Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection
(QH:75-77)
QH 75.A3 Nature Conservation. Landscape Protection. Biological Diversity Conservation.
Endangered Species and Ecosystems (General). Habitat Conservation. Ecosystem
Management. Conservation Biology. General Works, Treatises, and Textbooks
Summary:
The Bibliography of Biodiversity Assessment Methodologies is a service of
the Environmental Resources Information Network (ERIN), "...a national
facility allowing ready access to key information on the Australian
environment and is an integral part of supporting requirements for
ecologically sustainable management." Its intent is to provide
"...environmental information of an extent, quality, and availability
required for planning and decision making." The bibliography's creator
states that the site is not complete, and keywords may not "...accurately
reflect the contents of the paper." The site is updated monthly, and such
updates are viewed at the end of the full bibliography text area.
Users have two courses of action upon entering the site: (1) to view the
full bibliography, after downloading the document; or (2) to search the
bibliography via a site index. If choosing the second method, the user will
find a search engine page with fields for entering: title, author, keywords,
text, and publication year. Filling in any combination of these fields
is permissible; the search controls area enacts three options: defining the
number of matches; joining the entry fields; or converting the results.
Once the search is activated, the user will view the matching records, which
feature: author's name (last, first); year of publication; title of article
or book; journal title; volume and issue number; page(s); and keywords
within
the text. Listings are alphabetized by the authors' last names.
Links within the site access the new information area, the ERIN homepage, a
Navigator area, the search engine, and a comments section.
The bibliography was compiled and is maintained by Arthur D. Chapman, ERIN
Unit; Canberra, Australia. ERIN is a division of the Federal Department of
the Environment, Sport, and the Territories, Australia.
To Search:
Select download or search option from main page. Enter keywords within
fields to activate search engine and to view entries. Or download entire
bibliography and browse entries.
Summary:
The Biodiversity and Ecosystems NEtwork (BENE), "...is designed to foster
enhanced communications and collaborations among those interested in
biodiversity conservation and ecosystem protection, restoration, and
management." It was "...founded as a partnership enterprise, to promote the
exchange of information about biodiversity and ecosystems among participants
from a range of backgrounds and disciplines." This site serves as the
homepage for BENE, providing access to its various divisions.
Featured under the main page's world map is a table of contents with the
site divisions listed: home page; information ; search; BIN21; projects;
resources; and history. The information link accesses the general list of
biodiversity sources found through the site: government sources;
international sources; botanical gardens, zoos, and museums; regional and
state networks; and BENE community projects. The search category allows the
user three paths of inquiry: (1) using the BENE Index; (2) using the BENE
table of contents; and (3) using the BIN21 Harvest database. For either
the index or table of contents, users need only to submit a keyword to
activate the search. Detailed instructions on the BIN21 database are
available under its respective place in the site. Here, users find
information on how to use and access the database, its various worldwide
networks, its communications, products, virtual library, and services.
A listings of community projects is specified under its division; history
detailing the network's creation is also included. Widespread information
resources are also mentioned: ftp servers, archives, electronic mail, and
Hypermail. In all cases, regardless of the topic chosen from the main
page's listings, titles are electronic links to that respective information.
The site is maintained by Steve Young, the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA); and Leland Ellis, the Keck Center for Genome Informatics; Texas A & M
University; Houston, Texas.
To Search:
Select topic of interest from table of contents on site's main page. Follow
onscreen links or instructions to reach desired reocrds. All titles are
electronic links to their respective listings.
Summary:
The Biodiversity Resource Center: Key Research and Information Centers is a
directory within the Biodiversity Resource Center WWW site. This directory
is designed to inform users of four major WWW site categories which
specialize in biodiversity: (1) international and national organizations;
(2) universities and non-governmental organizations (NGO's); (3) databases,
metadatabases, and information services; and (4) international treaties,
laws, and agreements.
Within each of the four categories, extensive listings are reflected, of
which major items are mentioned in this summary. Among international
listings are the: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the Biodiversity
Research Consortium (BRC); the National Biological Service; the Department
of the Environment (UK); the European Environment Agency (EEA); and other
groups within China, Australia, and Costa Rica. NGO listings show: the
American Zoo and Aquarium Association; Animal Diversity Web; California
Academy of Sciences; CIESIN; European Center for Nature Conservation
(ECNC); the World Conservation Union (IUCN); and the WWF Global Network.
Database entries include: BIN21; Bioline Publications; BIOSIS; Econet;
METSPEC; the Policy Instruments Database (PID); Species 2000; and the USDA
Ethnobotanical Database.
Among treaty and law listings are : the Convention on Biological Diversity
and the UN Conference on Environment and Development. Within each of the
four categories, subjects (sites) are listed alphabetically, and an in-depth
description of the site's offerings is included. Titles are links to the
WWW. Users will also find links to the Biodiversity Resource Center home
page, to an organization registering form, a catalog, and to a listings
update service, via e-mail.
The site was created and is maintained by Dr. R.C.J. Harling, Chapman and
Hall Publishers; New York, New York.
To Search:
Choose category from top of main page to move directly to contents. Or
browse through directory listings. Titles are direct links to WWW sites.
Summary:
This gateway provides access to two publications of the National Museum of
Natural History, within the Smithsonian Institution -- the Biological
Conservation Newsletter and the Biological Conservation Bibliography.
Published by the Smithsonian's Department of Botany, each text seeks to
bring recent research from the department to the user in a concise manner.
The newsletter, a monthly publication, "...contains items on biological
conservation issues. Articles on conservation research and current news
items are featured, as well as information on new publications, fellowships
and grants, job announcements, educational materials, and meetings. In
addition, an extensive bibliography of current literature is provided,
making the newsletter a valuable source to the biological
diversity/conservation community."
"The Conservation Bibliography, which has been published in the 140 issues
of
the Biological Conservation Newsletter, includes over 8,000 references to
literature on conservation biology. These references have been obtained from
a weekly review of the new journals and books received by the Smithsonian
Institution's Botany and Natural History libraries and from suggestions
submitted by subscribers to the newsletter." Users will find recent issues
of the newsletter available for browsing; the bibliography features detailed
instructions on searching its listings.
Records within the bibliography provide: the author's name (last, first
initial); date of publication ; title of the article or book; the source of
the
article(where applicable); name and location of publisher; issue and pages
of journal article (if applicable); and total pages of book (if applicable).
Both publications and their respective sites are maintained by Jane
Villa-Lobos, Editor, Department of Botany; the National Museum of Natural
History, the Smithsonian Institution.
To Search:
A table of contents provides immediate access to the newsletter and
bibliography. Within the newsletter listings, browse and select item of
interest. For bibliography users, listings are organized by issue date and
can also be accessed through a keyword search.
Summary:
Conserving Biodiversity: A Research Agenda for Development Agencies,
a publication of the National Academy Press, is available for browsing
through this WWW site, a directory for the National Academy Press Bookstore.
Here, users can view and purchase the publication, as well as have access to
the various services provided by the National Academy Press Bookstore.
This book "...presents an agenda for research that can provide information
to formulate policy and design conservation programs in the Third World.
The book includes discussions of research needs in the biological sciences
as
well as economics and anthropology, areas of critical importance to
conservation and sustainable development. Although specifically directed
toward development agencies, non-governmental organizations, and
decisionmakers in developing nations, this volume should be of interest to
all who are involved in the conservation of biological diversity."
A special feature of this site allows the user to order the publication
through an onscreen link; as well as to access the various information links
within the National Academy Press Bookstore, the publishers of several
government research groups.
The site is maintained by the National Academy Press and the National
Academy Press Bookstore; Washington, D.C.
To Search:
Follow onscreen links to view publication contents and ordering information.
Onscreen links provided to the bookstore and its services, as well as to the
National Academy Press homepage.
Summary:
The Ecosystem Management Bibliography is an "...annotated bibliography
compiled at the College of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota,
St.Paul....It is a survey of biophysical and social science related
literature...that focuses on ecosystem management or the ecosystem
approach." Presently, almost 1,100 citations have been placed on-line in
the index; subject area names and numbers are part of each record so that
the user may include this information within search specifications.
Within the Gopher index to the bibliography, the user will find three
choices of action: obtaining general information on the site; browsing the
records; or searching the index. The first category reveals a discussion on
the project's scope, intent, and its creators. Details on obtaining copies
of publications within the records are included in this area. The search
option is activated through a keyword field, thereby opening the index. The
second choice, browsing the records, opens a listing of subject categories:
uses of concept; problems of theories and methods; human factors, causes,
and consequences; sociocultural adaptation; global issues; policy planning
and organization studies; various case studies; techniques and applications;
development and philosophy; ecological integrity and biodiversity; general
ecology and ecosystems; vegetation patterns and change/inventorying;
wildlife and range; and forest issues.
Once a topic from this subject list is chosen, an alphabetical listing of
index records under this subject appears. Selecting a title of interest
reveals the bibliographic entry: the author's name (last, first initial);
date of publication; title (of article or book); title of journal (for
article); volume and issue numbers; page numbers; a brief description of
contents; and the subject area name and number. For books, following the
mention of the text title, comes: the publisher's name and location; total
page numbers in the text; a brief description of content; and the subject
area name and number.
The bibliography and its site are maintained by the Department of Forest
Resources, College of Natural Resources; the University of Minnesota;
St. Paul, Minnesota; with Charlie Blinn, serving as editor.
To Search:
Select information area, browse, or search option from main page. Within
browse option, select subject of interest and publication title(s). For
search engine, submit keywords to activate index.
Summary:
EE-Link Endangered Species offers a browsable or searchable listing of endangered or threatened
plant and animal species within the United States, organized by region for
each category. Access to a listing of extinct vertebrates and the IUCN Red
List of Threatened Animals, are also available. A collection of images of
selective species, a clickable regional map, and a set of Facts and
Factsheets are noteworthy.
The basepage includes sections on laws, policies, full-text documents,
curricula, activities and projects for investigating endangered species
in the classroom, and regional source information.
EE-Link is maintained at the University of Michigan, a partner in the
Environmental Education Training Project of the North American Association for Environmental Education.
To Search:
Browse listing within selected region, or form-search full database by
Common Name, Scientific Name, Historic Range and/or Status.
Summary:
"The Germplasm Resources Information Network ...provides germplasm
information about plants, animals, microbes and invertebrates within the
National Genetic Resources Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's
(USDA) Agricultural Research Service." Within this web service are four
systems: (1) the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS); (2) National
Animal Germplasm (including aquatics); (3) National Microbial Germplasm; and
(4) the National Invertebrate Genetic Resources Program (NIGRP). Of the
four, only the NPGS is fully operational; the animal and microbial systems
are under development, and the invertebrate system only offers links to
databases. Regardless of organism focus, each system seeks to preserve,
maintain, acquire, document, distribute, and evaluate its respective
germplasm in the efforts to promote genetic diversity.
Upon accessing the site, users must select a subject (focal) germplasm
database. A table of contents is displayed once access is gained. It is
urged that users choose to read the general information portion of the
system to view items within record contents, which vary widely among the
four systems.
Each germplasm system has its own priorities, in terms of revealing
information and data. Users must follow screen commands to access the data
of their choice.
The network is maintained by the Database Management Unit of the National
Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Plant Sciences Institute; Beltsville
Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department
of Agriculture.
To Search:
Select one of the four database sytems from main menu. Then select topic of
interest from contents listing. Recommended viewing includes general
information contents listing. Animal and microbial databases are under
construction, so access is limited in these areas.
Summary:
National Biodiversity Profiles is a series of reports, sponsored by the
World
Conservation Monitoring Center (WCMC), which "...provides information
services
on conservation and sustainable use of the world's living resources, and
helps
others to develop information systems of their own." Compiled reports are
created
on a country-by-country basis; this site details the profiles composed for
the
nations of Vietnam and India.
Within the site's main page are links to access the two national reports,
via the names of their countries. A link is also given for a jobs listings
area, the WCMC homepage, and a user comments area. Contact information for
reaching the WCMC is given in the site. Upon selecting the nation of India,
the user will see two links offered on the screen. The first accesses an
article on the Indira Gandhi Conservation Monitoring Center (IGCMC),
describing
its creation, purpose, and future plans. The second link accesses India's
biodiversity profile. Topics in this area include: geography and major
biomes, biodiversity, protected areas network, programs and conservation,
and others. Each title is the link to its respective area in the text; the
actual full text can be viewed by scrolling past the table of contents.
The biodiversity profile of Vietnam contains a table of contents, showing: a
biological profile section, development context area, special issues of the
report, conclusion, contacts, and references. Here, topics are links to
their respective areas within the report.
The site is sponsored by the World Conservation Monitoring Center;
Cambridge; UK.
To Search:
Select country of interest from site's main page; titles within the table of
contents are direct links to their respective areas in the text.
Summary:
Red List Database is a division of the WCMC Animals Database,
maintained by the World Conservation Monitoring Cemter (WCMC) Species
Program. The Animals Database contains information on threatened species
and others of "conservation concern" and produces the IUCN Red List of
Threatened Animals, which is "...a compilation of species categorized as
critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable according to IUCN
Categories of Threat."
At the top of the site's main page are links to: (1) WCMC Species Program;
(2) IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals; and (3) IUCN Species Survival
Commission. The main page also features database search fields: (1) all
species; (2) class; (3) order; (4) family; (5) species; and (6) common name.
Links to supporting documents are also present in this area: (1) overview;
(2) search help; (3) threat categories; (4) notes; (5) taxonomic sources;
and (6) summary statistics.
Users should select a database search field; a page then results with a
keyword search field. Submitting information then results in second search
page with a table of animal names; selecting an animal name then reveals its
Red List information page, featuring: (1) taxonomic information; (2) common
name(s); (3) category/criteria (IUCN category); (4) distribution (locale);
(5) caveat; and (6) stock. Users should scroll to view the information
page.
The bottom of the site's main page offers links to a list of other
conservation databases, to e-mail WCMC, and to the WCMC comments area and
homepage. The site is sponsored by the World Conservation Monitoring
Cenmter; Cambridge, UK.
To Search:
Select search field within main page; enter data in provided search page.
Select animal name from table to view Red List information.
QH 76.5.N7 Nature Conservation. Landscape Protection. Biological Diversity Conservation.
Endangered Species and Ecosystems (General). Habitat Conservation. Ecosystem
Management. Conservation Biology. By Region or Country, A-Z. North America
Summary:
Man and the Biosphere Fauna Database is a service of the Information Center for the Environment, "...a cooperative
effort of environmental scientists at the University of California, Davis,
and collaborators at over thirty...organizations interested in environmental
protection." At the top of the site's main page are links to the site's
sponsor and to sources of information about the Man and the Biosphere
project: UNESCO MABnet, MABNET America, and the U.S. Man and the Biosphere
Mission Statement.
To access the Man and the Biosphere Database, the site features three major
search methods: (1) searching by reserve name; (2) searching by country
name; and (3) searching by species scientific name. In the first instance,
users should select a specific reserve from the displayed list. Highlighted
titles are the only reserves which feature complete records at this time.
Once a reserve is chosen, the complete record is revealed: (1) the reserve
name; (2) country; (3) size (in hectares and in acres); (4) year designated;
(5) species list; and (6) related WWW sites, which are direct links to their
sources. For users choosing to search by country, they must select a
country from the provided list. A list of reserves for this nation is then
displayed. For the third search option, users should select a species class
by the first letter of its genus, within a given alphabetical listing.
Classes of choice include: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.
Once a species classes and letter have been chosen, the screen displays a
list of matching species, in alphabetical order. Users should select a
species, which then reveals a list of reserves where this species is
located. For each species, a record is provided, which includes: the
reserve name, the state (of the species), species presence, and residence
status.
The site is sponsored by the Information Center of the Environment;
University of California, Davis.
To Search:
Select one of the site's search methods from the main page. Follow onscreen
links to view desired records.
QH 77.A8 Nature Conservation. Landscape Protection. Biological
Diversity Conservation. Endangered Species and Ecosystems (General). Habitat Conservation. Ecosystem Management.
Conservation Biology. Other Regions or Countries, A-Z. Australia
Summary:
BIONET: Directory of World Wide Web Sites is a division of the Community
Biodiversity Network (CBN) and is a compilation of WWW sites for
"...contacts,
general information, and research relating to biodiversity conservation in
Australia and worldwide." The site's creators specify that the listings are
continually updated and that a directory of Australian community
organizations, which are involved in biodiversity conservation, was added,
effective at the closing of 1996.
Upon accessing the directory, the user will find a comprehensive listing of
topics, from which he may choose. These, in turn, are divided into three
groups: organization type, area of interest, and other directories. Among
the
subjects in the first group, the following are found: community conservation
networks; peak conservation organizations; regional and local networks;
international conservation networks; federal,state, and local government
organizations; national,state, and territory scientific groups. Within the
area of interest grouping, users will find: forests and woodlands;
grasslands;
rivers and wetlands; various animal species; and nine different areas under
the heading "conservation approaches." National and international
directories
encompass the third category. Irrespective of the final group, the topics
listed here are not inclusive descriptions of the original site's listings.
Users should access the site to evaluate its topic holdings.
To begin the directory search, users select a topic from the main listings.
Records then appear, each one providing: the title of the WWW site; a brief
summary of the site's scope and contents; and the URL, for reference.
Sites are not listed in alphabetical order, so browsing the records will be
necessary. Title of sites are direct electronic links to that respective
source in the WWW.
On the directory's main page are links to: a new information area within
the directory; a search function (which is presently not operational); the
homepage of CBN; and a comments area. The site is maintained by Pegasus
Networks, Incorporated; and the Community Biodiversity Network, Australia.
To Search:
Select topic of interest from main page. Then select WWW site of interest
from matching records. Other information links within site are accessible
through top of main page.