INFOTERRA: A global network for environmental information

INFOTERRA, the International Referral System for Sources of Environmental Information, is a component of EARTHWATCH, UNEP's programme for the critical assessment of the global environment. One of the first three programme activity centres set up to implement the EARTHWATCH concept, INFOTERRA was established to facilitate the exchange of environmental information within and between nations. The system became fully operational in January 1977, when the first edition of the International Directory of Sources of Environmental Information was published.Since then, INFOTERRA has processed over 3000 environmental queries around the world through its network of 101 participating countries. As the network enters its fourth year of operations, its partners are exploring ways of improving the flow of information to decision makers around the world and have begun a preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of the system. The following report describes the basic features of INFOTERRA and the services it provides and discusses the results of studies undertaken to measure the effectiveness of this unique international cooperative effort in the field of environmental information exchange.