UNEP/GRID-Arendal's operations continue to focus on serving the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with Environmental information products and services.

Highlights for 2006 include:

- leadership on polar content of UNEP`s GEO assessments;

- development of data policy and outreach for the International Polar Year starting March 2007, as well as the establishment of UNEP`s role in this two-year event;

- intervention through the Arctic Council to help establish improved monitoring and reporting of biodiversity status and trends;

- collaboration with the oil industry on training and awareness of Arctic environmental and social issues, and

- participation in several projects aimed at developing and testing awareness and appropriate methodology for community-based natural resource management and integrated ecosystem assessment, relating particularly to indigenous communities. This included work on two GEF projects, one collaborative project with the oil industry, development of a course through Saami University College, and a project through UNEP on improving disaster management through the use of indigenous knowledge.

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