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Presents a list of books on environmental concerns. "Conserving Forest Biodiversity: A Comprehensive Multiscaled Approach," by David B. Lindenmayer and Jerry F. Franklin; "Environmental Conflict: In Search of Common Ground," by Jeffrey J. Pompe and James R. Rinehart; "Human Ecology: Following Nature's Land," by Frederick Steiner; "The Missouri River Ecosystem: Exploring the Prospects for Recovery."

Focuses on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) programs. Discussion on global biodiversity; Information on the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment launched by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan; Discussion on efforts of the CBD to preserve species and ecosystems.

The article discusses the value of natural ecosystem services in preserving biodiversity and improving the human condition. According to the authors, climate change has received far more attention than the environmental degradation of the earth’s major ecosystems. They cite the various types of ecosystem services including provisioning, regulating, cultural and supporting services and provide a chart showing the status of the major ecosystems. The chart provided the status, trend and population pressures of each ecosystem. They link poverty reduction to biodiversity conservation and recommend increasing investment in ecosystem services to benefit people.

Presents news briefs related to environmental protection as of July 1, 2003. New species identified by the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory of life forms in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in its first five years; Status of carbon emissions of U.S. automobiles; Identification of the industrial sector as the fastest-growing user of freshwater worldwide.

The article profiles government policies concerning so-called bioprospecting, where plants and natural resources are invested in for their perceived social benefits. The article discusses a range of issues, including the historical context, regulatory frameworks, the commercial use of biodiversity, access to biodiversity and the sharing of benefits, key policy issues, and a case study concerning the African plant Hoodia. The author also comments on the economic impact of bioprospecting on developing countries.

The article examines biodiversity loss and how it can best be prevented in protected areas, particularly in developing nations. Information comes from the international research project, Governance of Biodiversity. The project interviewed people involved in ecosystem management around the globe to obtain recommendations for better administering protected areas. Respondents say protected areas are well served by involving local populations in their management, especially in law enforcement and by promoting local livelihoods. Training managers is a critical priority. INSETS: STATUS, CAUSES, AND CONSEQUENCES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS AND ...;THE GREAT LIMPOPO TRANSFRONTIER PARK, SOUTHERN AFRICA;DEFINITION OF GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT.

Focuses on the Equator Initiative, which seeks to systematically identify and champion local community endeavors that have developed synergistic solutions to poverty alleviation and biodiversity conservation by awarding the biennial Equator Prize. Analysis of the Equator Initiative; Importance of biodiversity conservation; Role of the Equator Prize; How the prize is awarded; Question about the possibility of combining biodiversity conservation goals and poverty reduction goals. INSETS: DEFINITIONS OF POVERTY AND BIODIVERSITY;LINKAGES BETWEEN BIODIVERSITY AND POVERTY REDUCTION.

The article discusses the primary causes of biodiversity loss. The immediate causes are apparent: expansion of cattle ranching and agricultural activities; extensive adoption of agroindustrial models that radically simplify the rural landscape and rely on unsustainable use of energy and chemicals; overexploitation of biotic resources such as fisheries, old growth forests, bush meat, and ornamentals; introduction of invasive species; and recently, the first effects of climate change. All the above reduce the integrity, size, and connectivity of habitats; extirpate populations of species and degrade their genetic pool, eventually leading to extinction; threaten the functioning of ecosystems; and, generally speaking, destroy biodiversity. Despite very real and extensive gaps in ecological science, researchers know a lot about many of the above causes. Databases of primary biodiversity data (observations of species) are growing very fast and becoming available through the Internet. The amount of remote sensing data we are obtaining--at unprecedented resolutions--is staggering, far beyond our current capacity to process and understand the data. Because natural scientists know about immediate causes of biodiversity loss, and more importantly, know how to study them, they tend to concentrate on them. The immediate causes of biodiversity destruction act on ecological processes amenable to the methods and theories of the natural scientist, enabling him or her to describe, measure, understand, and, ideally, predict. In short, natural science approaches the problem through the immediate causes. For most biodiversity goods and services, there are no markets in the global and national economies. This problem has been very well documented and it is one of the most powerful root causes of biodiversity loss. In many countries, the efforts of different branches of the government result in environmental policies that, taken together, are uncoordinated and often contradictory.

Historically, it has been the responsibility of governments to ensure biodiversity protection and provision of ecosystem services. The model of public finance for forest and biodiversity conservation is facing a crisis as the main sources of finance have stagnated, despite the recognition that much larger areas require protection. Financing and management of natural protected areas has historically been perceived as the responsibility of the public sector. However, over the last few decades, severe cutbacks in the availability of public resources have undermined the effectiveness of such strategies. A variant of this approach is being designed for conserving forest biodiversity in Brazil by permitting flexible enforcement of that country's "50 percent rule," which requires landholders in Amazon forest areas to maintain half of their land in forest. As a result of the deliberations at the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change last year, payments for forest carbon through the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol can be used to finance forest restoration and regeneration projects that conserve biodiversity while providing an alternative income source for local people. The purpose of the US $20 million fund is to promote the conservation and sustainable management of natural forests, leverage additional financing, contribute to the competitiveness of the forest sector, and catalyze the development of mechanisms to finance forest ecosystem services. Poor rural communities are especially dependent upon natural biodiversity. Low-income rural people rely heavily on the direct consumption of wild foods, medicines, and fuels, especially for meeting micronutrient and protein needs, and during "hungry" periods. An estimated 350 million poor people rely on forests as safety nets or for supplemental income. INSETS: CONSERVATION BANKING IN THE UNITED STATES;PROTECTING BRAZIL'S ATLANTIC FOREST: THE GUARAQUEÇABA...;A NEW FUND TO FINANCE FOREST ECOSYSTEM SERVICES.

Focuses on environmental conditions in Madagascar, an island off the coast of Africa. Significance of the island's biodiversity; Importance of preserving Madagascar's forests; Debate about deforestation; Estimation of the changes in forest cover; Role of topographic and demographic factors in influencing deforestation; Efforts to protect the biodiversity; Outlook.

Explores the diversity of species in the United States (U.S.). Oddities and peculiarities among the national flora and fauna; Efforts made to classify the U.S. ecological system; Condition of the U.S. species; Legacy of extinctions; Variation on the ecological complexion of the 50 states; Biodiversity hot spots in the U.S.; Implications for the Endangered Species Act. INSETS: Knowledge to Protect the Diversity of Life;NatureServe: An On-line Resource for More Information.

Focuses on the conservation of marine biodiversity. Recommendations which address the decline in marine biological diversity; Details on marine biodiversity; Impact of overfishing.

Discusses the issues of biodiversity crisis in the United States. Background information on the biodiversity problem; Economic and social costs of ecosystem degradation; Recommendations to slow the degradation of the world's ecosystems.

Presents an outline of environmental problems and solutions from the memoranda established by The Aspen Institute Environmental Policy Forum for the United States administration in 2001. Challenges face by the government such as climate change, degradation, loss of biodiversity, etc.; Possible impact of the issues to the in-coming administration; Recommendations raised by the forum.

Examines the issues attending humanity's use of biodiversity from the standpoint of thermophilic organisms found at the Yellowstone National Park. Legality of exploiting resources from national parks; Human's dependence on microorganism for a wide range of function; Efforts to protect the flora and fauna at Yellowstone.

Examines the environmental linkage to both the economy and public health care. Biodiversity and traditional medicine; Biodiversity and drug development; Public health threats of changes in biodiversity; Opportunities for enhanced collaboration. INSET: Screening for new drugs..

Focuses on the effects of overfishing on the diversity of fish. Claim by Dalhousie University researchers that overfishing reduces the number and variety of fish in the sea; Decline of the diversity of tuna, marlin and swordfish in the oceans by 50 percent in the last 50 years; Mapping of the global diversity of predatory fish by Boris Worm and Ransom Myers, which is revealing hot spots of biodiversity; Importance of sea surface temperatures and oxygen levels to determining where big fish congregate in the ocean.

Presents information on the activities of the Equator Initiative. How the group gives out the Equator Prize; Launch of a youth exchange program among youth in developing and industrialized countries; Description of the eco-entrepreneur mentoring program; Contributions of the group to nurturing local partnerships by connecting community interests to policies that directly affect their projects and enterprises.