Information and Knowledge Management in Support of Sustainable Forestry: A Review

Making good decisions can be extremely difficult when problems are not well structured and situations are complex, as they are when managing natural resources for multiple benefits and for users with differing values. Proficient problem solving depends on an adequate foundation of relevant and readily applicable knowledge. Recent advances in computer technology coupled with expanded knowledge and information distribution and accessibility, brought about by the Internet, have increased our power to manage both tacit and explicit knowledge. Impressive computer-based systems have been developed to deliver this knowledge for decision making, but their use in forestry has been limited. Widespread adoption will require close cooperation among people developing methodologies and techniques in the areas of inventory and monitoring, statistics and modeling, policymaking, and forest management planning. Without attention to the key task of knowledge management, however, efforts in sustainable forest management may only have limited long-term success. _______________________________________________________________________ Knowledge Management