This useful educational resource was recently added to the EPA's Watershed Academy Website (first reviewed in the January 19, 2000 Scout Report for Science & Engineering). Described as "bellwethers" (indicators) of watershed health, birds are introduced here -- from their basic ecology to conservation needs. Color graphics and concise paragraphs present each topic, and the site is loaded with...

A collaboration among the World Economic Forum's Global Leaders for Tomorrow Environment Task Force, The Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy, and the Columbia University Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), the Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI) "is a measure of overall progress towards environmental sustainability, developed for 122 countries." The...

The Draft Report on the Environment, from the Environmental Protection Agency, "describes current national environmental conditions and trends using existing data and indicators, identifies data gaps and research needs, and discusses the challenges government and our partners face in filling those gaps." The recently released online Draft Report on the Environment Technical Document "provides the...

Lichens and the tiny animals called tardigrades ("water bears") that live in them are sensitive to certain air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide. Accordingly, they can be useful bioindicators of air quality. Designed to engage students in the scientific process, this Web site, produced by PathFinder Science, offers a learning program based on lichen cover and tardigrade density and diversity on...

This website presents Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, "one of nine independent Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) founded in 1992 from a reorganisation of Government funded research in New Zealand." Manaaki Whenua has approximately 320 staff members engaged in research and they maintain collaborative relationships with universities and other CRIs. Manaaki Whenua's six main research areas include:...

Developed by the Scholarly Communication Center of Rutgers University Libraries, this site offers access to an impressive array of materials related to the New Jersey environment. The scope of the collection is quite broad, including citizen information, technical reports, photographic tours, and even some full-length videos. In addition, many of the items in the digital library are ephemeral or...

The Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) is a computer-based screening tool developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that "analyzes risk factors to put Toxics Release Inventory release data into a chronic health context." The tool and this site are used by journalists, industry officials, and government regulators to examine trends, support community-based projects, and...

In anticipation of the 8th Special Session of the Governing Council of the Global Ministerial Environment Forum, the United National Environment Programme has created this helpful website that brings together some of the important preliminary documents dealing with the proceedings of the March 2004 conference in South Korea. The documents here include working briefing documents, information...