Environmental Information System, ENVIS, History, Features, Objectives, Functions, Roles

MLIS-101: Information System and Programmes.

Name	Abbreviation	Established	Headquarters Address & Contact Details	URL
Environmental Information System	ENVIS	December 1982	ENVIS Secretariat, Vayu Wing-607, 6th Floor, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jor Bagh Road, Aliganj, New Delhi 110 003 Email: envisect@nic.in	https://envis.nic.in

1. Environmental Information System (ENVIS)

2. Key Features

• Network of ENVIS Centres: ENVIS operates through a network of nodes known as ENVIS Centres, covering diverse environmental subject areas. The Ministry of Environment & Forests serves as the Focal Point for ENVIS, overseeing and coordinating the activities of these centres.
• Global Recognition: ENVIS is recognised as the National Focal Point (NFP) for INFOTERRA, a global environmental information network under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Additionally, ENVIS is designated as the Regional Service Centre (RSC) of INFOTERRA for the South Asia Sub-Region countries.
• World Bank-Assisted Project: Since January 2002, ENVIS has implemented the World Bank-assisted Environment Management Capacity Building Technical Assistance Project (EMCBTAP). This project aims to expand the reach of ENVIS by involving institutions and organisations in state governments, academia, the corporate sector, and NGOs. It also seeks to incorporate modern Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for information dissemination.
• Continuation of SDNP-India: The EMCBTAP project continues the Sustainable Development Networking Programme: India (SDNP-India), funded jointly by the UNDP and IDRC, Canada.

3. Role and Significance:

4. Current Network Status:

5. Long-Term Objectives

• Build a repository and dissemination centre in Environmental Science and Engineering.
• Utilize state-of-the-art technologies for information acquisition, processing, storage, retrieval, and dissemination.
• Support research, development, and innovation in environmental information technology.

6. Short-Term Objectives

• Provide a national environmental information service relevant to present and future user needs.
• Develop storage, retrieval, and dissemination capabilities for rapid information dissemination.
• Foster national and international cooperation for the exchange of environment-related information.
• Support education and personnel training programs for enhanced environmental information processing.
• Promote information exchange among developing countries.

7. Responsibilities of Focal Point & ENVIS Centres

Focal Point:

• Overall coordination of the ENVIS network.
• Identification of ENVIS Centres in specialised areas.
• Framing guidelines and procedures for ENVIS Centres.
• Collection, storage, retrieval, and dissemination of information in specific areas.
• Establishment of a Data Bank and computerisation in key application areas.
• Publication of the quarterly abstracting journal Paryavaran Abstracts.
• Organizing training and seminars.
• Monitoring and reviewing ENVIS.

ENVIS Centres:

• Building up a collection of books, reports, and journals in specific subject areas.
• Establishment of linkages with information sources in the subject area.
• Responding to user queries.
• Coordination with the Focal Point.
• Data bank establishment on selected parameters.
• Bringing out newsletters/publications for broader dissemination.

Unit 4.2 : Environmental Information System (ENVIS)