Covering how environmental issues can influence population patterns often really comes down to numbers - and demographers often have just the numbers that journalists need.

Conversely, settlement and growth patterns can contribute to environmental vulnerability - for example when increasing numbers of people settle in low-lying coastal areas.

Here are some key resources for finding studies and statistics that can lead to intriguing human angles on environmental stories:

• In the US, the Population Association of America [2] is the leading professional association for demographers. Contact them to find members with expertise in environmental migration, or in your region. Contact: Mary Jo Hoeksema, [3] 202-939-5456.
• The US Census Bureau [4] can supply detailed statistics on the US population (including immigrants). However, this data generally doesn't indicate why people are where they are in the US.
• Environmental migration - whether due to climate change or Superfund sites - can also affect housing prices, as described in this May 2006 paper [5] published in Land Economics.
• For still more population and demographic resources, see this resource list [6] from the Penn State Population Research Institute.

RESOURCES ON POST-KATRINA GULF COAST DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS

• "Climate Change and Out-Migration," [7] by Rafael Reuveny, [8] School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, 812-855-4944.
• Congressional Research Service: "Hurricane Katrina-Related Immigration Issues and Legislation," [9] Ruth Ellen Wasem.
• Members of the Southern Demographic Association [10] could offer insight into hurricane-related population shifts along the Gulf Coast. Contact: Troy Blanchard, [11] Louisiana State University, 225-578-5123.
• The citizen journalism site ePodunk created an intriguing map of the Katrina diaspora. [12]
• Texas not only resettled many Katrina refugees, but also is on the front lines of immigration from Latin America. Members of the Texas Economic and Demographic Association [13] (TEDA) might be able to shed some light on current trends, statistics, and projections. Edith Chambers, 713-844-3618.

OTHER RESOURCES

• United Nations University: Institute for Environment and Human Security; Media contact Ilona Roberts, [14] +49(0)228 815-0219, can provide a range of generalized publications on the topic. Pertinent experts are featured here. [15] They include Koko Warner, Fabrice Renaud, and J.J. Bogardi, who were authors of the 2007 publication "Control, Adapt, or Flee: How to Face Environmental Migration?" It is available, along with other publications, here. [16] Another publication, a 400-page book published in October 2006, is Measuring Vulnerability to Natural Hazards: Towards Disaster Resilient Societies. [17]
• EACH-FOR [18] (Environmental Change and Forced Migration Scenarios), a research project of the European Commission.
• The UN High Commissioner for Refugees looks at a different angle: [19] minimizing the environmental impacts of huge, sudden influxes of people to fragile habitats. Press: +41-22-739-8502.
• ReliefWeb. [20]
• Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters [21] (CRED): Rgina Below. [22]
• US Human Rights Network: Katrina campaign; [23] includes dozens of links to other organizations and publications about displaced persons and related issues.
• "Climate Change and Environmental Ruin Also Drives Migration," [24] by Church World Service, June 18, 2007.