The UN Environment Programme (UNEP)/GRID-Arendal Marine Programme's January newsletter features articles on: the development of a Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded demonstration project on the incorporation of carbon and other ecosystem services values into financial markets; the release of the State of the Mediterranean Marine and Coastal Environment Report; and the launch of the World Ocean Assessment website.
January 2012: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP)/GRID-Arendal Marine Programme has released the January issue of its newsletter (Marine Newsletter #1), featuring articles on: the Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded demonstration project on the incorporation of carbon and other ecosystem services values into financial markets; the release of the State of the Mediterranean Marine and Coastal Environment Report; and the launch of the World Ocean Assessment website.
The newsletter indicates that the planned “Blue Forests” project will be implemented by UNEP and executed by GRID-Arendal. It aims to demonstrate how the incorporation of carbon and other ecosystem services values into local and national financial markets and coastal management plans can ensure the long-term protection of Blue Forest ecosystems. Project activities are planned in Indonesia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Ecuador and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The newsletter also features an article on the release of the State of the Mediterranean Marine and Coastal Environment Report, which provides information on Mediterranean ecosystems and defines recurrent and new pressures, including aquaculture and desalination.
Also highlighted is the launch of the World Ocean Assessment website, which incorporates an editorial system to manage author’s contributions, peer-review and production of the report. [Publication: Marine Newsletter #1]