New interactive database on indicators of sustainable forest management in Europe
Geneva, 19 January 2009 --
The Timber and Forestry programme of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) announced today the release of a new web-based resource tool designed by the international community to enable researchers, policymakers, practitioners and the general public to access data on Europe’s forests. The database is a comprehensive research tool based on the report State of Europe’s Forests 2007, and includes data which have so far not been published.
This is the first time that such a comprehensive set of information pertinent to sustainable forest management and forest resources assessment in Europe is being published via an online data management system. It provides an unprecedented scope of information, collected by hundreds of individuals and dozens of agencies, and is accessible through a user-friendly interface which enables users to extract all the data for a single country, or to compare indicators across several countries.
This new database offers a tremendous resource for anyone interested in learning more about Europe’s forest data and activities pertaining to sustainable forest management in Europe. It makes information available for 27 quantitative indicators, structured by six criteria for sustainable forest management endorsed by the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe. In addition to characteristics of European forests and forestry data in general, the user also has access to information on the balance of carbon in forest ecosystems, forest health condition and status of forest biodiversity. Aspects of production, including wood and non-wood products and services, are presented along with information on protected forest areas. The database also provides information on social and economic aspects of the forestry sector.
In line with the structure of criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management, the data are presented in a way that illustrates trends of chosen variables for the years 1990, 2000 and 2005. It is expected that this series will be continued (reporting for 2010 has started). The interface enables online review and simple analysis, but also allows selective extraction of the requested data in different formats.
The database is available at: http://w3.unece.org/pxweb/Dialog/. These data are presented alongside other statistical data from different parts of the UNECE work programme. The UNECE/FAO Timber Section encourages the international community to take advantage of this resource, and to make suggestions for further improvement.
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Roman Michalak
Forest Resources Officer
UNECE/FAO Timber Section
UNECE Trade and Timber Division
Palais des Nations
CH 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0) 22 917 2879
Fax: +41 (0) 22 917 0041
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.unece.org/timber
Ref: ECE/TIM/09/P01