In progress at UNHQ

HE/914

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TO BE ADVANCED UNDER JOINT ARRANGEMENT BY TWO KEY BODIES

3 November 1995


Press Release
HE/914


ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TO BE ADVANCED UNDER JOINT ARRANGEMENT BY TWO KEY BODIES

19951103 Agreement Between United Nations Programme and Smithsonian Institution Will Aid Scientific Research

WASHINGTON D.C., 31 October 1995 (UNEP) -- The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Smithsonian Institution, one of the world's foremost research and education institutes, have signed an agreement on the enhancement of targeted scientific research in the field of sound environmental management.

Under the agreement, in accord with one of the central aspects of UNEP's mandate, formal links will be established between the existing programmes of the two organizations in such fields as tropical forestry, biological diversity, climate change, marine and freshwater resources, dryland management, environmental assessment and data networking, data base development, along with public and technical information awareness.

The Smithsonian will also provide the scientific input to UNEP's work with the intergovernmental panel on forests of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. In line with the agreement, a senior official of the Smithsonian, Tom Lovejoy, has agreed to become the senior scientific advisor to UNEP's Executive Director, Elizabeth Dowdeswell.

At this evening's signing ceremony, Ms. Dowdeswell said UNEP had long made use of strategic partnership agreements that enhanced its programme delivery, particularly on the regional and national levels. It was particularly excited by the possibilities offered by an agreement with the world-renowned Smithsonian.

The Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, through the recommendations contained in its global programme of action for sustainable development -- Agenda 21 -- gave UNEP an enhanced mandate, and specifically called for the Programme to coordinate and promote relevant scientific research as a basis for decision-making for sound environmental management. The new agreement with the Smithsonian also calls for joint programmes to increase public awareness on the status of ecosystems and their management.

* *** *

For information media. Not an official record.