Newsletter Archive

Dear UN Atlas Member,This month of May highlights many ocean events, including:Indonesia hosts the World Ocean Conference 2009World Turtle Day on 23 May helps bring attention to our knowledge of turtles and tortoisesthe WWF Coral Triangle Photo Expedition, an 18-month photojournalistic adventure, gets startedNews items feature responsible fisheries, marine tourism including indigenous tourism, the forthcoming feature film 'Océans', piracy, and IMO efforts in preventing and reducing harmful emissions from ships.Watch for next month's newsletter for details on the upcoming World Ocean Day celebrations on June 8, 2009. Learn more about this year's theme, one ocean, one climate,...

Dear UN Atlas Member, The UN Atlas partnership is pleased to welcome our 10,000th member to the UN Atlas of the Oceans community! Since the Atlas was just a glimmer of hope among the UN agencies with ocean programmes over ten years ago, to its launch nearly seven years ago, our content and membership growth has been steady. We look forward to continuing service to the oceans community, providing an exceptional source of unbiased information for everyone interested in our oceans and their sustainable use.If this newsletter may interest someone you know, please forward it....

Dear UN Atlas Member, Scientists with the International Polar Year (IPY) report evidence of the widespread effects of global warming in the polar regions based on multidisciplinary research. They report that snow and ice are declining in both polar regions. This affects human livelihoods as well as plant and animal life in the Arctic, in addition to global ocean and atmospheric circulation and sea level. The State of Polar Research, the recently published IPY final report, is available in many languages.We continue to bring you important highlights from our UN partner agencies such as FAO, IMO...

Dear UN Atlas Member, This month the International Polar Year (IPY) will celebrate two years of research with the release of the ""State of Polar Research"" in Geneva, Switzerland on 25 February 2009. Keep an eye on the UN Atlas over the next few months for more outcomes -- you can already find IPY educational posters and an events calendar.News items highlight fisheries management issues -- featuring information on the participatory approach in governance to ways of implementing the ecosystem approach in marine management.If this newsletter may interest someone you know, please forward it....

Dear UN Atlas Member, Welcome to our first edition of 2009! This year will see continued coverage of climate change and its impact on the oceans; the need for stronger management and conservation measures to protect our oceans and coasts; trends in fisheries; biodiversity and ocean exploration; and many more issues of interest. New information on Observing Systems now includes material on fisheries observing systems, ahead of a major conference in July 2009 (6th International International Fisheries Observer and Monitoring Conference). We continue to bring you important highlights on coral reef research, emphasizing the...

Dear UN Atlas Member, In this year's final issue of the UN Atlas of the Oceans newsletter, headlines reveal the great challenges that lie ahead: protecting ships from ever-increasing pirate attacks, preserving our ocean's precious resources for future generations, and managing and using those resources wisely for the millions of people around the world who rely on them for food and livelihoods. As 2008 sees the close of the International Year of the Reef (IYOR), let's look at its far-reaching achievements: A soon-to-be released global overview, Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2008 (available at the

Dear UN Atlas Member, As seen at the recent UN World Food Day commemorations, food and energy are interlinked -- and all the more so amid the current global financial crisis and its effects on the poor. This month we look at small-scale fishing communities and poverty; the growing world demand for seafood; and the use of marine protected areas as a management tool for sustainable fisheries. Turning to the environment, read how the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has been active in reducing wastage of energy and materials through vessel recycling and cleaner emissions from ships.If this newsletter may interest...

Dear UN Atlas Member, Small-scale fisheries will be the focus of this month's upcoming global conference: Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries: Bringing together responsible fisheries and social development to be held in Bangkok, Thailand from 13-18 October and co-organized by FAO and the Department of Fisheries of Thailand. As the International Year of the Reef draws to a close, we feature the expeditions of CReefs, part of the global Census of Marine Life, that have found hundreds of new coral and other species -- a reminder of how little is known of the world's marine biodiversity. This month we...

Dear UN Atlas Member, This month we feature news stories on the tropical storms and hurricanes that have recently battered the Caribbean and coastal Gulf areas. These are particularly devastating to poor countries, such as Haiti, whose resiliency to extreme weather events is low. At last a degree of normality has returned to some areas affected by Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, earlier this year. We include a UN report on how to make low-lying population centres more resistant to the increased frequency of climate extremes. We also include items on marine wildlife, Aboriginal land...

Dear UN Atlas Member, Deep-sea exploration nets unexpected catch. Read about this and other information related to aquatic species in this month's news, including an update on the Global Marine Species Assessment. Climate change still gets top billing as we report on a recent FAO meeting looking at global change in marine social-ecological systems as well as recent findings on risks for coral reefs. Urgent and repeated appeals for aid remind us of the continued need for assistance following Cyclone Nargis which devastated Myanmar in May. If this newsletter may interest someone you know, please forward...