The EU-project DeMon, Satellite Based Desertification Monitoring in the Mediterranean Basin, is a joint effort by several European universities. Research is taking place in Guadalantin (Spain), La Peyne (France) and Asteroussia (Crete). Information on the project is available from Utrecht University (The Netherlands). http://www.frw.ruu.nl:80/fg/demon.html. This site contains information on the project itself, mainly the second phase (1996-1999) and links to other DeMon sites. At http://193.49.134.17:80/demon/default.htm is the link of the French ‘Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive' in Montpellier. This site concentrates mainly on the first phase (1992-1995) of DeMon.
Another EU-financed project concerning Mediterranean forests is Mediterranean Oak Forest (MOST). The site, at http://euro.cefe.cnrs-mop.fr/most/, has some attractive photos of Mediterranean oaks and oak forests and an overview of the MOST project.
The International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) is an intergovernmental organization with a Mediterranean regional vocation. CIHEAM was founded in 1962 under the auspices of the OECD and the Council of Europe. The Centre currently has the following member countries: Albania, Algeria, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey. Information is available from the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (Italy) at http://www.iamb.it, Mediterranean Agronomic Institute Chania, Crete (Greece) at http://www.maich.gr, and the Agronomical Meditteranean Institute of Montpellier (France) at http://www.iamm.fr/.
The Mediterranean Forest Research Unit (URFM) of the French Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Forestry Research Department in Avignon was officially established on 1 January 1993 and is composed of 5 research teams. Their activities correspond to 5 scientific programs of the Department of Forestry Research (ecophysiology, genetics, entomology, growth modelling, fire science). http://compact.jouy.inra.fr:8888/compact/consulter97/external/unites/ecrans/629 Vol 1, Topic 6 (Forests and Fire) of the proceedings of the XI World Forestry Congress contains several papers dealing with forest fires in the Mediterranean area (in English, Spanish and French). Http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/FORESTRY/WFORCONG/PUBLI/V1/T6E/DEFAULT.HTM#TOP Http://www.kayser-threde.de/ceo/fire/fireart.htm contains a paper on fire risk modelling based on satellite remote sensing & GIS by S Kuntz and M Karteris, which was presented at the international workshop ‘Satellite Technology & GIS for Mediterranean Forest Mapping and Fire Management', 4-6 November, 1993, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Some preliminary results from a Forest Inventory in Tuscany by the European Forest Institute, EFI, can be found at http://www.efi.fi/efinews/features/jun98tuscany.html entitled ‘From pure white fir stands to Mediterranean maquis'.
The MFII research project, currently in its second phase, aims to asses the potential of the LEAF instrument to measure photosynthesis in Mediterranean forest sites and more generally the potential of laser-induced fluorescence signals to describe changes in photosynthesis in relation to environmental factors. MFII is a joint project of Landscape and Environmental Research Group of the University of Amsterdam and the Institute for Forest and Nature Research , Wageningen the Netherlands. More information at http://www.frw.uva.nl/MFII/welcome.html.
Several initiatives to combat the recurring forest fires in the Mediterranean region have been published on the Internet. The Forest Fire Management System is a reduced-functionality prototype of an integrated system for the early detection of remote forest fires, assistance in fire fighting, management of forest land for the prevention of fires and rehabilitation of the land after calamity. Central to this prototype is a geographic database with information on land relief, vegetation, inhabited areas, roads, water sources and fire fighting resources. More information and images are available at: http://www.cti.gr/RD3/gis/eirini.html The French Forest Fire Fighting Department (DFCI) has also developed a geographical information system to aid their work, see http://www.geometre.iplus.fr/mission/infograp/anglais.html (in English). At http://cordis.lu/esprit/src/results/pages/energy/energy3.htm CHARADE, a decision-support system designed for fighting fires and dealing with other kinds of environmental emergencies, is presented. CHARADE is being deployed at CIRCOSC in France and ICONA in Spain.
Sites on drylands and desertification taken from the newsletter Tiempo/ Global Warming and the Third World, published by IIED and UEA (m.kelly@uea.ac.uk for subscriptions). The Tiempo Climate Cyberlibrary can be found at: http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/tiempo/ UN Convention To Combat Desertification (http://www.unccd.ch) contains information regarding this convention intended to promote action on desertification by innovative local programmes and supportive international partnerships. Arid Lands Newsletter (http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/ALN/ALN/home.html) is an informative bulletin covering desertification, biodiversity conservation and related topics. Earth Negotiations Bulletin produced by International Institute for Sustainable Development (http://www.iisd.ca/linkages) provides a detailed account of the UNCCD negotiations and other environmental treaties. The International NGO Network on Desertification and Drought (RIOD) has a site containing links to other information sources at: http://riod.utando.com
The World Bank is reviewing its forest policy. A document describing the consultation process for the World Bank Forest Policy Implementation Review and Strategy has been placed on the Forest Policy website at: http://WBLN0018.worldbank.org/ESSD/FORESTPOL-E.NSF/MAINVIEW?OPENVIEW
Interesting pages on environmental or development issues are: http://www.euforic.org (English, French, Spanish, Dutch). Euforic aims to be an information resource and forum for discussion between organisations in Europe and those in developing countries. http://www.oneworld.org OneWorld Online is a partnership of over 100 organisations working for human rights and sustainable development.