A . Rationalization of International Nature Conservation Information Systems Final Report August 2002 DEFRA Research Project CR0252 ?muLL M-v**k.* fS*S i i^i iff- UNEP VS C TheORBIS INSTITUTE The contents ofthis report do not necessarilyreflect the views orpolicies ofUNEP- WCMC orcontributoryorganisations. The designations employed and thepresentations UNEP-WCMC do not implythe expressions ofanyopinion whatsoeveron thepart of or contributoryorganisations concerningthe legal status ofanycountry, territory, city or area, or its authority, orconcerning the delimitation ofits frontiers orboundaries. Pageii RationalisationofIntematima]NatureConservationInformationSystems FinalReport August2002 11 TABLE CONTENTS of EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1 1.1 Background 11 1.2 Approach 1 1.3 Implementation 13 1.4 Acknowledgements 13 2 NATURE CONSERVATION INFORMATION NEEDS OF UK POLICY- MAKERS 14 CURRENT SITUATION 3 16 3.1 Overview 16 3.2 Information sources and Services 18 3.2.1 Scope and Organisation 18 3.2.2 Clusters 20 3.3 Reference Guide 22 3.4 Harmonization andRationalisation Initiatives 24 3.4.1 Benefits ofHarmonization and Rationalisation 24 3.4.2 Overview ofHarmonization Initiatives 24 4 IMPROVING EXISTING SOURCES and SERVICES 26 4.1 Introduction 26 4.2 Areas forImprovement 26 4.2.1 Locating Information Resources 26 4.2.2 Consistency in Availability 26 4.2.3 Quality Management 27 4.2.4 Long-term Management ofDatasets 27 4.2.5 InflatedClaims 27 5 ACHIEVING HARMONIZATION and RATIONALISATION 28 5.1 Barriers 28 5.2 Methods andLevers 28 STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS 6 31 6.1 Introduction 31 6.2 Discussion and Recommendations 33 7 ANALYSIS and RECOMMENDATIONS by CLUSTER 36 7.1 CLUSTER 1 - Convention and Treaty Information Sendees 36 7.1.1 Introduction 36 7.1.2 Players 36 7.1.3 Issues and Concerns 36 7.1.4 PastHarmonization Initiatives 37 7.1.5 Current Harmonization Initiatives 40 7.1.6 Recommendations 42 7.2 CLUSTER 2 - Information on Sites 43 7.2.1 Introduction 43 RationalisationofInternationalNatureConservationInformationSystems FinalReport August2002 Pageiii 7.2.2 Players 44 7.2.3 Issues and Concerns 45 7.2.4 Current Harmonization Initiatives 45 7.2.5 Recommendations 48 7.3 CLUSTER 3 - Development Projects and Other Donor Information 50 7.3.1 Introduction 50 7.3.2 Players 50 7.3.3 Issues and Concerns 51 7.3.4 Current Harmonization Initiatives 51 7.3.5 Recommendations 53 7.4 CLUSTER4-Clearing-House Mechanisms andInformation Exchange Networks 54 7.4.1 Introduction 54 7.4.2 Players 54 7.4.3 Issues andConcerns 55 7.4.4 Current Harmonization Initiatives 55 7.4.5 Recommendations 56 7.5 CLUSTER 5 -Environmental Law 57 7.5.1 Introduction 57 7.5.2 Players 57 7.5.3 Issues andConcerns 58 7.5.4 Current Harmonization Initiatives 59 7.5.5 Recommendations 61 7.6 CLUSTER 6 - Global and Regional LongTermEcological Monitoring 62 7.6.1 Introduction 62 7.6.2 Players 63 7.6.3 Issues and Concerns 65 7.6.4 CurrentHarmonization Initiatives 66 7.6.5 Recommendations 67 7.7 CLUSTER 7-Taxonomic Information 68 7.7.1 Introduction 68 7.7.2 Players 68 7.7.3 Issues and Concerns 70 7.7.4 Current Harmonization Initiatives 73 7.7.5 Discussion 74 7.7.6 Recommendations 74 7.8 CLUSTER 8-Species Status Information 75 7.8.1 Introduction 75 7.8.2 Players 76 7.8.3 Issues andConcerns 77 7.8.4 Current Harmonization Initiatives 78 7.8.5 Recommendations 80 7.9 CLUSTER 9 - Policyand Strategy Information 82 7.9.1 Introduction 82 7.9.2 Players 82 7.9.3 Issues and Current Harmonization Initiatives 83 7.9.4 Recommendations 83 7.10 CLUSTER 10 -EuropeanNature Conservation INformation 83 7.10.1 Introduction 83 7.10.2 Players 84 7.10.3 Nature Conservation Policy-Making 86 7.10.4 Policyand Legislative Instruments 86 7.10.5 Principal EU and Pan-European Nature Conservation Information Sources 88 7.10.6 Issues andConcerns 91 7.10.7 Current Harmonization Initiatives 91 Pageiv RationalisationofInternationalNatureConservationInformationSystems FinalReport August2002 7.10.8 Recommendations 94 7.1 1 Cross-Cutting Recommendations 96 7.1 1.1 Introduction 96 7.1 1.2 Recommendations 96 RECOMMENDATIONS for the FUTURE ofthe REFERENCE GUIDE 97 8.1 Introduction 97 8.2 Enhancements and Improved Functionality 97 8.3 Data Maintenance Considerations 98 8.4 Building and Broadening the Userbase 98 8.5 Alternative Hosts and Modalities ofMaintenance 98 8.6 Recommendations 100 RationalisationofInternationalNatureConservationInformationSystems FinalReport August2002 Pagev Pagevi RationalisationofInternationalNatureConservationInformationSystems FinalReport August2002 List ofAbbreviations and Acronyms (inclusive ofAnnexes) ABC AustralianBroadcastineCorporation ARKive Projectshort-name ofthe WildscreenTrust ASCIs AreasofSpecial ConservationInterest BBC BritishBroadcastineCorporation BCIS BiodiversityConservationInformationSystem BDM BiodiversityData Management(UNEP-GEFproject) BEG BiodiversityExpertGroup(ofEuropeanCommission) BGBM BotanischerGartenundMuseumBerlin-Dahlem BGCI Botanic GardensConservationInternational BioNET Biologicalnetwork(partofCABI) BIOSIS LegaltradenameofBiologicalAbstracts Inc BRIM BiosphereReserves IntegratedMonitoring BRU BiodiversityReportingUnit CABI CAB International(formerCommonwealthAgriculturalBureau) CABRI CommonAccesstoBiologicalResourcesandInformationService CBD ConventiononBiologicalDiversity CBD-CHM CBDClearing-HouseMechanism CDDA CommonDatabaseonDesignatedAreas CEE CentralandEasternEurope CEEC CentralandEasternEuropeanCountries CEH Centre forEcologyandHydrology(UK) CELEX Centre forLexical information CELIB ComputerisedEnvironmentalLawInformationBase(UNEP) CGRS ChorologicalGridReference System CHM Clearing-HouseMechanism CIDA CanadianInternationalDevelopmentAgency CIDS Inter-AmericanCommittee onSustainableDevelopment CIESIN Consortiumforthe InternationalEarthScienceInformationNetwork CITES ConventiononInternationalTradeinEndangeredSpecies CMS ConventiononMigratorySpecies COM Prefixidentifierforofficialmeetingsanddocumentsofthe EuropeanCommission COP ConferenceofParties(COP7wouldrefertotheseventhCOP) CORTNE CoordinationofInformationontheEnvironment(EEA) CSD CommissionforSustainableDevelopment(UN) CURIA CourtofJusticeandCourtofFirstInstance(EU) DAC DevelopmentAssistance Committee (OECD) DANIDA DanishInternationalDevelopmentAgency DCMS Department forCulture,MediaandSport(UK) DEFRA DepartmentforEnvironment, FoodandRuralAffairs(UK) DEWA DivisionofEarlyWarningandAssessment(UNEP) DflD DepartmentforInternationalDevelopment(UK) DG DirectorateGeneral(ofEC) DISP DonorInformationSharingProject EAP EnvironmentalActionPlan EBMI-F EuropeanBiodiversityMonitoringandIndicatorFramework EC EuropeanCommissionorEuropeanCommunity EC-CHM ECClearing-House Mechanism ECN EnvironmentalChangeNetwork(UK) ECNC EuropeanCentre forNatureConservation ECOLEX Shortname forEnvironmental Lawinformation systemofIUCN &UNEP. EEA EuropeanEnvironmentAgency EFNCP EuropeanForumforNature ConservationandPastoralism RationalisationofInternationalNatureConservationInformationSystems FinalReport August2002 Pagevii ) EIONET EuropeanEnvironmentInformationandObservationNetwork ELC Environmental LawCentre(ofIUCN) ELIS Environmental Law Information Svstem EMAN Ecological MonitoringandAssessmentNetwork(Canada) EMG Environmental ManagementGroup ENBI EuropeanNetworkforBiodiversityInformation ENHSIN EuropeanNatural HistorvSpecimenInformationNetwork ENVOC EnvironmentalVocabulary(UNEP) ETC EuropeanTopic Centre ETC/CDS EuropeanTopic Centre/CatalogueofData Sources ETC/NPB EuropeanTopicCentre/Nature ProtectionandBiodiversity EU EuropeanUnion EUCC EuropeanUnionforCoastalConservation EUNIS EuropeanNature InformationSvstem EUR-Lex Shortname forEuropeanlawinformationsvstem EuroMAB EuropeanManandBiosphereprogramme EUR-OP OfficeforOfficialPublications(oftheEC) Europarc UmbrellaorganisationofEurope'sprotectedareas Eurosite NetworkoforganisationsmanagingEurope'snaturalheritage Eurostat Statistical Office ofthe EuropeanCommunities EWD EuropeanWildlifeDivision(ofDEFRA FAO FoodandAgriculture Organization(UN) FAOLEX Shortname forFAOlawinformationsvstem FFI Fauna andFloraInternational FIELD FoundationforInternational Environmental LawandDevelopment FishBase Databaseoffishspeciesinformation(TheWorldFishCentre) FCO ForeignandCommonwealthOffice(UK) G30S Referringcollectivelytothe3 Global Observing Systems(GCOS,GOOS, GTOS) GBIF GlobalBiodiversityInformationFacility GCOS GlobalClimate Observing Svstem GEF GlobalEnvironmentFacility GEMET GeneralMultilingual EnvironmentalThesaurus GEMS GlobalEnvironmentMonitoring Svstem(UNEP) GEO GlobalEnvironmentalOutlook(GEO-3 referringtothethirdedition) GIS Geographic InformationSvstem(genericterm) GISP GlobalInvasive SpeciesProgramme GOOS GlobalOceanObservingSvstem GOSIC GlobalObserving SystemsInformationCentre GRID GlobalResource InformationDatabase(UNEP) GROMS GlobalRegisterofMigratorySpecies GTI GlobalTaxonomyInitiative(ofCBD) GTOS GlobalTerrestrialObservingSvstem GTZ GesellschaftfurTechnischeZusammenarbeit(Germany) GWD GlobalWildlifeDivision(ofDEFRA) HELCOM ShortnameforHelsinki Convention HTML Hvper-TextMarkup Language IABIN Inter-AmericanBiodiversityInformationNetwork IAC InformalAdvisoryCommittee(totheCBD-CHM) IACSD Inter-AgencvCommitteeon Sustainable Development IBA ImportantBirdArea (ofEurope) ICP International Co-operative Programmes (ofUN-ECE) ICP/IM International Co-operative Programme/ IntegratedMonitoring(ofUN-ECE) ICSU InternationalCouncilforScience IEEP Institute forEuropeanEnvironmental Policy IGO Inter-Governmental Organization IIED InternationalInstituteforEnvironmentandDevelopment USD International Institute forSustainable Development Pageviii RationalisationofInternationalNatureConservationInformationSystems FinalReport August2002 ILTER International Long-TermEcological ResearchNetwork IMG IssuesManagementGroup INBio InstitutoNacional de Biodiversidad(CostaRica) IPNI International PlantName Index ISIS International Species InformationSystem ISO InternationalOrganization forStandardisation ITIS IntegratedTaxonomic InformationSystem IUBS InternationalUnionforBiologicalSciences IUCN WorldConservationUnion IUCN-ELC IUCN Environmental LawCentre IUCN-SIS IUCNSpecies InformationSystem IUCN-SSC IUCN Species ServiceCommission IUCN-WCPA IUCNWorldCommissiononProtectedAreas JNCC JointNature ConservationCommittee(UK) LTER LongTermEcological Research(USA) MAB ManandtheBiosphereprogramme(ofUNESCO) MAP MediterraneanActionPlan(ofUNEP) MCE MainComponentElements(ofEIONET) MEA MultilateralEnvironmentalAgreement MEP MemberofEuropeanParliament MNHN MuseumNationald'HistoireNaturelle(France) NATLAN NATure/LANdCoverInformationPackage(EEA) NatureServe Organisationname(ParmeroftheNature Conservancy) NERC NaturalEnvironmentResearchCouncil(UK) NFP NationalFocalPoint NGO Non-Governmental Organization NHM NaturalHistoryMuseum(UK) NIS NewlyIndependent States NoLIMITS NetworkingofLong-termIntegratedMonitoringinTerrestrial Systems(ECproject) NRC NationalReferenceCentre(ofEIONET) NSF NationalScience Foundation(USA) ODBC OpenDataBaseConnector OECD OrganizationforEconomic CooperationandDevelopment OECD/DAC OECDDevelopmentAssistanceCommittee OSPAR OsloandParis(shortname forConventionfortheProtectionoftheMarineFisheriesofthe NorthEastAtlantic) PEBLDS PanEuropeanBiologicalandLandscapeDiversifyStrategy PEEN PanEuropeanEcologicalNetwork RBG RoyalBotanic Gardens REC Regional EnvironmentalCentre(forCentralandEasternEurope) REMIB LaRedMundialde InformacionsobreBiodiversidad RTNCIS RationalisationofNature ConservationInformationSystems(thisproject) ROD ReportingObligations Database(EEA) RSPB RovalSocietyfortheProtectionofBirds SAC SpecialAreasofConservation SBI SofiaBiodiversityInitiative SBSTTA SubsidiaryBody forTechnicalandTechnologicalAdvice(oftheCBD) SCOPE Scientific CommitteeonProblemsintheEnvironment(ofICSU) SEDAC Socio-Economic DataandApplicationsCenter SIDA SwedishInternational DevelopmentAgencv SIS SpeciesInformation System(IUCN) SNH ScottishNatural Heritage SoE StateoftheEnvironment SPA SpecialProtectionAreas SPAW SpeciallyProtectedAreasandWildlife(ofthe WiderCaribbeanRegion) SPREP SouthPacific Regional EnvironmentProgramme(UNEP) SOL StructuredOuervLanguage RationalisationofInternationalNatureConservation InformationSystems FinalReport August2002 Pageix SSC SpeciesSurvival Commission(IUCN) STAP Scientific andTechnicalAdvisoryPanel (toGEF) TDWG Taxonomic Databases WorkineGroup TEMS Terrestrial EcosystemMonitoring Sites(DatabaseofGTOS) TreeBASE Database ofphylogenetic knowledgeheldatUnivofBuffalo. UN UnitedNations UNDP UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme UNECE UnitedNations Economic CommissionforEurope UNEP UnitedNations EnvironmentProgramme UNEP.Net ShortName forUNEP informationdisseminationnetwork UNEP-DEWA UNEPDivisionofEarlvWarningandAssessment UNEP-GEMS UNEPGlobalEnvironmentMonitoringSystem UNEP-GRID UNEPGlobalResource InformationDatabase UNEP-ROE UNEPRegionalOffice forEurope UNEP-WCMC UNEPWorldConservationMonitoringCentre UNESCO UnitedNations Education, Scientific andCulturalOrganization UNESCO-MAB UNESCOManandthe Biosphereprogramme UNESCO-WHC UNESCOWorldHeritageCentre UNU UnitedNationsUniversity US-AID UnitedStatesAgencyforInternationalDevelopment US-LTER UnitedStatesLongTermEcologicalResearch UTM UniversalTransverse Mercator(mapprojection) UVA UniversiteitvanAmsterdam WCPA WorldCommissiononProtectedAreas(IUCN) WDPA WorldDatabaseonProtectedAreas WebCDS Catalogue ofDataSourcesontheWeb WHC WorldHeritageCentre(UNESCO) WHO WorldHealthOrganization WMO WorldMeteorologicalOrganization WR] WorldResourcesInstitute WWF WorldWideFundforNature Pagex RationalisationoflnternrtionalNatureConservationInformationSystems FinalReport August2002