Report on
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AGRIS/CARIS IN THE 21ST CENTURYREPORT ON THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGIONAL CONSULTATION4 - 6 NOVEMBER 1996BOGOR, INDONESIA |
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[Chapter 1] [Chapter 2] [Chapter 3] [Chapter 4] [Chapter 5] [Chapter 6] [Chapter 7]
[Appendix 1] |
THE STATUS OF CHINESE FORESTRY INFORMATIONMeng Yongqing The Institute of Scientech Information, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China Scientific and technological information of the People's Republic of China has developed greatly over the past 40 years. Forestry information is an important part of Chinese science and technical information and has made great contributions to the forestry economy, research, education and production. Under continuing reform and opening to the outside world, our forestry authority is formulating strategies and policies for information development in order to promote forestry information in the 21st century. THE STATUS OF CHINESE FORESTRY SCIENTECH INFORMATION China has 251 forestry research institutions, 11 forestry universities and colleges, and 56 forestry schools which house forestry literature. The library of the Chinese Academy of Forestry attached to the Institute of Scientech Information is the biggest in the Chinese forestry sector with over 350 000 volumes, including more than 1000 Chinese and foreign periodicals. The literature storage system is at three levels. The Library of the Chinese Academy of Forestry, Library of the Institute of Survey and Design, Library of the Institute of Forest Products Design, as well as the libraries of six forestry universities and colleges, are the main sources of forestry information. Each centre maintains a specialist collection based on region or subject. The provincial institutes of forestry research and forestry colleges also maintain their own libraries. Institutes of forestry research and forestry schools in the prefectures and municipalities also have some collections. The development and application of forestry information database The forestry information database is an important fundamental element of a modern system. The Chinese forestry information unit has been using foreign forestry literature databases such TREE-CD, AGRIS, CABI and AGRICOLA. Development of the forestry information database began in the 1980s. Since 1982, CAB computer retrieval tape, jointly developed by the library of the Chinese Academy of Forestry and the Library of the Chinese Academy of Agriculture, has been providing a retrieval service to about 200 forestry users annually. A database in Chinese characters was initiated in the mid-1980s at the Institute of Forestry Research of Sichuan province. More than 20 forestry databases have been completed or are being developed, which include literature databases on the protected forest, the forestry economy, general forestry, tree physiology, a paper database of academic degrees from the Chinese forestry sector, a catalogue database of Chinese and foreign periodicals stored in forestry libraries, and a database of scientific and technical results of the forestry sector. The combined database of Chinese literature on agriculture and forestry is one of the current important databases in the country. Construction of a forestry information network The development of a computer-based forestry information network is in its infancy. An information network has just been established by the Institute of Scientech Information. The database includes literature stored by the library, and Chinese and foreign language periodicals. Supported by the Ministry of Forestry, scientists including computer experts and forestry professionals of the Institute of Forest Resource Information, are developing the Information Network of the Chinese Academy of Forestry, which will become the most important forestry network in China. Publication of Chinese forestry periodicals Forestry periodicals are widely used by forestry professionals in China for information exchange. There are about 50 regular forestry periodicals published by forestry universities and colleges, the institutes of forestry research at the central and provincial levels, and the Chinese Forestry Society. Because of language problems, these Chinese character periodicals are difficult to exchange with foreign counterparts. Organisation of Chinese forestry information The Information Department of the National Committee of Science and Technology is responsible for formulating strategy and policy for national information development. In the forestry sector, the agencies are the Institute of Scientech Information, 13 forestry centres in provinces and autonomous regions, as well as the information agencies belonging to other ministries and departments. In 1985, the Library Information Committee of Forestry University, College and Academy was set up. The Coordination Committee of Forestry Scientech Literature of China and the Information Center of National Forestry University and College were established in 1992. In addition, the Chinese Society of Forestry has its own branch committee of forestry information. These information centres play an important role in the development of Chinese forestry information. The Institute of Scientech Information has made great contributions to the dissemination and promotion of forestry information in China. It publishes Abstracts of Chinese Forestry, Abstracts of Foreign Forestry, and Abstracts of Foreign Forest Products. Supported by CIFOR, it publishes Abstracts of Chinese Forestry Scientech Information in English, which provides an opportunity for overseas scientists to understand forestry science and technology of China. Its Research Division is engaged in research on forestry information from both China and overseas. ISSUES FOR FORESTRY INFORMATION AGENCIES IN CHINA
DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR CHINESE FORESTRY SCIENTECH INFORMATION (1992 TO 2000) The Chinese forestry information sector is facing both problems and opportunities for development. The Ministry of Forestry has paid great attention to forestry information development with an information development plan for Chinese forestry science and technology. The plan aims to promote forestry information for forestry research, education, production and policy making; develop information centres at all levels; establish a national computer retrieval system; develop information products; and make contributions to the national goal of forestry development. Major tasks are to:
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