The handbook should serve the following purposes: - as a base for UNEP'S advice on the establishment of sound environmental machinery and legislation as a basis of better environmental management; - as a source of information and data on where UNEP's constituents are; - as a source of information and data for Governments, particularly from developing countries who may wish to receive information on the environmental machinery and legislation of other countries in order to consider alternative mechanisms or who may wish to ascertain where their counterparts are within the environmental administration of another country; - as source material for environmental education and training.