Conservation International: Investigate Biodiversity - A broad site from Conservation International (www.conservation.org) that aims to introduce visitors to the concept of biodiversity, to explain why it's an important area of science, and to show examples of work being done to study and preserve it around the world. Simply divided into four main sections, the site first takes us through the basics of the subject: what biodiversity really means and what it means for it to be reduced; where the greatest levels of species richness are found and how they may be at risk. The Expeditions section follows a number of research projects, with details sent directly from scientists in the field. As well as background information on the areas themselves - Brazil, Indonesia and Botswana amongst others - you'll find photo galleries and explanations of the data being collected. The Science Projects section is a guide for students to want to carry out their own research - it suggests starting in your own backyard or school grounds. Straightforward explanations of each stage of a project follow, from forming a hypothesis to analysing and presenting results. Finally, using the site's resources search engine you can also scour the web for further information on a wide range of biodiversity and related subject material. Rating: 8 out of 10 (19 January 2003) RJN
http://investigate.conservation.org/default.htm
Rainforest Action Network - The destruction of rainforests has been part of our environmental consciousness for decades, but the hard facts and figures in 2002 on the rate of destruction are worse than ever, as this critical ecosystem continues to shrink at a staggering rate: at least 50 million acres a year are lost; 100 species become extinct every day due to tropical deforestation; 70% of the plants identified as useful in cancer treatment are found only in rainforests, yet fewer than 1% of tropical forest species have been examined; all the primary rainforests in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Haiti have been destroyed already the list goes on. This site is an excellent starting point for accessing Internet resources on rainforests and related conservation issues, and offers plenty of pro-active opportunities and educational resources (including a Kid's Corner) for ways to help save rainforests. Go straight to the site map for a general overview, with some 50 sections under the three main headings of Campaigns, Action Center and Rainforest Information. Or click on Rainforestweb.org, the World Rainforest Information Portal, to access any category of information on rainforests, from indigenous peoples and biodiversity to the causes behind rainforest destruction and the latest news and campaigns worldwide. The portal's search engine, however, leaves something to be desired (no results for, e.g., elephant poaching, Arawak, Dyak), and you're better off searching on the RAN site itself, though this too has its limitations. The Gallery section of the site, promising rainforest videos, sounds of the rainforest and a photo library, is still under development. On the display side, the low-contrast colour schemes and small font on many pages could be improved for easier legibility. Rating: 8 out of 10 (6 November 2002) DD
http://www.ran.org/index.html
Biodiversity and conservation - A professor at the University of California at Irvine has written an online textbook, and while a few features are reserved for registered students only, the bulk of the pages are accessible for the general user. The opening page is somewhat cluttered with flashing banners and all the awards won by the site, but once into the book itself, there are few distractions. Abundant links enhance the text, which is highly readable, both in terms of appearance and content. Perhaps someday, all textbooks will be enriched in this manner, and available to everyone online. The subject matter is sobering, especially when statistics indicate our continuing hunger for exotic animals and plants, whole or in parts. Rating: 10 out of 10 (8 October 2002) AD
http://darwin.bio.uci.edu/~sustain/bio65/Titl...
Endangered Earth - This site contains a great deal of information on specific endangered species, if you have the patience to look for it. The home page is attractive but less than intuitive, and this reviewer had difficulty reading some of the light brown text on a dark brown background. The most interesting sections were listed on the left hand side under the heading "Projects." For example, the "Tigers in Crisis" section provided detailed and engaging coverage of the situation facing all remaining subspecies of tiger, including a description of the problem of poaching for use in Chinese medicine. The author, site designer and journalist Craig Kasnoff, refrained from playing the "blame game," and instead provided a portrait of the poverty that drives mid-Asian poachers, noting the issues that must be addressed if poaching is to stop. Endangered Earth also provides beautiful downloadable photographs of a number of endangered species that can be used on your desktop. At the time this reviewer visited the site, several sections were under reconstruction, including the Site Tour, and some links were a dead end. Hopefully the redesign will bring some of the buried treasures on this site closer to the surface. (18 December 2001) RKM
http://www.endangeredearth.com/
Kids' Planet - For anyone looking to educate children and young adults about endangered species, this site is a great resource. Sponsored by Defenders of Wildlife, Kids' Planet focuses on endangered mammals and birds, much like its parent organization. The site includes games and an online book geared towards younger students and an impressive fact sheet library that should satisfy the questions of middle schoolers and even adults. With solid fact sheets on over forty-five animals, ranging from the sea otter to the Mexican wolf, this site could be a great aid for school reports. In a section geared at middle school teachers, Kid's Planet offers a printable curriculum for studying the gray wolf. In addition, children are urged to enjoy the outdoors, to conserve energy, and, for those in the US, to write to their representatives in Washington. One cool feature lets kids look up their representatives in Congress using their state and zip code information. (3 December 2001) RKM
http://www.kidsplanet.org/
Congo Gorilla Forest - There is a rainforest in New York, encompassing 6.5 square miles. Some 300 animals reside there, including a large group of breeding lowland gorillas. While it is small in relation to say, the Amazonian rainforest, it is still an ideal learning environment. If you don't live near the Bronx Zoo, which houses this exhibit, a virtual tour is available here, an introduction to several of its denizens, and a conservation game (Shockwave required) suitable for one to four players. (12 October 2001) AD
http://www.congogorillaforest.com/
African Wildlife Foundation - The AWF motto is 'Conserving Wildlife; Respecting All Life.' The site has three major sections. The Wildlives section presents in depth reports on the nature and status of a wide variety of African animal species. The Heartlands section reviews key areas of Africa, from Samburu, the heart of Kenya, to Limpopo, now considered a haven for Africa's predators. The material is more science-oriented and in-depth than the average conservation site, and just as you are really getting absorbed in a report on gazelles, you might catch an amazing fun fact in your peripheral vision (the giraffe's neck contains the same number of bones as the human neck, for example). Visitors can subscribe to email updates from Africa about a particular region or species. Finally, the Take Action section describes ways that you can get involved in the conservation efforts. This is an incredibly educational, interesting, and rewarding site. (3 September 2001) SS
http://www.awf.org/
