Examples of Forest Information Systems

Decision support systems (DSS)

DSS are used for different levels of forest management and policymaking and can include information-visualisation tools for policymakers and forest professionals, growth models, systems supporting forest management planning, and forest disturbance models.

Examples:

  1. Open Foris(FAO): a set of free and open-source software tools that facilitates flexible and efficient data collection, analysis and reporting.
  2. SEPAL (FAO): a system for earth observation, data access, processing, analysis for land monitoring.
  3. Sat-Monitor (Taxus IT): a system for forest managers for data processing, storing and sharing, to provide information on the current state of the forest and predictions of potential threats based on the collected data.

 

Resource management systems (RMS)

In forestry, RMS help the operation of forest administration agencies, forest management enterprises, and forest operations enterprises.

Examples:

  1. Forest Information System of State Forests: a comprehensive IT system for management support in the State Forest Holding "State Forests" in Poland.
  2. LasInfo (Taxus IT): an integrated management system for forest holdings.

 

Information-sharing systems (ISS)

Information sharing about forests can range from a centralized data-sharing hub – a ‘forest data bank’ - through data repositories divided thematically or geographically, to highly distributed systems with strong consistency and interoperability.

Examples:

  1. Bank Danych o Lasach (Forest Data Bank, State Forests Holding Poland): a web portal that provides information on forest management, forest condition, and its changes regardless of ownership form.
  2. Österreichische Waldinventur (BFW): a website to access results of Austria’s National Forest Inventory.
  3. National Forestry Database (Canadian Council of Forest Ministers): a website presenting results of Canada’s National Forest Inventory.
  4. Bundeswaldinventur (Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung, Germany): a web portal to publish results of Germany’s National Forest Inventory.
  5. Inventaire Forestier (IGN): a web portal to publish information from France’s National Forest Inventory.
  6. Inventarul forestier national (IFN): a web portal to publish results of Romania’s National Forest Inventory.
  7. The Swedish National Forest Inventory (SLU): a web portal with the results of the Swedish National Forest Inventory.
  8. Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU: Thema Forstwirtschaft (BAFU): a part of the BAFU web portal devoted to the Swiss forestry statistics.
  9. The National Forest Inventory (Forest Research): a website with tools, methodology and results of the National Forest Inventory in the United Kingdom.
  10. Forest and Land-Use Atlas of Georgia (MEPA): a web portal that provides access to transparent and precise data on Georgia’s forest and land use, also ensures active use of the information and supports planning, implementation and monitoring of activities in the forestry and land use sectors.
Communication support systems (CSS)

CSS enable individuals and citizen groups to be involved in different levels of forest-related matters, and to know the latest trends. They create transparent public communication from the forest sector. They are also used by lobbying groups to shape the public attitudes and discourse, sometimes presenting skewed narratives.

Examples

  1. Bank Danych o Lasach (Forest Data Bank, State Forests Holding Poland): a web portal that provides information on forest management, forest condition and its changes regardless of ownership form.
  2. INForest (UNECE): data and knowledge platform for forests in the UNECE region.
  3. Fakta o lese (UHUL): a website presenting concise and visually appealing information on Czech forests.
  4. Forestry in Ireland (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Ireland): an information portal on forestry in the Republic of Ireland.
  5. Valstybinė Miškų Tarnyba (Lithuania’s State Forest Service): a public communication portal of the government agency responsible for managing public forests in Lithuania.
  6. Türkiye Orman Varlığı (Orman Genel Müdürlüğü): the website of the General Directorate of Forestry with information on Turkish forests.
  7. Florestas (Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas): a web portal with information on the Portuguese forests.
  8. Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU: Thema Wald und Holz (BAFU): a part of the BAFU web portal devoted to forests and timber.
  9. Zanim wytną twój las (Fundacja Lasy i Obywatele): a portal created by NGO activists lobbying against timber harvesting and running black PR operations against the State Forests Holding in Poland.