Environmental issues and sustainable development

MILLENNIUM ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT RELEASES FIRST REPORT,

EXAMINES LINKS BETWEEN ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT

(Reissued as received.)

WASHINGTON, D.C., 24 September (UNEP) -- The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA), the most extensive study ever of the linkages between the world's ecosystems and human well-being, today released its first report, Ecosystems and Human Well-being.

INTERNATIONAL TEAM DOCUMENTS DAMAGE FROM PAKISTAN TANKER SPILL;

PROGRAMME OF SCIENTIFIC STUDIES, RESTORATION RECOMMENDED

(Reissued as received.)

BANGKOK, 23 September -- An international team convened to assess the environmental damage caused by oil spilled from the tanker MT Tasman Spirit has reported its findings and recommendations to the Government of Pakistan.

United Nations Environment Programme Opens China Office

BEIJING/BANGKOK/NAIROBI, 19 September (UNEP) -- The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) today opened an office in Beijing, China.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, UNEP Executive Director Klaus Toepfer said it was a response to the important progress being made in meeting environmental challenges in China, the world's largest developing country, and to the challenges lying ahead.

NEW INTER-AGENCY GENDER AND WATER TASK FORCE ESTABLISHED

NEW YORK, 15 September (UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs) –- A new inter-agency Task Force on Gender and Water held its inaugural session last Wednesday with the participation of some 15 representatives of United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations that are actively working in the areas of water and sanitation.

TOURISM TO EARTH’S MOST THREATENED AREAS SURGES

BY MORE THAN 100 PER CENT IN LAST DECADE

Most Comprehensive Report on Tourism and Biodiversity

Highlights Threats and Opportunities of World's Largest Global Industry

(Reissued as received.)

CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY TAKES EFFECT 11 SEPTEMBER

(Reissued as received.)

MONTREAL, 9 September (UNEP) -- The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, the first legally binding international agreement governing the transboundary movement of living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology, enters into force on Thursday, 11 September 2003.

PLANET’S LIST OF PROTECTED AREAS TOPS 100,000 MARK

United Nations Outlines over Century of Success

And Failure in Conserving World's Natural Heritage

(Reissued as received.)

AIR POLLUTION CUTS HELP FORESTS RECOVER

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 2 September (UNECE) -- The latest report on forest condition in Europe indicates that drastic reductions in sulphur emissions have led to decreasing concentrations of sulphur in the needles of Norway spruce and Scots pine (see graph below).

UNEP SENDS ADVISOR TO PAKISTAN OIL SPILL SITE

(Reissued as received.)

NAIROBI/BANGKOK, 28 August (UNEP) -- The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has dispatched one of its emergency response specialists to Pakistan to assist the authorities to assess the damage caused by oil spilled from the tanker MT Tasman Spirit.

The UNEP Executive Director Klaus Toepfer said this followed a request for assistance from the Pakistan Government.

UNEP BACKS MONGOLIA’S EFFORTS TO SAFEGUARD VAST, UNIQUE ENVIRONMENTS

(Delayed in transmission.)

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia, 22 August (UNEP) -- The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Mongolian Ministry of Nature and Environment today signed a framework agreement to support sustainable development and environmental protection in the fabled North-East Asian country.