Subject: EnVoc: Multilingual Thesaurus of Environmental Terms


********************************

Greetings Colleagues,  

The following press release has been sent to you in order 
to: 
1)inform you of the new EnVoc Multilingual Thesaurus of 
Environmental Terms, and;
2) to provide you with information that you can disseminate 
in your respective lists, newsletters, book reviews, etc... 
 

UNEP has just completed the printing of the English version 
of EnVoc with Spanish, French and Arabic due out in the 
next 
few months.  Chinese and Russian to follow. This is the 
first 
time the thesaurus will be published in all 6 official UN 
languages.   

It is indeed an honor for the INFOTERRA Secretariat, 
Division 
of Environmental Information and Assessment, to have the 
EnVoc Multilingual Thesaurus of Environmental Terms 
launched 
on World Environment Day in Korea by UNEPs Executive 
Director, Ms. Elizabeth Dowdeswell.  

Please feel free to use this press release as a publicity 
initiative,  send the release to your local newspapers, 
journals, news wires, radio television and other relevant 
environmental contacts.  Promoting the thesaurus and 
sharing 
with others how you use the thesaurus will have a consensus 
building effect on what professional information 
specialists 
are responsible for in your nations environmental 
information 
exchange.

We thank you for your efforts.  Please keep the Secretariat 
informed of any developments.

*******************************************************

Under Embargo  
Not for release until 8 a.m. GMT
5 June 1997

 UNEP LAUNCHES A REVISED VERSION OF EnVoc -
MULTILINGUAL THESAURUS OF ENVIRONMENTAL TERMS
                               
Contributing to a global standard for Environmental 
Vocabulary

Seoul/Nairobi, 5  June 1997 - The  United Nations  
Environment Programme (UNEP), launched its EnVoc 
Multilingual Thesaurus of  Environmental Terms, to 
coincide with the World Environment Day celebrations 
in Seoul today.

"Five years after the Rio Conference, it is now an 
opportune time to reflect on the role of information 
in the  implementation of Agenda  21. Throughout 
Agenda 21, there are hundreds of references to the 
importance of information for better  decision-making 
in the  management of sustainable development" said 
Ms. Elizabeth  Dowdeswell, Executive Director of  UNEP 
while releasing the publication. 

Chapter 40 of Agenda 21 states the following: "In 
sustainable development, everyone is a user and 
provider  of information considered in the broad 
sense. That includes data, information, appropriately 
packaged  experience and knowledge. The need for 
information arises at all levels, from that of senior 
decision makers at the national and international 
levels to the grass-roots and individual levels. The 
following two programme areas need to be implemented 
to ensure that decisions are based on sound 
information: 
(a) Bridging the data gap; 
(b) Improving information availability".

UNEP is addressing both of these issues under the 
sub-programme entitled Global and  Regional Servicing  
and our  global environmental information exchange 
network, INFOTERRA, is responding to several mandates 
received from governments to improve information 
availability.

Although there exists a wealth of information that 
could be used for the management of sustainable 
development, one  of  the major problems encountered 
within many countries,  particularly developing 
countries, is that information  is  not adequately 
managed for a variety of reasons including lack of 
technology and methodologies for effective access.  

Chapter 40 proposed the "establishment of standards 
and methods for handling information" as one of 
several activities to address this problem. One of 
UNEP's  contributions to  this initiative is the 
production of  a standardized environmental vocabulary 
entitled EnVoc  - Multilingual  Thesaurus of 
Environmental Terms which is a reference tool for both 
users and providers of environmental information.

The use of a controlled vocabulary for keyword 
indexing is a fundamental pre-requisite not only for 
the library community but also for our ever-expanding 
partnership of specialists working with environmental 
data and information. In the absence of a standard 
environmental vocabulary it would be inconceivable to 
compile meaningful datasets and information products 
let alone exchange them in an efficient and harmonised 
manner.


EnVoc is the latest  edition of the  INFOTERRA 
Thesaurus of  environmental Terms fully revised to 
reflect  emerging environmental concerns and  new 
technologies especially  in the field of  
environmental information.  The thesaurus has evolved 
from an unstructured list of keywords with  very 
limited application to a structured environmental 
thesaurus with a broad application base comprising  of  
librarians, documentalists, database  developers, 
thesaurus   developers, terminologists, GIS 
specialists, translators, interpreters and 
environmental information  specialists  in general.  


EnVoc is being published  in all six official  United 
Nations languages  - 
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. 
UNEP would like to especially thank the Government of 
Sweden for funding the production of the thesaurus in 
the Arabic, English, French and Spanish, under the 
Agenda 21 Trust Fund.  The Russian and Chinese  
versions are being published  with assistance from the 
Governments of the Russian Federation and the People's 
Republic of China.

Additionally a number of other Governments have 
undertaken the translation into their national 
languages. The initiative taken by these  Governments 
in translating the thesaurus into their national 
languages is testimony to the importance they attach 
to  environmental terminology and the value  of the 
thesaurus as a reference tool.

UNEP wishes to thank the  Italian Government for 
assistance received  from the INFOTERRA national focal 
point for  Italy located in the Institute  of 
Biomedical Technologies of the National Research 
Council (CNR-ITBM-RRDA) in Rome, during the revision 
of the third edition of the INFOTERRA  Thesaurus and 
its subsequent integration  with  the General  
European  Multilingual Environment Thesaurus (GEMET) 
being developed by the  European Environment 
Agency (EEA).

As testimony to its widespread appeal we have now 
decided to rename the thesaurus EnVoc, reflecting its 
established niche as a leading environmental 
vocabulary with an international client base.

As a subject, environment is multidisciplinary by 
nature.  Its study, therefore, covers a wide range of 
linkages to disciplines and consequently it would be 
very difficult, though not impossible,  to construct a 
thesaurus containing every environmental term.  The 
terms listed in EnVoc are drawn from a relatively high 
level in the environmental terminology hierarchy.  
This strategy eliminates unnecessary duplication with 
more specialised thesauri and the end product is 
closely integrated, compact and more practical to use.


*******
For more information on EnVoc or other  INFOTERRA 
products and services, contact: Beth Ingraham,  UNEP 
Thesaurus  Team, Division  of  Environmental 
Information and Assessment, UNEP, P.O. Box 30552, 
Nairobi, KENYA. Tel: 254-2-62-4299; Fax: 
254-2-62-4269;  
E-mail:  infotinf@unep.org. Web site: 
http://www.unep.org/soenoe97/en/indexges/nick_waltham/lrrdhome.htm



Tore Brevik, Chief or Patricia Jacobs, Information 
Officer, Information and Public Affairs UNEP, P.O. Box 
30552,  Nairobi, KENYA. 
Tel:  254-2-62-3084; 
Fax:  254-2-62-3692; E-mail:  ipa@unep.org 

Note to journalists:
In Seoul, Korea, during the International Media 
Conference on Environment and Development the  EnVoc 
Multilingual Thesaurus of Environmental Terms will be 
launched by the Executive Director of the United  
Nations Environment Programme, Ms. Elizabeth 
Dowdeswell, at 11:00 am at the Hotel Shilla 5 June 
1997.

To order a copy, contact:
SMI (Distribution Services) Limited, P.O. Box 119, 
Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1  4TP  England,  United  
Kingdom, Fax:  (44  1234)  782878,   E-mail:  
Anthony@smibooks.com

Published by: United Nations Environment  Programme, 
1997, 270 pages,  A4, paperback
ISBN:  92 807 12608,  
Order Price:  US$25.00 (plus shipping and handling)


UNEP News Release 1997/23

___________________________________________________________


Beth Ingraham (Ms.) ingrahab@unep.org 
                          or infotinf@unep.org
Information Officer                  
INFOTERRA Secretariat
The Global Environmental Information Exchange Network
United Nations Environment Programme                 
P.O. Box 47074
Nairobi, Kenya                  
Tel: (254-2) 624299                   
Fax: (254-2) 624269

____________________________________________________

Text from the pamphlet is as follows:
______________________________________

Multilingual Thesaurus of Environmental Terms

A product of INFOTERRA 
UNEP's Global Environmental 
Information Exchange 
Network
1997

EnVoc is the latest edition of the INFOTERRA Thesaurus of 
Environmental Terms.  EnVoc (Environmental Vocabulary) has 
been revised to reflect emerging environmental concerns and 
new technologies especially in the field of environmental 
information.

Originally produced twenty years ago as the INFOTERRA 
Thesaurus of Environmental Terms, this product has evolved 
into an important reference tool for both users and 
providers of environmental information.  As testimony to 
the 
products widespread appeal we have now decided to rename 
the 
thesaurus EnVoc - Multilingual Thesaurus of Environmental 
Terms reflecting its established niche as a leading 
environmental vocabulary with an international client base.

Throughout Agenda 21 there are hundreds of references 
regarding the importance of information for better 
decision-making in the management of sustainable 
development.   Chapter 40 of Agenda 21 entitled INFORMATION 
FOR DECISION-MAKING is entirely devoted to this issue.  The 
preamble to this chapter states:

"In sustainable development, everyone is a user and 
provider 
of information considered in the broad sense.  That 
includes 
data, information, appropriately packaged experience and 
knowledge.  The need for information arises at all levels, 
from that of senior decision makers at the national and 
international levels to the grass-roots and individual 
levels".  

Chapter 40 proposed the "establishment of standards and 
methods for handling information" as one of several 
activities to address the problem of inadequately managed 
information.  One of UNEP's contributions to this 
initiative 
is the production of a standardised environmental 
vocabulary 
entitled EnVoc - Multilingual Thesaurus of Environmental 
Terms.  

User Friendly EnVoc for:
-  describing the information holdings of a library or     
documentation centre
-  describing the areas of expertise of a consultant
-  classifying a query according to the information 
requested
-  indexing a monograph or journal paper
-  standardising attributes in GIS databases.

New! Features:
-  Available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian 
and Spanish, other language versions to be announced
-  Integrated with GEMET - General  European Multilingual  
  
 
Environment Thesaurus  of the European Environment         
Agency
-  Revised from a gender perspective
-  Biological diversity, now expanded to include -      
biotechnology and management of biodiversity 
-  Includes the terminology associated with the Global     
  
   
Programme of Action (GPA) for the Protection of the        
Marine Environment from Land-based Activities
-  Economic aspects of the environment  addressed to 
highlight  the new economic instruments for 
environmental management.
-  Geographical attributes have been updated using         
  
            
ISO Standard 3166
-  Improved relational structure.

Table of Contents includes:
-  Outline of Categories and Sub-categories
-  List of Terms in Code Sequence
-  Categorised List of Terms
-  Alphabetical List of Terms
-  KWIC (KeyWords In Context).


EnVoc is a reference tool for librarians, documentalists, 
database developers, thesaurus developers, terminologists, 
GIS specialists, translators, interpreters 
and environmental  information specialists 
in general.

For more information on EnVoc or other INFOTERRA 
products and services, contact:
UNEP Thesaurus Team
Division of Environmental Information and Assessment
United Nations Environment Programme
PO Box 30552
Nairobi, KENYA
Tel:  (254 2) 624299 
Fax:  (254 2) 624269
E-mail:  infotinf@unep.org 
Web site:  http://www.unep.org/soenoe97/en/indexges/nick_waltham/lrrdhome.htm
     


EnVoc 
Multilingual Thesaurus of 
Environmental Terms 
Published by the United Nations Environment Programme
1997, 270 pages, A4 paperback, ISBN: 92 807 12608
Order Price: US$25.00 (plus shipping and handling).


To order, contact:
SMI (Distribution Services) Limited
P.O. Box 119
Stevenage
Hertfordshire SG1 4TP
England, United Kingdom
Fax:  (44 1234) 782878
E-mail:  Anthony@smibooks.com

A product of INFOTERRA 
UNEP's Global Environmental Information Exchange 
Network

************************************************
Background on INFOTERRA.
************************************************
United Nations Environment Programme
Division of Environmental Information and Assessment
INFOTERRA The Global Environmental Information Exchange 
Network


INFOTERRA, the global environmental information exchange 
network, is one of the 
most comprehensive environmental information exchange 
networks in the world, 
designed by The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 
to stimulate and 
support the exchange of scientific and technical 
environmental information within 
and between nations.
Coordinated by the Secretariat and based at UNEP 
headquarters 
in Nairobi, Kenya, 
the network is comprised of l74 National Focal Points 
(NFPs), 
located in nearly 
every United Nations member country.  The network also 
supports activities at ten 
Regional Service Centres (RSCs).  The INFOTERRA network 
processes approximately  
60,000 queries on the environment annually, and links 
approximately 8,000 
national and international institutions and experts from 
various sectors in the 
UN common system, NGOs, industrial, governmental, 
commercial 
enterprises and 
academia.
In response to the 1992 United Nations Conference on 
Environment and Development 
(UNCED) UNEP has adopted a "Results  Management" strategy 
which encompasses the 
two key concepts of "results over procedures" and "client 
service first".  
INFOTERRA has, since its inception in 1975,  been a 
service-directed  and  
results-oriented  programme.  However, the new Results 
Management orientation of 
UNEP has strengthened its commitment to seek a more 
integrated information system 
in order to:
-  provide better quality information to decision-makers;
-  stimulate training and building of national capacity in 
the NFPs;
-  repackage information; and
-  promote services to launch sustainable development at 
the 
country level.
INFOTERRA is using two Internet services to promote the 
electronic exchange of 
environmental information.  Firstly, a Internet 
subscription 
list has been 
established and users can submit, or respond to, queries by 
sending an e-mail 
message. To subscribe to the list contact the host at:    
     < majordomo@cedar.univie.ac.at >.  This service is 
being 
provided by the 
Central European Environmental Data Request Facility, 
CEDAR, 
in Vienna which is  
INFOTERRA's Regional Service Centre for Central and Eastern 
Europe.   

Secondly, information on INFOTERRA and other UNEP offices 
can 
be retrieved from 
the UNEP WWW site      < http://www.unep.org/soenoe97/en/indexges/nick_waltham/lrrdhome.htm >.  
The use rate of the INFOTERRA network has grown 
exponentially 
since it became 
operational in 1977 with fewer than two hundred queries. In 
1984 the use total 
climbed to 12,000 queries and eight years later in 1992 
some 
28,000 queries were 
processed.  The 1993 statistics reported 10,500 more 
queries 
than the year before 
bringing the annual total to 38,500.  With the increased 
use 
of the Internet, the 
1996 query statistics are expected to reach the 60,000 
mark. 
                
                                   
For further information on our products and services or the 
INFOTERRA National 
Focal Points, please contact:
INFOTERRA, The Global Environmental Information Exchange 
Network
Division of Environmental Information and Assessment
United Nations Environment Programme
P.O. Box 30552  
Nairobi, KENYA
Tel:  (254-2) 624299 or 623275 
Fax:  (254-2) 624269 
Telex:  22068 UNEP KE 
E-mail: infotinf@unep.org 
WWW: http://www.unep.org/soenoe97/en/indexges/nick_waltham/lrrdhome.htm




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