The Florida Center for Environmental Studies (CES) was retained to evaluate environmental sensitive issues associated with mangroves in the state of Maranhão in Brazil. CES assembled a team of experts to provide an independent scientific review of site specific data for integrity, collection procedures, analysis and validation on the mangrove ecosystem. CES team also provided a projection on future trends of the mangrove ecosystem based on a site visit and data review. The study site, a 926 hectare mangrove ecosystem, has important socio-economic, biotic and abiotic features.

For more information on this project please read our Executive Summary or contact Dr. Lakhdar Boukerrou at lboukerrou@ces.fau.edu

CES is a founding member of the WaterWeb Consortium
(WWCo, www.waterweb.org). The Consortium seeks to promote and enhance the sharing of information concerning water and the earth’s environment. The WWCo is creating a global community, bringing together educational, governmental, nonprofit, & commercial entities interested in water research, conservation, and management. WaterWeb’s goals are to advance water related issues, promote the use of quality information, and share information with water use stakeholders and decision makers.

CES has hosted four of the WaterWeb Consortium annual meetings focusing on water information needs from a user perspective and information distribution from a providers perspective. The meeting is typically held in the fall and is organized to include plenary sessions, working groups, technical presentations, and training. The purpose is to maximize participant input allowing the information needs and the consortium's agenda to be set by users.

In the water community CES is a focal point for the development and promotion of information standards. Through website and database development the use of; metadata, controlled vocabularies, quality control mechanisms, and cooperating information sources has been demonstrated.

CES’ efforts with the WaterWeb Consortium and other international groups has resulted in the research and development of products, guidelines, specifications, and best methods to share water information. The hope is that the result of these developments leads to the improved use of resources to gather and disseminate information. And that better access to information improves integrated water resource management decision promotes the open sharing of information.

The Water Portal of the Americas (WPoA, www.waterportal-Americas.org) is a water information service, including an Internet web site and other initiatives that enhance the availability of quality water information. The goal is to provide both an entryway (portal) to water information, and to create a water information network, community, and resource that will provide qualified, trusted, and verifiable information and contacts.

The purpose of the Water Portal of the Americas is to improve access to information thus facilitating the decision-making process. The Water Portal of the Americas will serve as a 'water clearinghouse' serving the informational needs of various communities of users.

Establishing information partners is a critical component of the success of this project. Emphasis is placed on recruiting partners and providing them with the tools and knowledge necessary for the development of a comprehensive and integrated water information network. Information partners participate by using International and WPoA information sharing practices and in turn have their web material integrated into the Portal's search functions. This physical and virtual network will facilitate working partnerships, the use of reliable information, the standardization of metadata, efficient access to information without duplication of effort, and the improvement of integrated water resource management decisions.

The IWRN is a network of networks whose purpose is to build and strengthen water resources partnerships among nations, organizations, and individuals; to promote education and the open exchange of information and technical expertise; and to enhance communication, cooperation, collaboration and financial commitment to integrated water and land resources management within the context of environmental and economic sustainability in the Americas

CES is a regional IWRN focal point and our director serves on the executive committee. The IWRN is composed if an Advisory Council of more than 130 institutions, organizations, and private sector representatives. In addition, the IWRN has a National Focal Point in each of the 34 participating member countries of the Organization of American States (OAS).

The DeltAmerica project is a Global Environment Facility (GEF), International Waters project intended to promote relations among various initiatives and programs related to integrated management of transboundary water resources in Latin America and the Caribbean. Due to CES’ experience in information technologies the Center is responsible for strengthening the IWRN’s internet communication tools. Building on the information standards and sharing work of the WaterWeb Consortium and the Water Portal of the Americas CES is the lead partner in a team developing a new IWRN database driven, multi-node information sharing network.

The Everglades Pantanal Initiative (EPI) is the virtual meeting place for the South American Pantanal (Brazil-Bolivia-Paraguay) and the Florida Everglades (USA). You will find here partners to pursue joint project opportunities that will lead to sustainable and integrated water and land use and management in the context of large wetlands. EPI is anchored by the Florida Center for Environmental Studies (CES) and the Center for Pantanal Research (CPP), among other regional and international partners. [Click for more... ]

The Guatemala Project, Inc.

The purpose of the Guatemalan Project, Inc. is to provide low-economic families in Guatemala an opportunity to improve their standard of living, health, and education. Read about El Triunfo , a village in Guatemala devastated by Hurricane Mitch, that now has clean water and hope thanks to several Florida organizations, including CES, FAU, and the LIFE Foundation.