Web-based information resources for forestry research on the internet

Internet applications have evolved in many ways during recent years. One extraordinary development is the multiple use of World Wide Web features. This is especially true in the scientific context, but developments in e-commerce, web-based messaging, cyber-administration, distance learning or in the entertainment industry are also shaping interpersonal communication and business proccesses. These changes can be observed in the forestry and wood sector as well as in the field of forest sciences, e.g., electronic publications, directory information on the Web, archives of mailing lists, downloading of software, e-shop facilities, document repositories, modelling programmes. In fact, facing the mass of data available by an Internet address (URL) on the Web the user is looking for support in locating, filtering, selecting or sorting relevant information. The retrieval process has become - in a paradoxical manner - simpler and more complex at the same time. New search engines may link very fast to a specific document or data set by their weighting mechanisms. However, in other cases only the visit of an authoritative source on the net will allow to search for the information needed in a database stored "locally". A few examples will illustrate the current situation with respect to both fee-based services and publicly accessible data. As far as forestry research is concerned one can expect quite a broad range of bibliographic collections available through web interfaces : library catalogues / web-OPAC, publisher`s price lists, table of contents or cited references produced by research institutions and scholarly associations, personal homepages, etc. Additionally one can find other types of reference information, i.e., current research descriptions, meta-data services, media collections (images, audio files, ...) or even basic data on patent literature. Terminological aids, classification schemes, virtual libraries and other tools which facilitate a high quality profile of interaction within the scientific community are increasingly in use on the Web. IUFRO is also supporting these activities by its website and special projects, namely the Task Force GFIS (Global Forest Information Service), the terminology clearinghouse SilvaVoc, its bibliographies/catalogue, search engine, and documents in PDF. The Task Force on Internet Resources has contributing in the past to setting up a basic information infrastructure in favour of the IUFRO research network.