the Sahel (Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Chad). Its mandate is to invest in research on food security and the fight against the effects of dryness and turning into a desert, for a new ecological balance in the Sahel.

CILSS, through its resource centre, offers an information and dissemination service. It publishes several journals and other documents of a scientific and technical or general nature. It makes strategic and prospective studies in its fields of intervention (food security, natural stock management, etc.).

Coordinators of Member States

Burkina Faso:
Tel: +226 32.41.29, Fax: +226 30.57.40, E-mail: [email protected]

Cape Verde:
Tel/Fax: +238 61.69.02, E-mail: [email protected]

Gambia:
Tel: +220 22.61.34, Fax: +220 22.89.98, E-mail: [email protected]

Guinea-Bissau:
Tel: +245 21.31.25, Fax: +245 22.10.03

Mali:
Tel: +223 22.86.67, Fax: +223 22.43.78, E-mail: [email protected]

Mauritania:
Tel: +222) 525.04.80, E-mail: [email protected]

Niger:
Tel/Fax: +227 73.25.70, E-mail: [email protected]

Senegal:
Tel: +221 21.24.61, Fax: +221 23.73.02, E-mail: [email protected]

Chad:
Tel: +235 52.38.97, Fax: +235 52.51.19, E-mail: [email protected]

8.13 Counterpart Caribbean

Counterpart Caribbean
The Future Centre
Edgehill, St Thomas
BARBADOS
Contact: Dr Frances Chandler, Consultant/Agronomist or Dr Basil Springer, Chairman
Tel: +1 246 425 2020
Fax: +1 246 425 0044
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.counterpart.org/caribbean/
Geographic coverage: Caribbean
Languages: English
Subject areas: Coral reefs; Environmental education; Forest conservation; Rural industry and enterprises; Sustainable agriculture
Publications: Caribbean Counterpart (quarterly newsletter)

Counterpart Caribbean, an affiliate of the Washington, D.C.-based Counterpart International, with affiliates and offices in over 40 countries, was formally launched in May 2001. This new organisation in the Caribbean will focus on implementing areas of the programme of action adopted at the 1994 conference on Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, held in Barbados. Key target areas of the new organisation are sustainable agriculture, forest conservation, coral reef regeneration, environmental education, and enterprise development.

Counterpart Caribbean publishes a quarterly newsletter, Caribbean Counterpart.

8.14 ETC GROUP (Action Group on Erosion, Technology, and Concentration)

ETC GROUP (formerly RAFI)
478 River Avenue, Suite 200
Winnipeg MB R3L 0C8
CANADA
Contact: Pat Roy Mooney, Executive Director
Tel: +1 204 453 5259
Fax: +1 204 284 7871
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.etcgroup.org/
Geographic coverage: Global
Languages: English
Subject areas: Biodiversity; Biotechnology; Intellectual property; Plant genetic resources; Sustainable agriculture
Publications: Communiqué; occasional papers

The ETC GROUP (formerly RAFI - Rural Advancement Foundation International) is an international NGO with headquarters in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. ETC is dedicated to the conservation and sustainable improvement of agricultural biodiversity, and to the socially responsible development of technologies useful to rural societies. ETC is concerned about the loss of genetic diversity - especially in agriculture - and about the impact of intellectual property on agriculture and world food security.

The ETC GROUP works in partnership with NGOs for cooperative and sustainable self-reliance within rural societies, through the provision of information on socio-economic and technological trends and alternatives. This work requires joint actions in community, regional, and global fora.

The ETC GROUP's strength is in the research and analysis of technological information (particularly, but not exclusively, plant genetic resources, biotechnologies and biological diversity), and in the development of strategic options related to the socio-economic implications posed by new technologies.

The ETC GROUP works primarily at the global and regional (continental or subcontinental) levels. ETC GROUP does not make grants or funds available to individuals or organisations.

Publications:

Communiqué - the ETC GROUP's principal publication, providing original, in-depth ETC research on biodiversity, new technologies, and intellectual property, published four to six times yearly;
occasional papers - irregular publications presenting independent ETC GROUP research studies and information on ETC's work in progress.

By joining the ETC GROUP mailing list, you will receive notification of new publications from ETC and updates on stories reported in ETC's Communiqué. The list is a place for announcements and up-to-date reports rather than a forum for extended discussion.

8.15 Forum on Organic Resource Management and Agricultural Technologies (FORMAT)

FORMAT
PO Box 79
Nairobi
KENYA
Contact: Musa N. Omare, Secretary
Tel: +254 2 520328
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
Web: http://www.formatkenya.org/
Geographic coverage: East Africa
Languages: English
Subject areas: Agricultural extension; Organic agriculture; Natural resource management
Publications: Organic Resources Notebook (online newsletter)

Many innovative organisations, including farmers' associations, agricultural extension and developmental NGOs, and research scientists, are examining organic resource management technologies in diverse locations but too often in isolation from one another. Individuals and organisations working in isolation are less able to benefit from the experiences and accomplishments of others. Nonetheless, considerable progress is being made in numerous areas, and tested management practices, information packages and new products are now available to farmers, development groups and private sector interests. Kenya's research and development community has recently established a national Forum on Organic Resource Management and Agricultural Technologies to express resource management philosophies, compare promising technologies and obtain or exchange recently developed products.

FORMAT's website serves to popularise organic resource management in its diverse forms, to disseminate information presented at the first FORMAT meeting held in September 2000, and to provide updates on important events and useful technologies related to organic resource management in East Africa.

8.16 Ghana Organic Agriculture Network (GOAN)

Ghana Organic Agriculture Network
PO Box 6342
Kumasi
GHANA
Contact: Emmanuel Antwi, General Secretary
Tel: +233 51 25306
Fax: +233 51 26642
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.hdra.org.uk/overseas/ovs_adv.htm#goan
Geographic coverage: Ghana
Languages: English
Subject areas: Indigenous knowledge; Information management; Education/training; Organic agriculture

GOAN brings together interested farmer groups, individuals, NGOs and institutions who have been working in isolation, to enable them to share ideas and experiences. To date GOAN has 74 member groups and organisations.

GOAN is establishing an organic agriculture centre and subcentres for the provision of information and advice, education, demonstration and training. The resource base in Kumasi aims to collate and disseminate global information as well as indigenous knowledge on organic farming and agroforestry, to provide a question-and-answer service, and to produce extension literature for distribution. The local centres are setting up demonstration farms and gardens throughout Ghana to enable greater local provision of information and training, and to ensure maximum adoption of organic and sustainable farming practices.

GOAN has facilitated and carried out many educational and training workshops throughout the country at regional, district and village levels for farmers, NGOs, school children and teachers. These aim to educate and train participants in organic and sustainable agricultural methods. They cover a wide range of topics, including soil fertility building, composting, intercropping, agroforestry, natural pest and disease control, weed control and organic livestock management.

GOAN is also interested in issues such as the development of local markets for organic produce, and the establishment of a local inspection and certification body for export of organic produce, thereby providing income generation for organic farmers.

GOAN has been successful in forging links with research institutions to look at alternative methods of pest and disease control, with specific reference to cocoa, oil palm, cotton, cereals, vegetables and fruit, which a number of member groups are producing with a view to exporting under an organic label.

8.17 Global Witness

Global Witness
PO Box 6042
London N19 5WP
UNITED KINGDOM
Contact: Director
Tel: +44 20 7272 6731
Fax: +44 20 7272 9425
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.oneworld.org/globalwitness/
Geographic coverage: Global
Languages: English
Subject areas: Forest products and industries; Human rights; Natural resource economics

Global Witness is one of few non-governmental investigative organisations working to expose the link between natural resource exploitation and human rights abuses. It operates in areas where environmentally destructive trade is funding conflict or human rights violations, and collects the evidence and uses it to achieve long-term change.

Global Witness believes that in many cases the environment is linked to the seemingly separate issues of poverty, conflict and human rights. Too often, reconstruction and development of countries emerging from long periods of conflict is hindered by extensive corruption. Individuals or organisations that carry out illegal trade in natural resources are depriving the country's treasury from receiving much-needed revenue, and as a result the country remains unstable. This instability makes it easier for the perpetrators of corruption to continue to exploit the country's resources for their own personal gain, and has a direct correlation to human rights abuses. The people often suffer from intimidation, poverty and deprivation.

Revenue from trade in natural resources is a major source of funding of conflict and human rights abuses, and this link is central to Global Witness's work. It seeks to gather and disseminate information regarding environmental exploitation and its social, ecological and economic effects, in order that the links are understood by those who are in a position to effect positive change. Targets for Global Witness's information include governments, NGOs, international donors, development organisations, the media and the general public.

Global Witness's forest team works together to eliminate the trade in conflict timber, to combat illegal logging, and to prevent unsustainable forest practices.

Global Witness has been working on forest issues on a country-specific basis since its inception in 1995.

8.18 Groupe Énergies Renouvelables et Environnement (GERES)

Groupe Énergies Renouvelables et Environnement
2, cours Maréchal Foch
13400 Aubagne
FRANCE
Contact: Alain Guinebault, General Manager
Tel: +33 4 42 18 55 88
Fax: +33 4 42 03 01 56
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://geres.free.fr/
Geographic coverage: Global
Languages: French
Subject areas: Energy resources; Waste treatment

GERES was established in 1976 to offer expertise and advice in finding solutions for energy management and solid and liquid waste treatment. It encourages the use of local resources and renewable energy sources with a view to respecting the environment and providing well balanced development schemes.

At present, work falls under eight main themes:

bioclimatic architecture;
decentralised rural electrification;
drying of food products;
electricity demand management;
firewood saving;
heating in cold regions;
re-use of biomass waste;
wastewater treatment.

GERES employs 10 engineers, technicians and administrators, and is able to call on a wide network of technical and development experts. In particular, its activities concentrate on programme design, advice, training and research, publications and technical assistance for contracting authorities.

8.19 Indigenous Peoples Biodiversity Information Network (IBIN)

Indigenous Peoples Biodiversity Information Network
355 Yellowhead Highway
Kamloops
BC V2H 1H1
CANADA
Tel: +1 250 828 9761
Fax: +1 250 828 9787
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.ibin.org/
Geographic coverage: Global
Languages: English
Subject areas: Biodiversity; Indigenous knowledge

IBIN is a mechanism to exchange information about experiences and projects, and to increase collaboration among indigenous groups working on common causes related to biodiversity use and conservation.

It is currently in a pilot phase, and is being designed to both serve the private internal needs of indigenous groups, and to facilitate sharing information publicly. It will work to foster communications among indigenous groups globally, and to aid indigenous people to form their own locally appropriate communications plans.

IBIN is not itself a policy-making organisation or an information publisher, but will act to aid indigenous organisations and networks in forming their own information-sharing protocols, and to help make public information on the Convention on Biological Diversity and related processes more accessible to them. IBIN will offer technical assistance in making telecommunications tools and other communication methods accessible to indigenous groups and help build their capacity to use them more effectively.

IBIN Links pages attempt to provide high-quality links to indigenous and non-indigenous organisations, offering information relevant to indigenous capacity building and participation in biodiversity issues.

IBIN Forums are web-based conferencing systems to allow users with web browsers to join online discussions on topics related to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Some of the IBIN forums are closed and require permission to participate in them.

IBIN Library: IBIN is not primarily an information publisher, rather a clearing house for information produced by others. The clearing house focuses on local storage and management of information, and on building that capacity where it does not yet exist. IBIN will, however, be willing to explore the option to store and manage information for groups currently without the resources to do it themselves. IBIN will be willing to publish information only where the source is clearly identified, and where it can be verified that the intermediary has the authority to make information publicly available. From time to time, IBIN may also publish documents related to the structure and operation of IBIN itself.

8.20 International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM)

IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements) [updated July 2004]
Charles-de-Gaulle-Str. 5
53113 Bonn
GERMANY

Contact: Bernward Geier, Director for International Relations
Tel: +49 (0) 228 926 50-10
Fax: +49 (0) 228 926 50-99
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.ifoam.org/
Geographic coverage: Global
Languages: English; French
Subject areas: Organic agriculture
Publications: Internal Letter (quarterly); Ecology and Farming (three issues per year)

IFOAM (the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements) has 750 members in more than 100 countries. It aims to unite the efforts of its members to promote organic agriculture as an ecologically and socially sound and sustainable method of food production which minimises environmental pollution and the use of non-renewable natural resources.

The aims of the Federation are to:

provide authoritative information about organic agriculture, and to promote its worldwide application.
exchange knowledge and ideas among its members;
inform the public;
represent internationally the organic movement in parliamentary, administrative and policy-making forums;
set and regularly revise international production, processing and trading standards.

IFOAM publishes a quarterly IFOAM - in Action (English, Spanish or French) and the magazine Ecology and Farming three times a year, and these may be made available on exchange.

The IFOAM Directory of the member organisations and associates, containing information, such as addresses, phone and fax numbers, key activities about organisations and business in the organic world is now available on the IFOAM website; so too are details of other of its publications.

8.21 IUCN Regional Office for Southern Africa (IUCN-ROSA)

IUCN Regional Office for Southern Africa
PO Box 745
6 Lanark Road
Belgravia
Harare
ZIMBABWE
Contact: Dr Yemi Katerere, Regional Director for Southern Africa
Tel: +263 4 728266 or 7 706261 or 725623
Fax: +263 4 720738
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.iucnrosa.org.zw/
Geographic coverage: Southern Africa
Languages: English
Subject areas: Capacity building; Conservation; Extension and advisory work; Natural resources management
Publications: Transborder Dialogue (quarterly newsletter); publications list available online

IUCN-ROSA was established in Zimbabwe in 1987 to serve the Southern African Region in the development of modern skills in conservation and natural resource management. IUCN ROSA coordinates such regional services to over 72 members (nine government agencies, eight state agencies, three affiliates and 52 NGOs) in 11 countries through its regional support programmes, regional networks, and country offices in Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia and South Africa.

Key support to fulfilling IUCN-ROSA's mission are the country offices in Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia and South Africa. These offices are part of the Secretariat, and play an important role in programmatic synergy and add value to IUCN's work in the region. In addition there are project offices in Malawi and Namibia.

IUCN-ROSA seeks to support and complement its membership and their own priorities. The underlying objective in all its activities and programmes is capacity building and catalysing action. Developing, coordinating and supporting programmatic partnerships is the preferred operational mechanism supporting this objective.

Additional services include the provision of objective and scientifically based advisory services and technical assistance, training inputs and programmes, and fora for national and inter-regional dialogue, networking, debate and conflict resolution.

IUCN-ROSA is part of the international membership organisation IUCN (World Conservation Union), which brings together states, governments and a diverse range of NGOs in a global partnership concerned with environmental issues. IUCN builds bridges between governments and NGOs, science and society, local action and global policy.

With over 500 titles in print, IUCN's publications represent one of its most important means of communication. Its professional conservation knowledge and expertise is disseminated worldwide through these publications and reflects a unique collaboration between members, donors, commissions and global secretariat. A full listing may be found on IUCN's global site: http://www.iucn.org/publications/info.htm.

TBNRM Network (Southern Africa Network for Transboundary Natural Resource Management): this is an informal network of individuals involved in or interested in TBNRM across international borders in southern Africa. With funding support from the Ford Foundation, the programme is being implemented with the aim of facilitating information sharing (in part through its website,http://www.iucnrosa.org.zw/tbnrm/index.html), research and capacity building. The TBNRM Network has no political agenda and strives only to improve TBNRM by facilitating the exchange and sharing of information and ideas. Individuals participate in the network in their capacity as individuals, not as representatives of organisations or institutions.

The TBNRM Network publishes materials resulting from the regional TBNRM programme. These include technical papers, workshop reports, and a quarterly newsletter, Transborder Dialogue.

8.22 Natural Resource Management Programme (NRMP)

Natural Resource Management Programme
University of the West Indies
Cave Hill Campus
St Michael
BARBADOS
Contact: Professor Wayne Hunte, Programme Leader or Dr Charmaine Gomes, Programme Coordinator
Tel: +1 246 417 4565
Fax: +1 246 424 4204
E-mail: [email protected]
Geographic coverage: Caribbean
Languages: English
Subject areas: Fisheries; Biodiversity; Climate change; Marine habitats; Natural resource economics

The goal of the programme is to improve the socio-economic status of Caribbean nationals through enhanced management of the marine environment and its resources. The approach is to:

provide postgraduate training at MSc level in resource and environmental management;
strengthen the capability of the University of the West Indies (UWI) to provide advisory and consulting services in natural resources and environmental management;
facilitate the efforts of staff at UWI to develop applied research programmes in environmental sciences and management.

Its main areas of interest are fisheries, biodiversity, climate change and resource economics.

8.23 Natural Resources Institute (NRI)

Natural Resources Institute [updated Sept 2004]
Central Avenue
Chatham Maritime
Kent ME4 4TB
UNITED KINGDOM
Contact: Lynn Fisk

Tel: +44 (0) 1634 883170
Fax: +44 (0)1634 883386
E-mail: [email protected] / [email protected]
Web: http://www.nri.org
Geographic coverage: Developing countries
Languages: English
Subject areas: Natural resource management; Sustainable development
Publications: A publications list is available

The Natural Resources Institute (NRI) of the University of Greenwich is a centre of excellence for research, consultancy and training in the sustainable management of renewable natural resources.

NRI publishes affordable books on agricultural development in support of sustainable livelihoods. Based on sound scientific and socio-economic research, these books range from offering advice to policy makers and natural resource managers through to extension material for use at grass roots level.
Subjects cover the whole range of NRI expertise and experience in developing countries world-wide, and include sustainable agriculture, integrated pest management, environmental assessment, environmental management, farming systems, forests, livestock & wildlife, coastal & aquatic resources, post-harvest food, economics, marketing, development policy, enterprise development, and institutional development.

A range of NRI publications are freely available online in PDF format. Sale and distribution is now undertaken by ITDG Publishing E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.itdgpublishing.org.uk.

8.24 Network for Environment and Sustainable Development in Africa (NESDA)

Network for Environment and Sustainable Development in Africa [Updated June 2004]
African Development Bank (AfDB), Guichet Annexe
24 BP 95 Abidjan 24
Abidjan
CÔTE D'IVOIRE
Contact: Ms Fatou Ndoye, Acting Coordinator
Tel: +225 20 54 18/ 20 54 19
Fax: +225 20 59 22
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.nesda.kabissa.org/
Geographic coverage: Africa
Languages: English; French
Subject areas Capacity building; Sustainable development
Publications: Flash (Newsletter); Publications available online

NESDA's mission is to help African societies achieve environmentally sustainable development. The building and strengthening of expertise of individuals and institutions within Africa at local, national and subregional levels for environmentally sustainable development represents the essence of NESDA's strategy for achieving its objectives.

Specific objectives:

support to national planning processes by strengthening the strategic planning process for the management of environment and sustainable development with two activities - analysis of national policies, and external reviews of 'green plans';
strengthening the national capacities of African countries to launch and implement strategic programmes for sustainable management of their environment and natural resources.
In this regard NESDA undertakes three activities:
organisation of thematic and regional workshops;
in-country missions by experts of the network;
project preparation and capacity building seminars.

Strengthening of the network and dissemination of information are carried out through:

creation of a roster of African experts in different technical areas relevant to strategic framework exercises;
setting up a mechanism to ensure greater involvement of the identified experts in programmes in other African countries;
access to environmental information through the connection of NESDA to the Internet;
publications (newsletter, workshop/seminar proceedings, etc.).

NESDA's activities are normally demand-driven, and directed at national governments and institutions, professional and academic institutions and individuals engaged in environment and natural resources management, as well as subregional institutions involved in promoting sustainable development. Among these are people and institutions (public as well as private) that, in a given country, contribute to the identification, preparation and implementation, follow-up and evaluation of environmental national resource management plans.

Specific activities to date include:

participation in the preparation of national strategies for environmental management in nine African countries;
evaluating institutional frameworks and advising national environmental agencies on possible options;
assistance to countries to secure funding for projects;
project appraisals for National Environmental Strategies;
study of the set-up and performance of the national agencies responsible for the implementation of national plans;
establishment of working relations between subregional initiatives in the African region;
hosting thematic and regional workshops to consolidate the network and define approaches to sustainable development;
formulation of operational guidelines and management systems for the implementation of national environmental action plans;
assistance to donors to identify consultants for environmental management projects in Africa.

8.25 Organizacion Latinoamericana de Energia (OLADE) [Latin American Energy Organization]

Organizacion Latinoamericana de Energia
PO Box 6413 CCI
Quito
ECUADOR
Contact: Luiz A. M. da Fonseca, Executive Secretary
Tel: +593 2 538122 or 539 678
Fax: +593 2 539 684
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.olade.org.ec/
Geographic coverage: Caribbean; Latin America
Languages: Portuguese; Spanish
Subject areas: Energy resources
Publications: Revista Energética

OLADE was established in 1973 as a cooperation and advisory agency aimed at promoting the integration, development, conservation and marketing of the region's energy resources. Its areas of work include:

energy policy and forecasting;
regulatory framework and energy management;
energy pricing systems;
energy conservation;
energy and the environment;
regional integration;
information systems;
new energy sector modernisation;
renewable energy sources.

Energy-Economic Information System is a selective, systematic, up-to-date information service on the major energy, economic, and energy-economic variables of the 26 countries of Latin American and the Caribbean, which has been operating since 1988.

OLADE publishes an energy magazine, Revista Energética.

OLADE-ECLAC-GTZ Project - The Energy and Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean is a joint project of OLADE, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the German Technical Cooperation Agency (GTZ).

8.26 PELUM Association

PELUM Association
PO Box MP1059
Mount Pleasant
Harare
ZIMBABWE
Contact: Secretary General
Tel: +263 4 744470
Fax: +263 4 744470
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
Web: http://www.pelum.org/
Geographic coverage: Africa
Languages: English
Subject areas: Land use; Natural resource management; Sustainable agriculture
Publications: Ground Up (quarterly); PELUM Bulletin

PELUM Association (participatory ecological land-use management) is a network of civil society organisations working with local communities in the areas of sustainable agriculture and natural resource management in nine countries in eastern and southern Africa. It came together to forge a strategic alliance and to combine efforts, approaches and experiences in order to build capacities in training and advocacy and to become more effective in influencing how development takes place.

The Association has members and programmes in Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In these countries the members have each formed a country working group and a board at national level. In five of these countries, the country working groups have an established country office and full-time staff employed to provide a service to the members. Organisations become members by paying a membership fee which is renewable annually. The members also agree to adhere to the PELUM constitution, values and principles.

The PELUM Association distributes books and training materials, especially those produced in eastern and southern Africa. It also publishes:

a regional members' magazine, Ground Up, which aims to disseminate information about PELUM activities and provides a channel for sharing information and experiences among the members and the readership in the region and beyond;
issues of an in-house publication, the PELUM Bulletin.

The PELUM Discussion Forum, believing a problem shared is a problem solved, enables PELUM members to seek information and obtain responses from others online.

Regional offices

Botswana:
Diana Mompoloki, FONSAG, Plot 545, ext. 4, South Ring Road, P/Bag BO 136, Gaborone
Tel:+267 307 506, E-mail:[email protected]

Kenya:
Ngugi Mutura, SACDEP, Box 1134, Thika
Tel: +254151 305 41, E-mail: [email protected]

Lesotho:
Ntataleng Thulo, RDSA
Tel +266 311279/266 310458, E-mail: [email protected]

Malawi:
Lingalireni Mihowa, CURE, PO Box 3791, Blantyre
Tel:+265 645 494, E-mail:[email protected] or [email protected]

South Africa:
Thembekile Kanise, Catholic Development Centre, PO Box 85, Umtata, Eastern Cape
Tel: +27 471 311 602, Fax: +27 471 310 734, E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

Uganda:
Mary Kakinda Jo, Africa 2000
Tel: +256 41 543407, Fax: +256 41 344801, E-mail: [email protected]

Zambia:
Russel Mushanga, ISTT, POBox 310201 15302, Chelstone, Lusaka
Tel: +260 283 695/224 615, E-mail: [email protected]

8.27 Permaculture Association (Britain)

BCM Permaculture Association [updated March 2004]
London WC1N 3XX
UNITED KINGDOM
Contact: Andy Goldring, Development Coordinator
Tel: +44 845 4581805
Fax: +44 113 2621718
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.permaculture.org.uk/
Geographic coverage: Global
Languages: English
Subject areas: Permaculture; Sustainable development
Publications: Permaculture Works!; Permaculture Magazine

Permaculture began in Australia in the mid 70s, but has since expanded such that its principles are being applied in more than 40 countries. Its main features are:

it is a system for creating sustainable human settlements through a balance of good design and ecology;
it takes natural systems as a model and works with nature to design sustainable environments;
it brings together traditional knowledge and modern science;
it encourages us to become part of the solutions that face us, both locally and globally.

The Permaculture Association (Britain) operates to inform and network around permaculture. It supports the setting up of local groups, operates a membership scheme and produces the newsletter, Permaculture Works. The Association answers many international enquiries and exchanges information and skills with projects outside Britain.

8.28 Powerful Information

Powerful Information [Updated June 2004]
City Discovery Centre
Bradwell Abbey
Milton Keynes MK13 9AP
UNITED KINGDOM
Contact: Mike Flood, Director
Tel: +44 1908 320033
Fax: +44 1908 666275
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.powerfulinformation.org
Geographic coverage: Central and Eastern Europe; West Africa
Languages: English
Subject areas: Capacity building; Environmental protection; Sustainable development

Powerful Information is an independent UK charity working in international development. It supports practical grassroots projects designed to reduce poverty and injustice in low-income countries and give people greater opportunity and choice.

Powerful Information has been collaborating with local organisations, mainly in Eastern Europe and West Africa, to promote self-help and self-reliance and is committed to sharing skills and knowledge across countries and cultures, and improving communication and understanding.

Its main activities are concerned with:

capacity-building (training and facilitation; strategic planning; project design and management; monitoring and evaluation; and reporting);
information management and communication;
community development in both urban and rural areas.

Powerful Information also aims to promote a wider interest in local distinctiveness and diversity, a better understanding of local cultures and cultural difference, and a deeper respect for nature and the environment.

Powerful Information Newsletter is published twice a year and can be downloaded in PDF format from its website.

8.29 Save Our Turtles Tobago

Save Our Turtles Tobago
c/o Wendy Herron
Courland Bush Trace, Black Rock
TOBAGO
Contact: Wendy Herron, Executive Director
Tel: +1 868 639 9669
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.scsoft.de/et/
Geographic coverage: Tobago
Languages: English
Subject areas: Biodiversity; Conservation; Marine habitats; Turtles

Save Our Turtles Tobago is a recently established NGO which is addressing the conservation and education issues related to sea turtles in Tobago, the sister island in the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago. In Tobago, as in Trinidad, sea turtles nest on several beaches. Its mission is to conserve Tobago's sea turtles and their coasts and marine habitats through community-based initiatives in education, research and ecotourism.

Research is being done on nesting beaches and on the nearshore marine habitats. Links are also being established with other local, national and international research initiatives. Research activities are supported by practical on-site initiatives that alert locals and tourists to existing conservation laws and ongoing research efforts. In addition, education and public awareness efforts are changing long-established attitudes and beliefs towards treating an endangered species. The importance of biodiversity is being established and new economic opportunities are being presented for sustainable ecotourism. Save Our Turtles Tobago is also working collaboratively with government agencies, and is seeking to have existing legislation amended which, while it will ensure better protection for turtles, will also address the needs of fishermen.

8.30 Secretariat for International Landcare (SILC)

Secretariat for International Landcare
PO Box 415
Hamilton 3300
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Sue Marriott, Director
Tel: +613 5572 2555
Fax: +613 5572 1300
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.silc.com.au/
Geographic coverage: Global
Languages: English
Subject areas: Extension and advisory work; Landcare; Natural resource management;

SILC Inc. provides the gateway for international understanding and advancement of Landcare philosophy by bringing delegations to Australia to experience Landcare. Landcare in Australia is a 'whole of community' programme. It is about the future: clean food, water, air and biodiversity; about how people manage their affairs in harmony with the environment. The diversity, scale and breadth of environmental problems in Australia represent a global microcosm. From horticulture in the wet tropics to cereal cropping in Mediterranean climates, to pastoralism in semi-arid rangeland and broadacre dryland farming, leading-edge management through the Landcare structure is addressing these problems.

The Australian Landcare movement is an amalgam of grassroots community groups and the institutional apparatus which has evolved to support them, and is a ground-breaking, large-scale example of how to involve relevant stakeholders in improving natural resource management, from the local to the national scale. Internationalising Landcare means taking the lessons learned through Landcare experiences in Australia and helping people interpret these principles in their own contexts. For example, South Africa developed a national Landcare programme after a visit to Australia in 1997. SILC has worked with a further 14 countries on Landcare since that date, and groups have been established in, or interest has been shown by, countries as far apart as the Philippines, New Zealand, Iceland and China. An attempt is made to have country delegations represent the different areas needed for successful Landcare, namely media, farmers, bureaucrats, philanthropy, researchers and educators.

An article on the work of SILC appears in each quarterly issue of Australian Landcare magazine.

8.31 SEAMEO BIOTROP (Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Tropical Biology)

Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Tropical Biology [Updated June 2004]
Jalan Raya Tajur Km 6, PO Box 116
Bogor 16701
INDONESIA
Contact: Mr Subiyantoro, Head, Information Resources Unit
Tel: + 62 251 323848
Fax: + 62 251 326851
E-mail: [email protected] / [email protected]
Web: http://www.biotrop.org
Geographic coverage: Southeast Asia
Languages: English
Subject areas: Biodiversity; Biotechnology; Conservation; Ecosystem management; Forests and forest trees; Sustainable development; Tropical biology
Publications: Publications list available on request

The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) was set up in 1965 to foster regional cooperation through education, science and culture. It has 12 regional centres of which The Regional Centre for Tropical Biology (BIOTROP), established in 1968 and based in Indonesia, is one. A regional centre of excellence for tropical biology in Southeast Asia, it aims to provide leadership in critical and strategic areas of tropical biology relevant to the region and to promote regional networking and partnership in human resource development research, consultancy, information dissemination and related activities.

BIOTROP has been developed to provide member countries with increased capability in biological science relevant to the region's economic needs. It has identified as its prime programme thrusts for the next five years, the following three main areas:

tropical ecosystem and environmental impacts;
biodiversity, conservation and sustainable development;
environmental and forestry biotechnology

BIOTROP activities comprise research, training/workshop/symposia, publication dissemination, consultancy and other services (laboratory analyses, rent of facilities). BIOTROP research projects are problem-oriented and geared toward developing model solutions. Through research in tropical biology and agriculture, it has developed technologies for accelerating agricultural development. In its activities, BIOTROP has collaboration with both national and international organisations/agencies.

The information resource unit (IRU) of SEAMEO BIOTROP performs an important role in providing information on tropical biology to its clientele. As a supporting unit of the scientific programmes, the IRU has to meet the needs of researchers on the three programme thrusts. In addition, the IRU has to disseminate the results of these programme thrusts to the outside world.

IRU's library holds books, maps, periodicals, reports, pamphlets, newsletters, theses, microfiches and secondary sources of information consisting of special biography, abstracts, in-house databases and CD-ROM. The subject areas include environmental science, fisheries, forest ecology, tissue culture, mycorrhyza, remote sensing, biodiversity, pest management, plant pathogen, limnology, aquaculture, water quality, prawn and fish diseases and related fields. A special collection on weed science is also part of the resources. Its collections can be accessed via the BIOTROP Digital Library

To disseminate information generated by BIOTROP staff, the IRU's publication service handles publication of the research reports, proceedings of the symposia and the training course reports. A list of publications is available on request. These include: Biotropia and the BIOTROP Courier.

8.32 Southern African Botanical Diversity Network (SABONET)

Southern African Botanical Diversity Network [updated March 2004]
Private Bag X101
Pretoria 0001
SOUTH AFRICA
Contact: Yolande Steenkamp, SABONET Regional Co-ordinator
Tel: +27 12 804 3200 Fax: +27 12 804 5979
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.sabonet.org/
Geographic coverage: Southern Africa
Languages: English
Subject areas: Biodiversity; Botany; Capacity building; Horticulture; Taxonomy
Publications: SABONET News; occasional SABONET Report Series

The overall objective of SABONET is to develop a strong core of professional botanists, taxonomists, horticulturists and plant diversity specialists within the 10 countries of southern Africa (Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe), competent to inventory, monitor, evaluate and conserve the botanical diversity of the region in the face of specific development challenges. It is a capacity building network of southern African herbaria and botanic gardens with the objective of developing local botanical expertise.

SABONET distributes its publications, SABONET News and the occasional SABONET Report Series, which are also available online free of charge.

8.33 Sustainable Energy, Environment and Development Programme (SEED)

Sustainable Energy, Environment and Development Programme
PO Box 34178
7707 Rhodes Gift
SOUTH AFRICA
Contact: Patrick Sleight, Media Officer
Tel: +27 21 650 2831
Fax: +27 21 650 2830
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.seedlinks.org.za/
Geographic coverage: South Africa
Languages: English
Subject areas: Capacity building; Energy; Environment; Housing and settlement; Rural development
Publications: Seed Newsletter (online)

SEED is a cooperation programme between South Africa and Denmark, promoting sustainable energy and environmental issues related to low-cost urban housing and integrated rural development. The programme aims to build capacity in local authorities and service providers through training, information campaigns and demonstrations.

At national and international levels SEED supports the exchange of experience, networking and policy development. SEED promotes sustainable energy and environmental practices in rural and urban development projects in South Africa. It builds the capacity of NGOs, community-based organisations, local authorities and other implementing agencies to plan and carry out development projects, integrating sustainable energy options. In addition, the programme contributes to national and regional information dissemination, awareness building and policy development. Communication and networking with other national and regional initiatives in urban and rural energy is essential to the SEED programme.

SEED publishes an online newsletter, and on its website provides links to other useful and relevant sites.

8.34 United Nations University, Institute for Natural Resources in Africa (UNU/INRA)

United Nations University, Institute for Natural Resources in Africa
Private Mail Bag
Kotoko International Airport
GHANA
Contact: Dr U. Mokunye, Director
Tel: +233 21 500396
Fax: +233 21 500792
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
Web: http://www.unu.edu/inra/
Geographic coverage: Africa
Languages: English; French
Subject areas: Natural resources; Sustainable development
Publications: Publications list available online

The mission of UNU/INRA is to strengthen the capacity of Africa's existing universities and research institutes to conduct research and produce well trained, well equipped and motivated individuals capable of developing, adapting and disseminating technologies that promote the sustainable use of the continent's natural resources.

UNU/INRA is a research and training centre of the United Nations University. It was established in 1986 to conduct advanced research, training and dissemination of knowledge on Africa's natural resources. Africa is a continent richly endowed with diverse natural resources; however, the highest population growth rate of any region in the world and pressures from various sectoral development activities have resulted in a rapid decline in the intrinsic properties of Africa's natural resources - its land, soils, waters, minerals and forest resources. UNU/INRA's priorities and strategies in research, training and dissemination of knowledge are focused on the management, conservation and rational utilisation of these natural resources for sustainable development in Africa.

The research activities of the Institute conducted by its staff, members of the College of Research Associates, and/or their students and occasionally commissioned experts, will yield considerable data and information that will be disseminated through publications, conferences, workshops, seminars, demonstrations, films and training courses.