Atlases
Please find below the Atlases published since 2000, organized by theme.
From Space to Place
An Image Atlas of World heritage Sites on the ‘In Danger’ List
2011. Available online, copies for sale
The purpose of the Atlas – the first of the kind- is to emphasize the various applications that satellite images can provide to natural and cultural heritage conservation and documentation. It presents detailed satellite images of the 31 sites on the List of World Heritage in Danger (as per 2009). For each site depicted in the Atlas, a brief description of its natural and cultural value and inscription is provided, in addition to textual, photographic and satellite image information. The threats to the site are explained, from pillaging to natural disasters, pollution, mass tourism and armed conflict, and illustrated with commented satellite imagery.
Water
Atlas of transboundary aquifers: global maps, regional cooperation and local inventories
2009. Available online, not for sale
Since its start in 2000, ISARM has identified more than 200 transboundary aquifers. This Atlas presents a compilation of available data and is intended to be a valuable reference that will encourage the sound and sustainable management of transboundary aquifers. The Atlas was presented at the World Water Week 2009 in Stockholm.
Mediterranean Basin Water Atlas
2004. Not available online, hard copies for sale
The synthetic maps presented in this book offer a series of panoramic views accompanied by short commentaries on the geography of the Mediterranean Basin. They show the extreme diversity of natural water resources, the specific needs of Mediterranean countries, and the impacts of water usage on the environment. This publication will satisfy the demands of the general public and teachers for well-documented and synthetic maps, presented in a user-friendly format suitable for educational purposes.
Atlas de Zonas Áridas de América Latina y el Caribe (Atlas of Arid Zones of Latin America and the Caribbean)
PHI-VII, Technical Document No. 25
2010. Available online, not for sale.
This Atlas is the final result of a regional initiative, through which 26 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean collaborated. Until then, the LAC region did not count with common indicators to characterize water resources availability in each country.
UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme (IHP) undertook this project with the Centre for Arid and Semi-arid Zones of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAZALAC) and the support of the Government of Flanders.
- Atlas de Zonas Áridas de América Latina y el Caribe (.pdf, in Spanish)
Atlas Pluviométrico del Ecuador (Atlas of precipitations in Ecuador)
PHI-VII, Technical Document No. 21
2010. Available online, not for sale
This publication includes a systematic presentation of information relating to precipitation in Ecuador from 1951 to 2007. Precipitation is the main meteorological and climate factor in natural variations of water basins, and this systematic analysis has allowed for an improved understanding of rivers and lakes.
- Atlas pluviométrico del Ecuador (.pdf, in Spanish)
Ecological Sciences
Map of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves
2016-2017. Available online
Biosphere Reserves are areas designated under the UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme to serve as places to test different approaches to integrated management of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine resources and biodiversity. As such, Biosphere Reserves are visualized as sites for experimenting with and learning about sustainable development approaches under the MAB Programme.
- Map of the WNBR (.pdf, multilingual)
World Atlas of Mangroves
2010. Not available online, hard copies for sale
The World atlas of mangroves gives an entire new view on the global state of mangroves. Written with the participation of more than 100 international mangrove experts, researchers and organizations, this fully colored atlas has 60 full-page maps with all mangroves locations of the world, many photos and illustrations, which give exact details about mangrove distribution and evolution in countries and regions. This includes as well protected areas, such as National Parks, World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves and Ramsar Sites. All data and maps emanate from recent satellite images.
40 years working with Biosphere Reserves (BR) in IberoMAB
2015. Available online
Year of nomination and geographical distribution of the BR in the Regional Network of IberoMAB (2015-2016).
Map of Biosphere Reserves of the Volga basin
2015-2016. Available online
The map depicts features of each of 13 biosphere reserves situated in the Volga River basin. Other protected nature sites are also shown, such as state reserves [zapovedniks] and national parks. The map includes photos, which represent fauna and flora of the Volga basin and data concerning the biosphere reserve.
- Map of biosphere reserves of the Volga basin (.pdf, in Russian)
EABRN Biosphere Reserve Atlases
Biosphere reserves serve as learning and demonstration sites in the framework of the United Nations Decade for Sustainable Development. With this in mind, under the East Asian Biosphere Reserve Network (EABRN), UNESCO is producing Biosphere reserve Atlases for school children and the general public to create and promote the awareness of the concept of biosphere reserves and sustainable development. The Altlas for China was the first of the series.
- EABRN Biosphere reserve atlas: People's Republic of China (.pdf, in Chinese and English)
- EARBN Biosphere reserve Atlas – Japan (.pdf, in Japanese and English)
Oceans
Caribbean Marine Atlas
Ongoing project, available online
The purpose of the CMA is to identify, collect and organize available geo-spatial datasets into an atlas of environmental themes for the Caribbean region as a support service to the sustainable development and integrated management of marine and coastal areas in the region.
The project is supported by the participating countries, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC) through the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) , and the Government of Flanders (Kingdom of Belgium).
The Caribbean Marine Atlas is an activity developed within the framework of the Ocean Data and Information Network for the Caribbean and South America region (ODINCARSA).