[Occasional Paper No. 1]
Forestry research within the consultative group on International agricultural research.

[Occasional Paper No. 2]
Social and economical aspects of Miombo woodland management in Southern Africa: options and opportunities for research.

[Occasional Paper No. 9]
Rates and causes of deforestation in Indonesia: Towards a resolution of the ambiguities.

[Occasional Paper No. 10]
Report on Discussion Forum on Information Services in the Asia-Pacific and AGRIS/CARIS in the 21st Century an Asia-Pacific Regional Consultation

[Occasional Paper No. 11]
Capacity for Forestry Research in the Southern African Development Community

[Occasional Paper No. 12]
Technologies for Sustainable Forest Management: Challenges for the 21st Century

[Occasional Paper No. 13]
Bosques secundarios como recurso para el
desarrollo rural y la conservación ambiental
en los trópicos de América Latina

Report on
Discussion Forum on Information Services in the Asia-Pacific
and
AGRIS/CARIS in the 21st Century
an Asia-Pacific Regional Consultation

Edited by Michael Ibach and Yvonne Byron

Discussion Forum on Information Services in th Asia-Pacific

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The information available to researchers in today's world and the technology to access and utilise it is expanding rapidly. The national wealth of industrialised countries is significantly knowledge-based. With the increased emphasis on utilising information to promote sustainable development, as defined by the UNCED World Summit in 1992, access to accurate forestry information is a key element in the decision-making process. This is especially true in the developing world. Unfortunately most forestry and forestry research organisations in the Asia-Pacific region neither have access to nor can utilise effectively the vast amount of existing information. We must create mechanisms to facilitate development and use of this information and information technology.

Many forestry projects in the Asia-Pacific region now encompass information as part of their mandate, including, for example, assistance with publishing, creation of information centres, document delivery and technology development. A number of organisations in the region share common objectives to develop capacity in the forestry research sector. To this end, representatives of the ASEAN Forest Tree Seed Centre (AFTSC) Project, ASEAN Institute of Forest Management (AIFM), Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), International Development Research Council (IDRC) and CAB International (CABI), and the Forestry Research Support Programme for Asia and the Pacific (FORSPA) have proposed solutions through collaborative activities.

A proposed regional forum of key people in the Asia-Pacific, to discuss forestry information services needs and opportunities, was preceded by data gathering from specific institutions in the region. A questionnaire surveyed the facilities and support for information services units in forestry institutions throughout the Asian-Pacific region.

This report details the results of that survey and the proceedings of the Discussion Forum on Information Services in the Asia-Pacific held at Bogor, Indonesia, from 30 October to 1 November 1996. The list of perceived needs generated by the survey guided the deliberations of the Forum. Participants identified priority goals, action plans for their achievement and responsible agents/agencies, expected time frames and likely costs. The priority goals agreed upon by the group were:

• To demonstrate the value of information in contributing to a country's development.
• To improve the ability of Information Services Unit (ISU) staff to pro-actively meet user demands.
• To establish a core of well-trained ISU staff and users through an integrated programme of training.
• To improve effectiveness of forestry information services by providing access to e-mail and the Internet, and establishing a list server.

The Forum was assisted in its discussions by keynote papers on the future of scientific information and publishing (F. Ng, CIFOR), IUFRO's role in providing information services (H. Schmutzenhofer, IUFRO) and a comprehensive guide to sources of forestry information (K. Becker, CABI).

The groundwork was laid for a valuable forestry network in the region to be officially launched at the APAFRI/FORSPA meeting in March 1997.

AGRIS/CARIS in the 21st Century
an Asia-Pacific Regional Consultation

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Integrated Information System for the Agricultural Sciences and Technology (AGRIS) and the Current Agricultural Research Information System (CARIS) are part of the FAO's larger network providing an extensive, world-wide database of information on research in agriculture and related issues. Both AGRIS and CARIS were first introduced in the mid-1970s and are international co-operative systems in which participating counties input references on the research conducted and literature produced within their boundaries. The systems are managed and maintained by the AGRIS/CARIS Co-ordinating Group, Library and Documentation Systems Division, FAO, Rome. Forestry is just one of the categories used for entry, but forestry-related literature or research can be found in a number of categories ranging from Forestry to Engineering, Plant Sciences and Environment.

With the rapid expansion of knowledge and the technology associated with accessing and using this knowledge, it is time to reassess the effectiveness and coverage of such projects as AGRIS and CARIS. Have these tools been effective in making information more widely available to researchers and decision makers? How can participating countries be assisted to become more pro-active in their association with AGRIS/CARIS in this information age? Many countries in the Asia-Pacific region neither are able to access or use the products of the information databases because of lack of funding, training or opportunity.

To address the issue of AGRIS/CARIS in the 21st century, an Asia-Pacific Regional Consultation was convened in Bogor, Indonesia, from 4-6 November 1996. This meeting was held in conjunction with the Discussion Forum on Forestry Information Services in the Asia-Pacific. The objectives of the meeting were to:

• enhance co-operative activities and to develop new approaches to improve the coverage of forestry literature in AGRIS and for forestry research information in CARIS among the countries in the Asia-Pacific region; and
  
• review new developments in information technology and their impacts on information providers and users.

The consultation was supported by FAO, FORSPA and CIFOR and brought together representatives from a number of national institutions of the region as well as from FAO, FORSPA, IUFRO, CSIRO, CIFOR and CABI. Participants brought with them a range of expectations with emphasis on hopes to expand their knowledge of AGRIS/CARIS; to exchange ideas and experiences with other users and identify problems and sources of improvement; and to specify actions which might improve participation, coverage and access. The role of new technologies was a key discussion topic.

Speakers from the international organisations presented information on their respective facilities to enhance and expand the opportunities for effective access and utilisation of material available. Each emphasised the need to recognise forestry as separate from agriculture and a key subject area in itself. Country representatives outlined the position of AGRIS/CARIS databases nationally and in their own institutions. They identified a number of areas where assistance is needed to facilitate their participation in the systems. In most centres, the key issues are funding, manpower training and access to modern equipment and software.

At the conclusion of the presentations, three working groups deliberated on whether their expectations for the meeting were fulfilled, issues regarding the role of forestry in AGRIS and broader issues concerning AGRIS/CARIS, and possible solutions to the problems raised. The working groups noted the declining participation in AGRIS and CARIS and identified reasons such as lack of commitment to the role of AGRIS/CARIS, unclear responsibility and coverage, and incapability of input systems. The profile of forestry information as an important part of the databases needs to be raised .

The participants expressed some concern about:

• ownership
• operational aspects
• transparency in process
• benefits to and orientation towards end users
• user friendliness
• visibility

In particular, it was felt that special attention needs to be given to coverage of forestry information in AGRIS and CARIS.

Table of Contents:

• List of Acronyms

Report on Discussion Forum on Information Services in the Asia-Pacific

• Introduction
• Forestry Information Initiatives
• Collaboration
• The Survey
• The Discussion Forum
• Final Action Plans
• Keynote Papers
• Conclusions
• References
• Appendix 1: Survey Questionnaire
• Appendix 2: Forestry Information Services in the Asia-Pacific Region
• Appendix 3: The Future for Scientific Publishing and Information in the Asia-Pacific Region
• Appendix 4: Information Services at IUFRO
• Appendix 5: Sources of Forestry Information
• Appendix 6: List of Participants

AGRIS/CARIS IN THE 21st CENTURY ­ AN ASIA-PACIFIC REGIONAL CONSULTATION

• Recommendation
• FAO, WAICENT, AGRIS, CARIS Forestry Information Services for the 21st Century
• Activities of the Forestry Department of FAO in Relation to Research and Information
• Principles of Abstracting and Indexing as applied by CAB International
• Can We See the Forest for the Trees?
• Improving Access to Forestry Information: the Experience of FORSPA
• IUFRO and Collaboration Possibilities of Enhancing with AGRIS/CARIS
• Country Reports:
  • Bangladesh
  • China
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Japan
  • Pakistan
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Philippines
  • Phillippines 2
  • SEAMEO
  • South Korea
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam
  • Western Samoa
• Appendix 1: List of Participants