UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre

The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre was established in 2000 as the world biodiversity information and assessment centre of the United Nations Environment Programme. , , The Centre's roots go back to 1979 when IUCN established a Cambridge office to monitor endangered species. In 1988 the independent, non-profit World Conservation Monitoring Centre was founded jointly by IUCN, WWF and UNEP. Their financial support and guidance in the Centre's formative years is widely recognised and appreciated. The transition to UNEP in the year of the new millennium received the full support of IUCN and WWF, as well as the political and financial backing of the UK government. A high level Scientific Advisory Council is being established to guide the Centre's work, which is closely linked to the UNEP Programme on Environmental Information, Assessment & Early Warning., , The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre provides information for policy and action to conserve the living world. , , The Centre's activities include assessment and early warning studies in forest, dryland, freshwater and marine ecosystems. Research on endangered species and biodiversity indicators provide policy-makers with vital knowledge on global trends in conservation and sustainable use of wildlife and their habitats. Extensive use is made of geographic information systems and other analytical technologies that help to visualise trends, patterns and emerging priorities for conservation action. UNEP-WCMC does this work through three divisions:, , , Information Services Division: facilitating access to information on biological diversity, through Enquiries and Publications, Library, and Electronic Communications Services , , , Assessment and Early Warning: assessing the status, value and management of biological diversity, , Conventions and Policy Support: working with conventions and organisations, and providing capacity building and information management services. , , , ,