The UNEP-WCMC earthdive partnership emerged because the conservation of marine biodiversity is a vital issue of our age. Never before has marine habitat loss occurred on the scale seen today. This partnership is about halting this terrible global phenomenon through mobilising those that care about our marine and coastal ecosystems. By contributing valuable scientific data, earthdive is taking part in a global effort to monitor and conserve life on this planet.

The UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre is the biodiversity information and assessment arm of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The Centre provides objective, science-based ecosystem assessments, support for implementation of environmental agreements, regional and global biodiversity information, research on threats and impacts, and development of indicators and future scenarios for the living world.

Through its partnership with earthdive, UNEP-WCMC has provided significant technical and scientific contributions.

UNEP-WCMC plays a fundamental role monitoring the world's changing biodiversity. Monitoring marine habitats is a core theme of this global mandate and therefore, the data earthdive can provide supports this overall goal. On coral reefs UNEP-WCMC's marine and coastal programme is accompanied by the UNEP Coral Reef Unit (CRU) and the International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN) that work together to preserve this vital ecosystem. To find out more information go to Corals@UNEP-WCMC.

UNEP-WCMC has recently published a number of successful titles that include The World Atlas of Coral Reefs, and The World Atlas of Seagrasses. These marine habitats are central to the life cycles of millions of marine species and their abundance profoundly affects global marine biodiversity.

The UNEP-WCMC earthdive partnership will enable us to monitor on a global level the anthropogenic impacts faced by a host of marine habitats. Each of your dive logs is therefore vital and together will help create a Global Snapshot of the world's oceans that can be used by decision makers at every level.

The WCMC 2000 registered charity no is: 2330031