Land Quality & Sustainable Land Management Indicators Sites
Agricultural Indicators - Indicator Program Descriptions
URL: http://tdg.uoguelph.ca/www/FSR/collection/indicator/program.txt
Compiler: S. McCann, World Resources Institute
Content: Profiles of 37 programs currently involved in developing indicators of agricultural sustainability. The profiles are arranged in four categories based on the focus of an organization’s indicator output or reports. The categories include the global and national level; the regional level (ecoregion, watershed, landscape, etc.); the community, project and farm level; and the soil level.
Accessibility: No restrictions
Review and Assessment of Available Indicators for Evaluating Sustainable Land Management
URL: http://res.agr.ca/PUB/ecorc/program3/pub/indicat/overview.htm
Compiler: Centre for Land and Biological Resources Research, Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada
Content: This report investigates some potential indicators for assessing the sustainability of agricultural land management in Canada. The focus was on the sustainability of agricultural resources. Data from the 1991 Census of Agriculture were used, where possible, to determine indicators, because the data are current, and equally representative of all parts of the country.
Framework for Assessment of Sustainable Land Management
Variables, Indicators and Thresholds
Criteria for Choosing Indicators
Review of Available Indicators
- Physical
- Agronomic
- Economic
- Social
Assessment of Selected Indicators
- Physical
- Agronomic
- Economic
- Social
Conclusions
Appendix I: Alternative Approaches to the Development of Indicators
Appendix II: Indicators of Soil and Water Quality
References
Accessibility: No restrictions
Comment: This is an electronic version of the Neave et al. (1995) report.
Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)
URL: http://www.cgiar.org/cifor/
Compiler: CIFOR
Content: Includes general information, maps and statistics of at least 80 countries from WCMC, one of CIFOR’s collaborators, as well as summaries of its research projects including its criteria and indicators project.
Accessibility: No restrictions
Compendium of Sustainable Development Indicator Initiatives and Publications
URL: http://iisd1.iisd.ca/measure/compendium.htm
Compiler: International Institute for Sustainable Development, Environment Canada, Redefining Progress, and the World Bank.
Content: The site provides an overview of initiatives on sustainable development indicators being carried out at the international, national and provincial/territorial/state levels.
Accessibility: No restrictions
Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN)
Compiler: Center for International Earth Science Information Network
Content: Provides interactive applications, metadata resources, data resources, information systems and resources. Although much of the information is US-based, the Land Quality Indicators Information System (LQI-IS) section (http://www.ciesin.org/lqi-is/lqihome.html) is a global information system being developed by CIESIN and supported by the World Bank, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The information system provides searchable metadata and tools for access to source data and indicators.
Interactive Applications
DDCarto- Demographic Data Cartogram Service: Interactive order of 1990 US census data in prominent GIS data formats.
DDViewer- Demographic Data Viewer: Interactive mapping of 1990 U.S. census data.
ENTRI- Environmental Treaties and Resource Indicators Service: A searchable relational database containing international environmental treaties, treaty summaries, treaty status files and natural resource indicators.
Geocorr- Geographic Correspondence Engine: Create correlation lists between various U.S. geographies.
Great Lakes Map Server: Interactively compose a map with selected EPA site datasets and feature coverages for any U.S. region within the Great Lakes.
MVA- Model Visualization and Analysis for Integrated Assessment Models of Climate Change: Access to guide information on Integrated Assessment Modeling, selected IAMs, and scenario outputs from selected IAMs.
Ulysses (tm) Cross-tabulation Engine: Interactive access to decennial U.S. census micro-data.
UVIS- UV Interactive Service: An interactive, custom-query service that allows for on-screen visualization of hourly, daily, and monthly UV dose variables from selected locations across the United States.
AgCrOPS- Agricultural Crops Observation and Performance Service (* Experimental Prototype *): A farmers' quick reference guide to the results of crop varietal trials and a one-stop seed products catalogue.
Metadata Resources
CIESIN's Guide to Metadata: Information and resources about metadata.
CIESIN Gateway: Locate environmental and socioeconomic data using this distributed international catalog of metadata resources.
GLREIS Metadata Search: Search the Great Lakes Regional Environmental Information System Metadata Directory.
CIESIN Dataset Guides
Data Resources
Archive of Census Related Products: Post-processed extracts from the 1990 STF3A and 1992 TIGER data linked by polygon ID number; U.S. population, housing density and land cover classification data on a 1km2 grid.
China Dimensions Data Collection: Guides for and access to a rich collection of data resources on the People's Republic of China. Highlights include digital administrative boundaries; fundamental GIS layers; county-level data on population, agriculture, economics and hospitals; and interactive access to the 1982 census of population.
Environmental Treaty Texts: Full text of more than 140 international environmental agreements.
Gridded Population of the World: Dataset description and access to world and continental population counts and density on a 5 minute grid.
Global Population Database: Population data on a 20 minute by 30 minute grid for more than 100 nations; includes urban density circles.
Mexico Data Collection: Dataset description and access to various population GIS coverages of Mexico.
Monitoring Environmental Progress: Interactive query of the World Bank's database of indicators of environmentally sustainable development.
Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS): Microdata from the decennial U.S. censuses of 1970-1990.
Social Indicators of Development: Interactive query of the World Bank's dataset containing 125 socioeconomic variables from more than 170 economies for the period 1965-1993.
World Resources 1996-97:Interactive query of the authoritative Guide to the Global Environment from World Resources Institute.
Information Systems and Resources
Access to U.S. Demographic Data: A collection of applications and data resources for analysis of U.S. demographics.
Great Lakes Regional Environmental Information System (GLREIS): GLREIS provides access to a wide array of data, information and unique tools relevant to the Great Lakes region.
Land Quality Indicators Information System: LQI-IS is a global information system on the sustainability of land resources in managed ecosystems (http://www.ciesin.org/lqi-is/lqihome.html) Contains the following:
What is LQI-IS -- background about the Land Quality Indicators Information System.
Search for Metadata -- allows the search and retrieval of descriptions of LQI data and information.
Accessible Datasets -- access to LQI-related datasets.
Indicator Guides -- descriptions of LQIs and links to related data sets.
Modeling -- access to LQI-related modeling tools.
Discussion Forum -- access to an on-line discussion area.
Tools and Software -- access to other Land Quality Indicators tools and software products.
Bibliographies -- access to LQI bibliographies.
Related Web Sites -- access to other Web sites.
U.S. - Mexico Border Regional Environmental Information System (US-MBREIS): US-MBREIS provides access to data, information and unique tools relevant to the United States - Mexico Border region.
Stratospheric Ozone and Human Health Project: A suite of information products in the areas of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, ozone, and human health impacts of UV exposure.
Thematic Guides to key environmental issues, including: agriculture, human health, land use, ozone depletion, political institutions, remote sensing, environmental treaties and resource indicators (designed to support the ENTRI service) and integrated assessment modeling of climate change (designed to support the MVA service)
Accessibility: No restrictions
Global Resource Information Database (GRID)
URL: http://www.grida.no/prog/global/cgiar/index.htm
Compiler: A joint project of the United Nations Environment Programme, Global Resource Information Database (UNEP/GRID) and the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). The main objective of the UNEP/CGIAR project for the 'Use of Geographic Information Systems in Agricultural Research Management' is to establish long-term cooperative links between UNEP and the CGIAR system to effectively integrate natural resource and socio-economic information into agricultural research activities.
Content: Provides an overview of the project an newsletters and reports back to 1995 as well as datasets and links to other CGIAR sites.
Datasets
Asian Population Databases
Latin American Administrative Boundaries
Data Catalogue: compiled to help members of the CGIAR network to find data available at the other Centers, or to have an overview of all self-produced data existing in the CG Centers. The catalogue contains search information, such as geographical coverage, date of collection, (INFOTERRA) keywords for orientation, contact persons for requests, source information etc., and is designed to be combined with the UNEP/GRID metadatabase in the near future. Most of the datasets are in vector format, the administrative boundaries and communication infrastructure for countries of South America, The Philippines and Central Africa. Some general elevation and land use data in raster format is also available, mostly for Africa (Ivory Coast) and The Philippines. Climatic data is maintained for almost every region of focus, but complete time series are missing. Datasets are relevant for agricultural activities in those regions, supporting the modelling and research of related issues concerning potato and rice production mainly. Almost every dataset is stored in Arc/Info format, some of them also in IDRISI. The catalogue can be obtained as an Excel (5.0) .xls file by ftp from the site, GRID Arendal, or you can download separate Excel or Word files for one or more of the Centers
Accessibility: No restrictions
Comment: Geographic analysis can provide a considerable input to agricultural research where the spatial dimension is relevant. Applications range from service functions such as collecting and providing geo-referenced data to modelling of crop yields, identification of key areas of population pressure, biodiversity conservation and complicated impact assessment analyses. The importance of GIS in agricultural research is increasing as environmental management gets its steady position on agricultural research agendas.
International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
URL: http://www.idrc.ca
Compiler: IDRC
Content: The International Development Research Centre is a public corporation created by the Canadian government to help communities in the developing world find solutions to social, economic, and environmental problems through research. The site provides access to information about IDRC, including the Centre's general information brochure, annual report, news, media information, and the Centre's program of research. "Research Projects" offers direct access to international research sites including research initiatives and international secretariats. "Resources" links to the Centre Library, databases, catalogue of publications, and IDRC's archives. The IDRC Library provides public access to development information via the Development Data Bases Service (DDBS) at http://www.ddbs.idrc.ca. DDBS databases:
BIBLIO -- The collection of the IDRC Library.
IDRIS -- Inter-Agency Development Research Information System -- Research activities and projects of
IDRC (International Development Research Centre)
IFS (International Foundation for Science)
JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency)
Sida Department for Research Cooperation (SAREC)
Accessibility: No restrictions
Land Quality Indicators Program
URL: http://www-esd.worldbank.org/lqi/
Compiler: World Bank
Content: The Land Quality Indicators Information System involves the development of:
a metadatabase and access to Global Environmental Data, Biobliographical Catalogues and Modeling (links to Center for International Earth Science Information Network Land Quality Information System http://www.ciesin.org/lqi-is/lqihome.html)
an Inventory of LQI Related Projects (for details, a request must be sent to the LQI Secretariat)
- Savanes : Enjeux, Dynamiques et Gestion - Savannas : Challenges, Dynamics and Management
- UNDP/UNEP joint program on information monitoring and assessment of drylands
- The Society-Environment Project
- Degradation programme for GEF in relation to the Biodiversity, Climatic change and International Water priorities
- Soil Management Collaborative Research Support Program
- NUTMON (NUTrient MONitoring)
- Integrating Remote Sensing, GIS, and Modeling for Land-Use Monitoring in the Arid/Semi-Arid Andes
- Confronting soil degradation: Developing strategies for productivity enhancement and resource conservation
- Preliminary Assessment of Plant Nutrient Balances for Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Farm-Level Modeling for Natural Resource Use Planning in Uruguay
- Development of Decision Support System for the Evaluation of Sustainable Land Management in Sloping Lands of Asia
- Sustainability of farming systems in Fiji and Papua New Guinea (PNG)
- The System-wide Information Network for Genetic Resources (SINGER)
- AFRICOVER
- Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS)
- UNEP/GRID-CGIAR cooperation on GIS in agricultural research
- Natural Resource Monitoring for Policy Making
- Munich Research Association for Agricultural Ecosystems - Forschungsverbund Agraroekosysteme Muenchen (FAM)
- Australian National Collaborative Project on Indicators of Sustainable Agriculture (ANCIPSA)
- Development of Indicators for State of the Environment, Australia. (Land Resources, Inland Waters, Marine & Esturine, Atmosphere, Biodiversity)
- Indicators of Catchment Health
- Setting up an Institute of Sustainable Agriculture for Women
a List of Publications
Accessibility: No restrictions
Comment: The LQI program, and the global coalition being assembled to develop and disseminate the findings of the program, are important contributions towards more sustainable management of the world’s land, water and biological resources. The objective is not a new program separate from the on-going efforts of many agencies, but rather better co-ordination of the many existing and new initiatives on land resource management. This requires that the work be done in a co-ordinated, co-operative fashion, using a common framework.
The UNEP Meta-data Directory
Compiler: United Nations Environment Program
Content: For the UNEP Meta-data Directory, the term ''Meta-data'' is defined as reference data about the content and location of (environmental) data and information holdings. Meta-data are the high-level ''overview'' or informational abstract that describes (and points to) a particular dataset, report, map or institute. Meta-data assists users by providing access to institutes and/or data.
The UNEP Meta-data Directory will serve as a library card catalogue of environmental information. It will contain ''card entries'' (or meta-data descriptions) of institutes and datasets. Similar to the library card catalogue, the meta-data directory will allow users to search for environmental information by institute name or dataset (title), contact person (author), theme, keyword and location (subject), as well as other criteria.
Sample queries to this system may be: How many institutes are working on Biodiversity in Europe and how can I contact them? Where are datasets available about vegetation in Kenya and how can I get them?
Accessibility: Since the goal of this software is to provide information free of charge to as large a global audience as possible, the audience for this directory is primarily (but not limited to) the environmental-information-seeker who does not have network (Internet) access. Data in the directory can be interchanged freely among users and can be uploaded to the World Wide Web for those users with Internet connectivity.
It will be necessary for all users of the MdD to register with GRID to ensure uniqueness of data entries. A security system is invoked at the beginning of each new participant's meta-data session. This verification process will ask the new user to identify him/herself, the machine that he/she is working on and the organization that he/she is working for.
To sample the Meta-data Directory (demo version), contact James McKenna at UNEP: Tel: 254.2.623899 or Fax: 254.2.624315 or Email: mckennaj@unep.org . UNEP is promoting its use and always looking for more partners with whom to share environmental information.
Sustainable Development Indicators, selected bibliography
URL: http://iisd1.iisd.ca/ic/info/ss9504.htm
Compiler: International Institute for Sustainable Development
Content: A listing of publications related to sustainable development indictors. Brief descriptions are provided in some cases, however, there are no links to the publications themselves.
Accessibility: No restrictions.
SPAAR Information System (SIS)
URL: http://www.bib.wau.nl/sis/
Compiler: International Agricultural Centre (IAC), the Netherlands
Content: The Special Programme for African Agricultural Research (SPAAR) emerged as an initiative in the mid eighties to enhance agricultural production in Africa by increasing donor co-ordination in the field of agricultural research. The SPAAR Information System (SIS) was developed as a tool to come to grips with the increasing number of activities. It complements the registration of national funded projects in the CARIS database managed by FAO. Can search listing by keywords or by list of available research disciplines:
General Agriculture
Agriculture - General Aspects (18 Records)
Agricultural Research (358 Records)
Geography and History
Geography (4 Records)
History (3 Records)
Education, Extension and Information
Education (57 Records)
Extension (15 Records)
Documentation and Information (74 Records)
Administration and Legislation
Public Administration (3 Records)
Legislation (1 Records)
Economics and Policies
Agricultural Economics and Policies (66 Records)
Land Economics and Policies (42 Records)
Labour and Employment (15 Records)
Investment, Finance and Credit (16 Records)
Development Economics and Policies (76 Records)
Production Economics (18 Records)
Organization, Administration and Management of Agricultural Enterprises Or Farms (12 Records)
Agro-industry (7 Records)
Cooperatives (7 Records)
Rural Sociology (38 Records)
Rural Population (11 Records)
Trade, Marketing and Distribution (40 Records)
International Trade (6 Records)
Domestic Trade (2 Records)
Consumer Economics (2 Records)
Home Economics and Crafts (1 Records)
Agrarian Systems (7 Records)
Plant Production
Crop Husbandry (206 Records)
Plant Propagation (14 Records)
Seed Production (33 Records)
Fertilizing (40 Records)
Irrigation (61 Records)
Soil Cultivation (21 Records)
Cropping Patterns and Systems (189 Records)
Plant Genetics and Breeding (251 Records)
Plant Ecology (11 Records)
Plant Structure (5 Records)
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry (35 Records)
Plant Physiology - Nutrition (13 Records)
Plant Physiology - Growth and Development (5 Records)
Plant Physiology - Reproduction (1 Records)
Plant Taxonomy and Geography (9 Records)
Plant Protection
Protection of Plants - General Aspects (55 Records)
Pests of Plants (382 Records)
Plant Diseases (61 Records)
Miscellaneous Plant Disorders (6 Records)
Weeds and Weed Control (24 Records)
Postharvest Technology
Handling, Transport, Storage and Protection of Agricultural Products (6 Records)
Handling, Transport, Storage and Protection of Plant Products (58 Records)
Handling, Transport, Storage and Protection of Forest Products (1 Records)
Handling, Transport, Storage and Protection of Animal Products (3 Records)
Handling, Transport, Storage and Protection of Fisheries and Aquacultural Products (9 Records)
Handling, Transport, Storage and Protection of Non-food Or Non-feed Agricultural Products (1 Records)
Forestry
Forestry - General Aspects (77 Records)
Forestry Production (164 Records)
Forest Engineering (4 Records)
Processing of Forest Products (18 Records)
Forest Injuries and Protection (2 Records)
Animal Production
Animal Husbandry (142 Records)
Animal Feeding (40 Records)
Animal Genetics and Breeding (30 Records)
Animal Ecology (18 Records)
Animal Structure (1 Records)
Animal Physiology and Biochemistry (4 Records)
Animal Physiology - Nutrition (4 Records)
Animal Physiology - Growth and Development (6 Records)
Animal Physiology - Reproduction (16 Records)
Animal Taxonomy and Geography (1 Records)
Veterinary Science and Hygiene (55 Records)
Pests of Animals (21 Records)
Animal Diseases (48 Records)
Miscellaneous Animal Disorders (4 Records)
Fisheries and Aquaculture
Fisheries and Aquaculture - General Aspects (21 Records)
Fisheries Production (47 Records)
Aquaculture Production and Management (34 Records)
Aquatic Ecology (3 Records)
Agricultural Machinery and Engineering
Agricultural Engineering (4 Records)
Farm Layout (- Records)
Agricultural Structures (- Records)
Agricultural Machinery and Equipment (22 Records)
Natural Resources and Management
Nature Conservation and Land Resources (125 Records)
Energy Resources and Management (64 Records)
Renewable Energy Resources (9 Records)
Non-renewable Energy Resources (2 Records)
Water Resources and Management (56 Records)
Drainage (22 Records)
Soil Science and Management (32 Records)
Soil Surveys and Mapping (4 Records)
Soil Classification and Genesis (7 Records)
Soil Chemistry and Physics (8 Records)
Soil Biology (16 Records)
Soil Fertility (21 Records)
Soil Erosion, Conservation and Reclamation (18 Records)
Meteorology and Climatology (19 Records)
Processing
Food Science and Technology (17 Records)
Food Processing and Preservation (86 Records)
Food Contamination and Toxicology (8 Records)
Food Composition (3 Records)
Food Additives (- Records)
Feed Technology (3 Records)
Feed Processing and Preservation (4 Records)
Feed Contamination and Toxicology (11 Records)
Feed Composition (1 Records)
Feed Additives (- Records)
Processing of Non-food Or Non-feed Agricultural Products (4 Records)
Processing of Agricultural Wastes (12 Records)
Packaging (2 Records)
Human Nutrition
Human Nutrition - General Aspects (8 Records)
Physiology of Human Nutrition (2 Records)
Diet and Diet Related Diseases (3 Records)
Nutrition Programmes (1 Records)
Pollution
Pollution (4 Records)
Occupational Diseases and Hazards (1 Records)
Methodology
Mathematical and Statistical Methods (3 Records)
Research Methods (8 Records)
Surveying Methods (9 Records)
Accessibility: No restrictions
Africa Productive Sector Growth and Environment
URL: http://www.info.usaid.gov/sdpsge/psgehome.html
Compiler: Productive Sector Growth and Environment (PSGE) Division of USAID.
Content: Promotes African development through research, analysis, and strategic field support in the areas of agriculture, the environment, natural resources management, and private sector development. Provides general information on its program, staff & partners.
Accessibility: No restrictions
Comment: Material dated.
World Resources Institute (WRI)
URL: http://www.wri.org/wri/index.html
Compiler: World Resources Institute
Content: The World Resources Institute is an independent center for policy research and technical assistance on global environmental and development issues. This site provides summaries of WRI projects, including sustainable agriculture, and indicators and trends. Copies of WRI’s publications are posted, as is World Resources 1996-97, a report by WRI, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank.
Accessibility: No restrictions