EARTH SUMMIT+5 Special Session of the General Assembly to Review and Appraise the Implementation of Agenda 21 New York, 23-27 June 1997 PROGRAMME FACT SHEETS

	Land Quality Indicators Programme (LQI)
	Responsible Organization(s)	World Bank, FAO, UNEP, UNDP, CGIAR
	Description	The LQI programme has four major activities, namely a global information system, a research programme, regional pilot studies and capacity building. The Land Quality Indicators Information System (LQI-IS) The Land Quality Indicators Information System (LQI-IS), is one of the first major activities in the LQI programme. It involves: 1. Development of a computerized metadata (catalogue) and information system on land related data currently available through international and national agencies. National and global databases are registered on the LQI-IS, and some of them will be searchable and accessible. 2. Analyses of data quality and compatibility, voids in information, what additional data are needed, and guidelines on how to produce LQIs. 3. Distribution and availability of the data via the WWW, e-mail and on diskette. A prototype of the LQI-IS is set up on the WWW by CIESIN, and is available on an interim basis at: http://www.ciesin.org/lqihome.html Research programme to harmonize LQIs at global, national, and sub-national levels. Research is required in several areas to ensure the scientific and technical credibility of the indicators being developed. The objectives of the research program are: 1. To identify scientifically sound and robust indicators to serve as international and national standards for environmental and sector monitoring. In the first instance, these indicators will relate to managed ecosystems in agriculture and forestry. 2. To examine and identify the use of available data and information at international, national and sub-national levels, including sources of data, reliability, compatibility, voids in the data, and recommendations on improved procedures for data collection and organization. 3. To identify or develop a set of recommended, scientifically sound procedures, protocols, and guidelines for developing and reporting on these indicators. 4. To identify possible surrogates or indirect measures for specific indicators, where direct estimates are not possible or too expensive. These research activities will become part of a more comprehensive work plan which is being developed for the program. The development of LQI pilot (case) studies. National and sub-national level LQIs will be developed through pilot studies in representative AEZs. Various AEZ case studies are being planned according to a matrix: AEZ x land use intensity x data availability and quality. The pilot studies will follow common guidelines, and take place over two to three years. They involve collation, analyses and registration of available data for the AEZs, and field work to test and validate the LQIs. The pilot studies will culminate with workshops involving other scientists, technologists and administrators, to discuss the methodologies and results, and to effect the transfer of LQI technology to national agencies. Capacity building National capacity building in development and maintenance of LQI activities will occur through incorporation of LQI initiatives into ongoing capacity building activities being conducted by the World Bank, UNDP, UNEP, FAO, the CG centers and others. Major activities will involve training on geo-referenced data acquisition, training on PC based data management, and training on the use of local farmer knowledge and the development of quantitative indicators from farmer knowledge.
	Issues addressed	The goal of the LQI programme is to harmonize the combined objectives of increased agricultural and forestry production with improved environmental management. LQIs are needed for monitoring performance and progress towards this goal, and to promote technologies, policies and programs related to better use of natural resources and sustainable land management. LQIs are required at global, national and district levels.
	Objectives	The program initially focuses on LQIs for developing countries, although some experimental work will be done in other regions. The objectives of the program are: To develop a set of harmonized LQIs for managed ecosystems (agriculture and forestry) in the major Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZs) of tropical, sub-tropical and temperate environments. To identify sources of data and information and develop common methods for analyses, aggregation, and application of the results. To validate and disseminate the findings among the major institutions responsible for collection of LQI data, and to reinforce the institutional capacity needed for setting and implementing land and natural resources priorities, policies and technologies at sub-national and national levels.
	Results achieved	The Programme has just started. The description of the programme gives an indication of what is expected to be achieved.
	Lessons learned	Programme just started.
	Financing	So far relatively small contributions either in kind or in cash by Dutch Government, French Government, World Bank, UNEP, FAO, UNDP and CGIAR.
	Contact	The LQI Secretariat The World Bank Julian Dumanski - Email: jdumanski@worldbank.org Alexandre Borde, Email: aborde@worldbank.org 1818 H Street, NW Washington DC, 20433, USA Tel.:1(202)473 0898 Fax.:1(202)522 3306 Focal Points: The World Bank -AGRAF Christian Pieri 1818 H Street, NW Washington DC, 20433, USA Tel.:1(202)473 0358 Fax.:1(202)522 3306 Email:cpieri@worldbank.org FAO-SDR Jeff Tschirley Via delle Terme di Caracalla 01001 Rome, Italy Tel.:(39) 6 5225 3450 Fax.:(39) 6 5225 3369 Email: jeff.tschirley@fao.org UNEP - DEIA Miriam Schomaker PO Box 30552 Nairobi, Kenya Tel.:(254) 2 623 499 Fax.:(254) 2 623 944 Email: miriam.schomaker@unep.org UNDP - SEED Ralph Schmidt One United Nations Plaza New York, NY 10017, USA Tel.: 1 (212) 906 5088 Fax.: 1 (212) 906 6973 Email:ralph.schmidt@undp.org CGIAR Manuel Lantin 1818 H Street, NW Washington DC, 20433 USA Tel.: 1 (202) 473 8912 Fax.: 1 (202) 473 8110 Email:mlantin@worldbank.org