23 July 2008
Online Resources for Environmental Information
U.S. Government
Policy in Focus-Environment - White House
Environmental policies and news from the office of the U.S. president, George W. Bush
EarthDay.gov
The history of the United States’ annual observance and how individuals can help conserve the environment
Endangered Species Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
Alerts about endangered and threatened species and other tools, hosted by the USFWS
Environmental Protection Agency
Information from the lead U.S. federal agency for pollution prevention, mitigation and remediation
NASA: Destination Earth
Materials on how space exploration, satellites and other technologies are answering fundamental questions about the nature of life in the universe
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Information about highly sophisticated technologies used to monitor climatic activity, forecast weather, issue severe storm warnings; and assist in managing fisheries, restoring coastal zones and supporting marine commerce
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Updates on renewable energy and energy efficiency research, development and deployment
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Information on partnerships with America's private land owners and managers to conserve their soil, water and other natural resources
State Department - Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
Updates on efforts to promote environmental stewardship, encourage economic growth and social development around the globe
U.S. Geological Survey
Information from a multidisciplinary U.S. government science organization on biology, geography, geology and water, with a focus on the study of natural resources and natural hazards
U.S. Global Change Research Program
Research on the interactions of natural and human-induced changes in the global environment and their implications for society
White House Council on Environmental Quality
Coordinates federal environmental efforts and works closely with agencies and other White House offices in the development of environmental policies and initiatives
International Organizations
ASEAN-WEN
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations Wildlife Enforcement Network fosters cooperation among regional governments, international law enforcement organizations, CITES and others to counter illegal wildlife trade in Asia.
Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT)
A partnership between government and nongovernmental organizations focuses attention and resources on ending the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora (CITES)
An international agreement among governments restricts international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants to enhance their survival.
Group on Earth Observations
The group coordinates international efforts to build a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), which connects a diverse and growing array of instruments and systems for monitoring and forecasting environmental changes.
International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives
This international association of local governments and national and regional local government organizations promotes sustainable development.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
A scientific intergovernmental body set up by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and by the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP) provides decisionmakers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
This intergovernmental organization provides leadership and partnership in environmental stewardship by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Through the World Heritage Centre, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) encourages the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
The site provides news, updates and numerous resources, such as introductory and in-depth publications, the official text of UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol, and a search engine for the UNFCCC library.
World Bank/Environment
This collection offers resources on World Bank policies and projects to conserve the environment, including downloadable documents, reports and other tools.
World Conservation Monitoring Centre
The center evaluates and highlights the values of biodiversity and offers information on biodiversity for conventions, countries, organizations and companies to use in developing and implementing their policies.
Nongovernmental Organizations
African Wildlife Foundation
This international Africa-based nonprofit wildlife conservation organization works to protect Africa’s wildlife and wild landscapes.
Center for International Environment Law
A U.S. nonprofit organization uses international law and institutions to protect the environment, promote human health and ensure a just and sustainable society.
Conservation International (CI)
Through corporate, government and nongovernmental partnerships, CI aims to address climate change and secure threatened species, habitats, landscapes, and seascapes while promoting conservation worldwide.
Defenders of Wildlife
This national, nonprofit membership organization is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities.
Earth Island Institute
A nonprofit, public interest, membership organization supports people who are creating solutions to protect the planet.
Earthwatch Institute
The institute engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment.
EarthTrends
This, a comprehensive online database maintained by the World Resources Institute, focuses on environmental, social and economic trends.
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
An international nonprofit organization engages communities, government leaders and like-minded organizations worldwide to achieve lasting solutions to pressing animal welfare and conservation challenges.
International Society for Environmental Ethics
This online resource includes a bibliography of more than 7,000 entries on environmental ethics, newsletters and related links.
IUCN -The World Conservation Union
This international organization helps develop conservation science, manages field projects worldwide and brings together representatives from different sectors to develop and implement policy, laws and best practices in conservation.
National Parks and Conservation Association
This independent, nonpartisan group works to address major threats facing the U.S. National Park System.
National Wildlife Federation
This nonprofit organization seeks to protect wildlife for the future through education, advocacy campaigns and citizen participation.
Natural Resources Defense Council
The environmental advocacy group promotes efforts to safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants and animals and the natural systems on which all life depends.
The Nature Conservancy
The group aims to preserve biodiversity in critical lands and waters through partnerships with governments, nongovernmental organizations and local communities by purchasing sites or using other means of conservation.
Ocean Conservancy
Through research, education and science-based advocacy, this group promotes healthy and diverse ocean ecosystems and opposes practices that threaten ocean life and human life.
REN21- Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century
This global policy network provides a forum for international leadership on renewable energy and policy development for expansion of renewable energies in developing and industrialized economies.
Resources for the Future
This nonprofit and nonpartisan organization conducts independent research -- rooted primarily in economics and other social sciences -- on environmental, energy and natural resource issues.
Rocky Mountain Institute
The independent, entrepreneurial, nonprofit organization fosters the efficient and restorative use of resources to make the world secure, just, prosperous, and life-sustaining with a strong emphasis on market-based solutions.
Sierra Club
America's oldest and largest nonprofit grassroots environmental organization is dedicated to exploring and protecting wilderness through encouraging responsible use of the Earth's ecosystems and resources.
The Wilderness Society
The society employs scientific expertise, analysis and advocacy to save, protect and restore America's wilderness areas.
TRAFFIC International
The international wildlife trade monitoring network partners with WWF and IUCN to ensure trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature; and to promote preservation of ecological systems while supporting human needs.
Union of Concerned Scientists
A leading science-based nonprofit organization working for a healthy environment and a safer world, combining independent scientific research and citizen action to develop innovative, practical solutions and to secure responsible changes in government policy, corporate practices and consumer choices.
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
A nonprofit group of community and business leaders working to make environmentally sound buildings available to everyone within a generation. The group offers Leadership in Energy Environmental Design (LEED) Certification.
WildAid
Works to end illegal wildlife trade by focus on raising awareness to reduce the demand for threatened and endangered species products and to increase public support for wildlife conservation. It is a nonprofit organization headquartered in San Francisco.
Wildlife Conservation Society
This nonprofit organization works to save wildlife and wild lands through careful science, international conservation, education and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks. It is based at the Bronx Zoo, New York.
WildlifeDirect
An international conservation organization founded and chaired by Richard Leakey helps bridge the gap between scientific researchers in the field and conservation activists around the world.
Wildlife Trust of India
This India-based conservation organization works to conserve the many threatened and endangered species and habitats in India in partnership with communities and governments. It also fights the illegal wildlife trade.
World Wide Fund for Nature (also World Wildlife Fund)
The fund is one of the largest international nonprofit organizations dedicated to stopping environmental degradation, preserving biological diversity, ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources and reducing pollution and waste.
