Environmental Website and News Links

U.S. Government Agencies

National Institute of Health (NIH): Its mission is science in pursuit of fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to extend healthy life and reduce the burdens of illness and disability. http://www.nih.gov

Fogarty International Center (FIC): FIC promotes and supports international scientific research and training to reduce disparities in global health. http://www.fic.nih.gov

National Science Foundation (NSF): NSF’s mission is to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; and to secure the national defense. http://www.nsf.gov

National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): NOAA’s mission is to describe and predict changes in the earth's environment, and conserve and manage wisely the nation's coastal and marine resources to ensure sustainable economic opportunities. http://www.noaa.gov

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): USGS provides reliable scientific information to describe and understand the earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life. http://www.usgs.gov

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA): Protecting human health and safeguarding the natural environment is US-EPA’s mission. http://www.epa.gov

National Invasive Species Council: The National Invasive Species Council is an inter-Departmental council that helps to coordinate and ensure complementary, cost-efficient and effective Federal activities regarding invasive species. http://www.invasivespecies.gov

Sandia National Laboratories: Sandia’s vision is to help the nation secure a peaceful and free world through technology. http://www.sandia.gov

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service: The Mission of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is to work with partners throughout the world to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the mankind. http://www.fws.gov

The GLOBE Program: The mission of the GLOBE is to promote the teaching and learning of science, enhance environmental literacy and stewardship, and promote scientific discovery. http://www.globe.gov

USAID Programs in South Asia

USAID Environment Program in Asia and Near East: USAID environment programs help national governments and municipalities solve water, sewerage, and solid waste management problems; work with governments to promote cleaner fossil fuel technologies, renewable energy, and improved energy efficiency; and promote targeted protection and education programs for natural resources conservation. http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/environment/compliance/ane/index.htm

East Asia and Pacific Environmental Initiative (EAPEI): The goal of the EAPEI is to improve environmental conditions and quality of life by increasing environmental capacity and knowledge in the East Asia and Pacific region through joint State/USAID and partner efforts. http://eapei.home.att.net/index.htm

South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy (SARI/E): The South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy Cooperation and Development (SARI/Energy) promotes energy sector reform and dialogue about possible linkages among the nations of South Asia.http://www.sari-energy.org http://www.usaid.gov/in/our_work/program_areas/energy_environment.htm

USAID/India – Energy and Environment: Reflecting the priorities of the Government of India, USAID activities today help reduce poverty by improving health, mitigating environmental impact, promoting women’s and children’s equity, and fostering economic growth.

USAID/Bangladesh Environment: The overall goal of the environment program is to strengthen the ability of the government of Bangladesh and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in this area to improve environmental and natural resource management. http://www.usaid.gov/bd/programs/environ.html

USAID/Nepal: USAID's activities are helping Nepal develop a more effective energy system, promote the health of its citizens, and engage grassroots groups more fully in advocacy and the democratic process. The ultimate goal is a Nepal where all Nepalis participate in thriving democratic institutions and share in the benefits of the nation's growth. http://nepal.usaid.gov

Many of the websites listed below are not managed by any office or agency of the United States Government and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the U.S. government, which accepts no responsibility for their content.

United Nations

United Nations Environment Program (UNEP): UNEP’s mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. http://www.unep.org

UNEP Regional Office for Asia and Pacific (ROAP): The activities of ROAP aim at underlining the catalytic and coordinating role of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in promoting international cooperation in the field of the environment. http://www.roap.unep.org

World Health Organization (WHO): WHO's objective is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. http://www.who.int/en

Multilateral Development Banks

The World Bank: Protecting the Environment is one of six main principles in the World Bank's mission to alleviate poverty and to sustain the quality of development. http://www.worldbank.org

Asian Development Bank (ADB): ADB is a multilateral development finance institution dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific. http://www.adb.org

The ADB Environment Policy/Strategy highlights a number of areas that require attention in ADB’s environmental assessment process. It addresses the need for more upstream environmental assessment at the level of country programming. http://www.adb.org/documents/policies/environment

The Environment Program describes ADB's achievements over the last five years in the environment field. http://www.adb.org/Documents/Books/Environment_Program

South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC): SASEC helps through technical assistance projects to identify and prioritize cross-border investments in the eastern South Asia sub-region. http://www.adb.org/SASEC

Multilateral and Intergovernmental Organizations

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC): SAARC was established when its Charter was formally adopted on December 8, 1985 by the Heads of State or Government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. SAARC provides a platform for the peoples of South Asia to work together in a spirit of friendship, trust and understanding. It aims to accelerate the process of economic and social development in Member States. http://www.saarc-sec.org

South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP): SACEP is an inter-governmental organization established in 1982 by the Governments of South Asia to promote and support protection, management and enhancement of the environment in the region. http://www.sacep.org

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD): The primary objectives of ICIMOD are to promote the development of economically and environmentally sound mountain ecosystems and to improve the living standards of mountain populations in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region. http://www.icimod.org

Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC): ADPC is a regional resource center working towards disaster reduction for safer communities and sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific. http://www.adpc.net

ASEAN-WEN: ASEAN-WEN is a regional intergovernmental law-enforcement network designed to combat the illegal wildlife trade, a proactive response to Southeast Asia’s alarming levels of wildlife trafficking and loss and a mechanism by which countries can share information and learn from each other's best practices. http://www.asean-wen.org

UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA): UNICEF works to achieve its goals and improve the environment for children by working through governments, UNICEF Country Offices, international agencies and local partners throughout the region. http://www.unicef.org/rosa/about.html

Regional Center for Strategies Study (RCSS): The Centre's key objectives are advancing the cause of cooperation, security, conflict resolution, confidence building, peace and development in the countries of the South Asian region. http://www.rcss.org

International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs)

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation conserves healthy populations of fish, wildlife and plants, on land and in the sea, through creative and respectful partnerships, sustainable solutions, and better education. http://www.nfwf.org

World Wildlife Fund (WWF): WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. http://www.wwf.org

The World Conservation Union (IUCN): IUCN’s mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. http://www.iucn.org

TRAFFIC International: TRAFFIC's mission is to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature. http://www.traffic.org

FREELAND: FREELAND is a non-profit foundation dedicated to ending the illegal wildlife trade, conserving natural habitats and protecting human rights. It works throughout Asia to raise awareness and build local capacity to protect critical ecosystems and the freedom of all living beings. http://www.free-land.org

The Mountain Institute: Mountain Institute's program helps to protect mountain environments and advance mountain cultures. It provides innovative programs in some of the worlds most remote mountain regions. http://www.mountain.org

Ford Foundation: The Ford Foundation is a resource for innovative people and institutions worldwide. Its goals are to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation and advance human achievement. http://www.fordfound.org

The Asia Foundation: The Asia Foundation aims to protect Asia's natural capital assets through improved environmental governance and stewardship by strengthening the capacity for expanded public participation in environmental decision-making. http://www.asiafoundation.org

South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE): The overall objective of SAWTEE is to build the capacity of concerned stakeholders in South Asia in the context of liberalization and globalization. http://www.sawtee.org

Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresources (ANSAB): ANSAB is committed to enterprise oriented solutions to biodiversity conservation and sustainable community development. http://www.ansab.org

South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE):SANDEE is a regional network that uses economic tools and analyses to address South Asia's environmental challenges. http://www.sandeeonline.org

Panos South Asia: Panos South Asia, with its headquarters in Kathmandu, is part of the family of Panos Institutes worldwide that encourage and facilitate public discourse and debate on a wide range of issues. http://www.panossouthasia.org

International Environmental/Sustainable Development Consultants

World Resources Institute (WRI): WRI is an environmental research and policy organization that creates solutions to protect the planet and improve people’s lives. http://www.wri.org

International Resources Group (IRG): IRG is an international professional services firm headquartered in Washington, D.C., which focuses on providing practical solutions to complex, mission-critical problems for public and private sector clients worldwide. http://www.irgltd.com

CORE International: CORE International, Inc. is a U.S.-based international management consulting firm with expertise in the energy, environment, industrial, and transportation infrastructure development areas. http://www.coreintl.com

Winrock International: Winrock’s mission is to help the poor and disadvantaged. It uses innovative approaches in agriculture, environmental protection, renewable energy, leadership development, and policy to increase long-term productivity, equity, and responsible resource management. http://www.winrock.org

Global Environment Facility (GEF): GEF helps developing countries fund projects and programs that protect the global environment. Established in 1991, GEF is the designated financial mechanism for international agreements on biodiversity, climate change, and persistent organic pollutants. http://gefweb.org

Industry/Professional Organizations

World Energy Council (WEC): WEC's mission is to promote the sustainable supply and use of energy for the greatest benefit of all. http://www.worldenergy.org

United States Energy Association (USEA): USEA is an association of public and private energy-related organizations, corporations, and government agencies. USEA represents the broad interests of the U.S. energy sector in increasing the understanding of energy issues, both domestically and internationally. http://www.usea.org

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS): AAAS seeks advance science and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all people. AAAS is the world's largest general scientific society and publisher of Science. http://www.aaas.org

International Organization for Knowledge, Economy and Enterprise Development (IKED): The mission of IKED is to explore the opportunities and challenges that emanate from the emerging knowledge-based economy. The organization strives for maximum policy relevance. http://www.iked.org

Water

Global Water Partnership (GWP): The GWP is a working partnership among all those involved in water management: government agencies, public institutions, private companies, professional organizations, and multilateral development agencies etc. committed to the "Dublin-Rio principles." http://www.gwpforum.org

World Water Council (WWC): The World Water Council is an international water policy think tank dedicated to strengthening the world water movement for improved management of water resources. http://www.worldwatercouncil.org

International Water Management Institute (IWMI): IWMI is a non-profit scientific research organization specializing in water use in agriculture and integrated management of water and land resources. http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org

South Asian Flood Forecasting: This website was developed and launched in May 2002 for the exchange of flood data and information in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) Region. It is intended as a regional communication platform for the exchange of flood data and information. http://www.southasianfloods.icimod.org

Institute for Social and Environmental Transition (ISET: ISET is an international non-profit institute with members and advisors in both the North and the South. Individuals and organizations involved in ISET all share a commitment to environmentally sustainable development and poverty alleviation. http://www.i-s-e-t.org

WaterAid: WaterAid is an international NGO dedicated exclusively to the provision of safe domestic water, sanitation and hygiene education to the world's poorest people. http://www.wateraid.org.uk

Miscellaneous

International Center for Journalists (ICFJ): ICFJ was founded in 1984 as an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of journalism worldwide, especially in countries with little or no tradition of an independent press. http://www.icfj.org

Environmentalism in South Asia – Selected Internet Sites:

http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/SSEAL/SouthAsia/environmental.html#wildlife

International Environment News Sources

Environmental News Network (ENN): Since 1993, ENN has been working to educate the world about environmental issues. http://www.enn.com

Environmental News Service (ENS): ENS is the original daily international wire service of the environment. ENS exists to present late-breaking environmental news. http://www.ens-news.com

National Geographic: National Geographic aims to inspire people to care about the planet. http://www.nationalgeographic.com

South Asia Regional Environment News Sources

Himal South Asian: Himal South Asian is Southasia’s regional news and analysis magazine. http://www.himalmag.com

Down to Earth: Over the years the magazine has informed and inspired people about environmental threats facing India and the world. http://www.downtoearth.org.in

Sanctuary Asia Magazine: The magazine provides information on the natural history of the Indian subcontinent, and suggestions on India's environmental and wildlife conservation movement. http://www.sanctuaryasia.com