Additional Training Activities

Training Module 1

TRAINING MODULE I

WORKING EFFECTIVELY AT THE INTERFACE OF FOREST SCIENCE AND FOREST POLICY

Scientific Advisor:
IUFRO Task Force on Forest Science-Policy Interface

Trainers:
Simmathiri Appanah, FAO
Michael Kleine, IUFRO-SPDC

Objectives:
This science-policy interfacing training will provide concepts and methods to researchers on how to plan, conduct, and organise research activities so that research results can more quickly and easily be transformed into usable information for problem-solving and policy-making.

Themes and Content:
The need for sound scientific information in the development of public environmental and forest-related policies at the local, national and international levels has grown significantly in recent years. Although it is commonly accepted that scientific information is indispensable for policy and management, linking substantive knowledge and authoritative political decision making is a chronically difficult task. In view of this, IUFRO-SPDC – over the past 5 years – conducted a series of training workshops for creating awareness among scientists in developing countries of the importance of science-policy interfacing issues. The training is based on the work of international experts convened by IUFRO in its Task Force on the Science-Policy Interface. Participants will learn about key aspects of science-policy interactions, and best practices for work at the science-policy interface in the context of international, national and local policy processes such as the International Forest Regime, global conventions, national forest programmes, national poverty reduction strategies and community-driven processes at local level.  A wide range of case studies will be presented addressing forest-related issues in Africa, Asia and Latin America, highlighting the challenges involved and practical solutions with focus on the formulation of research programmes that adequately incorporate elements of science-policy interfacing.


TRAINING MODULE II

MANAGING FOREST INFORMATION

Scientific Advisor:
Global Forest Information Service (GFIS)

Trainers:
Eero Mikkola, GFIS Coordinator, Metla, Finland
Juha Hautakangas, GFIS Unit, Metla, Finland
Randy McCracken, US Forest Service, USA
Stella Britwum, FORNESSA, Ghana
Syuqiyah Abdul Hamid, APAFRI, Malaysia

Objectives:
This training module aims at presenting and demonstrating state-of-the-art internet-based methods, tools and services that assist in the management and dissemination of forest-related information.

Themes and Content:
Managing large amounts of data and information constitutes an important component of forest research and development activities. Generally, information management is defined as the collection and management of information from one or more sources and the distribution of that information to one or more audiences.

Modern information and communication technologies support efficient collection, processing, and dissemination of information. In order to make full use of such technologies, forest scientists must be familiar with the methods, systems, and tools available today. To this end, the participants will
be introduced to the challenges of managing and sharing information with audiences all over the world. Aspects of developing and implementing information management projects will be discussed and include methods of software, web services and collaboration tools such as social media as well as information sharing and promotion through content syndication and institutional partnership arrangements.

Examples of existing  global and regional institutional partnership arrangements and information services will be presented and include the Global Forest Information Service (GFIS), the FORNESSA Information Service (FORNIS) currently under development in Sub-Saharan Africa as well as APAFRI’s online publication and information system for Asia Pacific. Hands-on exercises and group work will take place in a computer laboratory providing a PC connected to the Internet  for each participant.