Environment pathfinder

EDUCATION

Canada’s Aquatic Environments
http://www.aquatic.uoguelph.ca/

A well-organized, user-friendly site offering general information on all aspects of Canada’s aquatic environments. Intended for use in the classroom but useful for journalists seeking backgrounders on Canada’s aquatic environments. Created by the CyberNatural Software Group, a research team at the University of Guelph.

Eco-Centres at Planetfriendly.net
http://www.planetfriendly.net/learn.html

This site features a comprehensive listing of ecological resource centres, parks, environmental boutiques, environmental education programs and more. Most are located in southern Ontario. The site is maintained by Planetfriendly.net, a “gateway site” for Canadians seeking to get connected to the environmental community.

Canadian Journal of Environmental Education
http://www.uleth.ca/edu/research/ictrd/cjee

This is the home page for Canada’s leading journal of environmental education. You can view recent issues in pdf format. There is no way to search the journal archives for a specific issue or article, but the site contains dozens of excellent articles relating to environmental education.

GLOBAL INITIATIVES

Public Health and Environment at the World Health Organization (WHO)
http://www.who.int/phe/en/

This branch of the WHO deals with environmental issues that affect human health. The site appears a bit skimpy at first, but look to the left and right of the opening page for the best info. On your right, find a list of recently published WHO articles on public health, and below those, a link for media contacts. On your left, find a link called “PHE health topics,” which will take you to a list of excellent links showcasing WHO research on 13 environmental issues, including children’s environmental health, chemical safety and water sanitation.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
http://www.unep.org/

The UNEP is a mammoth United Nations organization with a mission to encourage environmentally sound development. The site is somewhat byzantine, but includes a “resources for journalists” link on the bottom left of the home page, where you’ll find information about UNEP’s most recent projects, as well as a link for media contacts listed by region.

International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
http://www.iisd.org/

The IISD is a non-partisan policy research institute. It is Canadian-based, not-for-profit, and works with businesses, government and NGOs to help make policy decisions that benefit the economy, the environment and social causes at the same time. Find Canadian experts on a wide range of topics, from environmental staples like climate change and biodiversity to foreign investment, security and trade.

Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI)
http://www.iclei.org/

This is a global initiative uniting 475 towns, cities and counties in efforts to promote sustainable development. Started in 1990 at a United Nations meeting in New York, the ICLEI is an excellent source for worldwide trends and topics in environment and sustainable development. Find contact information for the World Secretariat, located in Toronto, on this site.

World Conservation Union (WCU)
http://www.iucn.org/

Headquartered in Switzerland, the World Conservation Union is a huge global partnership that counts 82 countries and 800 NGOs among its members. It is essentially a conservation lobby group, active globally. This site offers news on WCU’s recent projects, including several taking place in Canada. The site offers contact information for its Swiss office.