Traces the development of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and describes its operation, including purpose, organization, and programs. (DC)

The International Resource Management program enables undergraduate students of the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, College of Natural Resources to complete an academic minor in International Resource Management. The program attempts to alert students and faculty to global environmental issues and their interconnectedness with a variety of…

Tropical forests cover 20 percent of the Earth's land surface, but they are rapidly disappearing, with some estimating the loss of 7.5 million hectares a year. This bulletin provides a set of key facts relating to this problem. It details: (1) factors involving the rate at which the forests are disappearing; (2) some of the effects of these losses…

The relationships between earth's resources and the human future and the challenges of maintaining a sustainable environment were probed at an international conference sponsored by the World Resources Institute. A synthesis of the conference's reports, perspectives, and plans for action are presented in this document. The position supported by the…

Background information and a teaching strategy are provided to help students better understand the global energy crisis and learn to take action. An overview of the energy crisis includes a discussion of the unequal distribution of natural resources throughout the world, the finite nature of fossil fuels, and problems associated with the depletion…

By 2000 A.D. there is a great potential for progressive impoverishment of world resources and degradation of the global environment. This adaptation of the report "Global Future: Time to Act", summarizes a reconnaisance of the future as it might be if no preventative measures are taken. As the world becomes more crowded, polluted, vulnerable to…

Discusses the continual decline in the quality of the environment. Questions why this decline continues, considering the increased awareness of environmental problems by the general public. Concludes that those efforts have not been inadequate, but have been misdirected. Promotes increasing the relationships between economic and ecological…

Introduces the problem of widespread worker displacement. Argues the problem is more severe in regions where the employment base centers on a single industry or resource. Considers two government programs developed to address the need resulting from closure of the Canadian northern cod fishery and decline of the mining industry in England. (CAJ)

A global approach to the world's problems is presented, viewing social, cultural, scientific, and humanistic questions as factors in a world that is a single interacting system. It is noted that the basic needs of the third world, which represents nearly half of the world's population, have not been met. A discussion on this topic addresses the…

This book was developed to highlight the risks that confront societies, and to indicate the most promising avenues for preemptive policies and actions. The document contains chapters on: (1) the emergence of change; (2) analyzing demographic factors; (3) assessing the future of urbanization; (4) reassessing nuclear power (including an analysis of…

This document presents the position that renewable energy sources offer a timely alternative to dwindling oil supplies and to environmentally damaging coal combustion, although public support and financial backing need to be strengthened. An expanded use of renewables and a greater commitment to energy efficiency are the most cost-effective and…

This document serves as a supplement to the World Conservation Strategy (WCS) and outlines some of the critical aspects of the interaction between human populations, natural resources, and social and economic conditions. Particular emphasis is placed on the importance of planning with people, and on packaging conservation programs so they are more…

Poor land and environmental pressures are degrading many of the world's dryland areas. Despite international efforts to halt desertification, the problem is worsening; one-third of the earth's land area, and as many as 850 million of the world's poorest people, are potentially at risk. Presented are some of the key facts and possible solutions to…

Two things make water a unique natural resource: (1) water is essential for human survival; and (2) the total amount of water in the world is constant. This document focuses on the increasingly difficult task of satisfying the collective thirst of people, industry, and agriculture without damaging the world's limited resources of fresh water. It…

This document summarizes the proceedings of an international conference on environmental education which was organized jointly by Unesco and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The conference attracted 300 participants and observers from 80 countries, including experts and representatives of 15 international and national…