Via the SciDev.Net website, I read that a new phase of the international initiative ‘Online Access to Research in the Environment’ (OARE) was launched on 6 November. In the first phase of the project last year, institutions from 72 countries subscribed. Now, interested institutions from another 36 developing countries will have access to an environmental and related sciences research database.

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and Yale University sponsor the public-private consortium initiative. Around 350 publishing and society partners also support it, including Nature Publishing Group journals.

Primary research papers and other content in our journals are made freely available online to readers in countries that are members of HINARI, AGORA and OARE, greatly extending the reach of the papers as well as providing information in a timely fashion to people who might not otherwise be able to obtain it or obtain it promptly.

SciDev.Net is an independent online science and development network providing news, views and information about science, technology and the developing world. It is a free access website and features several articles a week from Nature, selected by the SciDev.Net editors.