3. Planned activities 1997 - 1999

3.1. Information service

3.1.1 Clearing House Mechanism

A Clearing House Mechanism provides the user with a guide on Internet to information available on a specific subject. ETFRN will establish such a function for the subject of 'tropical forest research'. From the ETFRN homepage on Internet, it will be possible to access both information provided by ETFRN, e.g. the ETFRN databases or the question and answer service, and information from other sources, e.g. by providing links to other databases and organizations. Both the databases and the question and answer service form an integral part of this clearing house mechanism. The databases form the basis for the information service. The Internet, the newsletter and the Question and Answer Service are tools to use the mechanism. For further details, please see annex 1.

3.1.2 Publications

In addition to the information made accessible on internet, ETFRN will publish printed directories based on the databases. By the end of 1997, an updated directory of forest research projects will be published. The directory of European institutions involved in tropical and subtropical forest research will be updated in 1998.

3.1.3 Newsletter

A few minor changes in the newsletter will mark the beginning of a new phase for ETFRN. For the time being, the format will remain the same (A5). The colour of the cover will be different for each issue. If possible, thinner paper will be used to cut postage costs.

The frequency of the newsletter will remain the same, four issues per year. Items such as the international agenda, news, questions and answers, publications and vacancy announcements will be continued. In addition, items such as organisations - programmes and research cooperation will cover different themes or regions per issue. It is suggested to publish two theme issues, one regional issue and one general issue per year.

Also see work plan 1997

3.1.4 Agenda

The international agenda will continue to be published in the newsletter. In addition, it will be published as a page on Internet, with the possibility to link organizing institutes.

3.1.5 Question and Answer Service

This service offers an interactive mechanism to research institutes and researchers in order to:

	help identify research cooperation partners for a planned or existing research project;
	offer opportunities/locations for the execution of research;
	support the search on specific information.

The current structure does not encourage an optimal use. Though the concept of the service will remain the same, the structure will be improved to facilitate a more frequent and widely spread use.

A properly functioning Question and Answer service implies an active involvement of the members and other interested parties. This involvement can be reached by changing the service from a static Internet-feature (where members have to take action to look at Internet for posed questions) to a dynamic e-mail service (list server) system. Each relevant question will be mailed to the members as soon as it is selected for mailing by the Coordination Unit. This more direct approach will hopefully encourage the response and involvement of members. The Coordination Unit will draft rules on communication over the ETFRN list server. The questions will be posed through Internet and some time later in the newsletter for other interested parties. On Internet a question-posing structure will be established. Answers can be given through e-mail, fax or letter to the question-posing party (cc. CU).

3.1.6 ETFRN as part of a Worldwide Forestry Research Network

ETFRN shall act as the European contact partner in order to contribute to the improvement of information exchange in the field of tropical forest research activities at the international level. In a first step the ETFRN will cooperate with international organizations such as FAO, IUFRO, CIFOR and ICRAF in order to improve present sources of information on forest research projects. This cooperation shall be based on the contacts established at the informal meeting on "Strategies for improving networking in forestry research", held in November 1995 at the FAO Headquarters, Rome. An overview of ongoing Tropical forest research related activities at the international level, i.e. knowing "who" is doing "what" and "where" and with "whom", would facilitate the coordination of research activities and development activities and minimize undesired duplication. It would ensure a more efficient use of financial resources. ETFRN will stimulate this process of gathering information. Thanks to its close contacts with international organizations ETFRN will be able to inform its members about new activities in the field of tropical forest research. This shall help members to establish new contacts and to anticipate trends.

Concrete activities for ETFRN include:

	continued cooperation with CIFOR, FAO, IUFRO and Regional Networks to develop a World Forestry Database and in this context, attend the side meeting on the subject at the world forestry congress (see below);
	develop contacts with other database managing institutes or researchers;
	cooperate with the SPAAR focal point at the International Agricultural Centre in Wageningen, the Netherlands, which is involved in the development of GIS software (PROMIS) to analyse and visualise information derived from CDS-ISIS databases, such as SPAAR (see Annex 2);
	maintain and develop contacts with other regional research networks to improve information exchange (through newsletter exchange, homepage links, question and answer service).

3.2. Forum for dialogue

3.2.1 Discussion groups

In the course of 1998 attention will be paid to the establishment of discussions on emerging topics in tropical forest research within the network and with other networks. Discussion topics could be suggested by the ETFRN members or through the Question and Answer Service (also possible for other interested parties). Discussion topics could also be identified during the one-day workshop at the World Forestry Congress 1997 (see below).

Summaries of the outcome of the discussions in different networks will be published on Internet and in the Newsletter. Follow up to these discussions could include organizing a workshop on the topics discussed. It is also envisaged that these discussions lead to improved cooperation between scientists.

3.2.2 Workshops

Both in 1998 and 1999 ETFRN will organise a workshop to support the dialogue within the scientific community and between the scientific community and European policy-makers. Policy makers from the European Commission (EC) and European Parliament (EP), ETFRN members (chosen by the Steering Committee) and expert scientists will be invited to discuss policy making and derived information needs in the field of forests in developing countries. One of the topics for the workshops will be "methods to identify research priorities at different levels". As such it will also contribute to another objective of ETFRN, i.e. Identification of priorities in tropical forest research.

The preparations for the workshop in 1998 will be started in 1997. The Coordination Unit will contact FAO to discuss the possibilities to organize a one day satellite meeting on methods for research priority identification under the umbrella of the world forestry congress to be held in Turkey in October. This meeting may serve as a preparation for a larger workshop to be organized in 1998. However first priority of the side meeting should be to increase awareness on the existence of ETFRN.

In addition, ETFRN will attend another side meeting to the world forestry congress to discuss with representatives from FAO. CIFOR and IUFRO on the proposal on the preparation of a worldwide information system on forestry research projects, which will be prepared by Michael Ibach of CIFOR.

3.3. Links between policy and research

3.3.1 Methods for setting priorities in tropical forestry research

Priority identification for tropical forest research is a process which takes place at different levels, international, national and at field level. Priorities set at a higher level generally provide a framework for priority setting at lower levels. However, to achieve research results which are practical and applicable at field level, the priorities identified at lower levels should also be able to influence this framework when necessary. In this context, ISNAR has published a research report on methods for priority setting for multipurpose tree research, taking into account priorities for different stakeholder groups at different levels. CIFOR is also involved in the development of methods for research priority setting. The Tropenbos Foundation has developed a procedure to identify policy and management guided research priorities for biodiversity research in tropical rainforests. Other institutes involved in the development of methods for research priority setting may be identified by the national nodes.

At the international level, the network can inventorize national or regional research priorities. In addition, it can help facilitate discussions on methods for research priority setting at different levels.

3.3.2 Adaption of research methods and results to facilitate (accelerate) translation to forest policy and forest management practices

The network will stimulate discussion and organize activities which should lead to awareness and publications on the subject of translating tropical forestry research results into formats useful for policy makers and resource managers. Attention will be paid to the influence of dofferent research methodologies on the potential for translation and use of research results.

In this context, the network should also promote interest in work on methods for assessment of the developemnt impact of forest research.

3.3.3 Interfacing with the European Commission (EC)

ETFRN shall intensify its links to relevant Directorates General of the European Commission (DG XII, DG VIII, DG I, DG XI). The cooperation shall be based on mutual benefit. On the one hand the Commission can use ETFRN as a source of expertise in the field of tropical forest research, on the other hand the close contact with the Commission shall ensure early access for ETFRN members to information related to tropical forest research and forest development issues. These contacts shall be linked with on-line-information on developments in EU programmes, calls for proposals, calls for offers for studies and other ad hoc measures undertaken by the EC, including development projects supported by DGs VIII and IB.

3.3.4 Interfacing with the European Parliament (EP)

ETFRN will act as a contact point to the European Parliament in order to facilitate access to scientific expertise whenever such advice is requested. Vice-versa it will help institutions and scientists to bring emerging issues to the attention of political decision-makers through the contacts established with Euro-parliamentarians. Additional to the requests ETFRN will pro-actively contribute with advice to relevant parliamentarian discussions (through established contacts with parliamentarians).

3.4. Sustainability and appropriate future legal status of the network

3.4.1 Network structure and legal status

During the second phase ETFRN will have to develop towards a more self sustaining network for the period after ETFRN-II (ETFRN-III) in which membership-fees and commercial activities will have to be given thought. Both members and the Steering Committee will play an extensive part in this development. Members can identify the essential functions of the network which should be sustained or be further elaborated after the second phase and which new activities will have to be developed. Especially the development of new activities gives opportunities to involve commercial activities in the future of ETFRN. The income of these commercial activities will partly pay for the public services. Whether there is a merket for such commercial activities, and what the costs and prices will be, should be investigated.

ETFRN intends to play an important role within the tropical forest research-community for the years to come, and it is important to sustain this role both within Europe as well as internationally

A small committe of the Steering Committee members will draft an Issues and Options paper which will include a section on desirability of and possibilities for a legal status for ETFRN. This will be further discussed in the Steering Committee before it is circulated to potential donors.

3.4.2 Sources of funds

For the period 1997 - 1999, the attached budget has been agreed upon between The Tropenbos Foundation, which is the host institution, and the Directorate General XII of the European Commission, which is the funding institution, for the ETFRN coordinating unit.

Several of the services which ETFRN can provide could be paid for, such as access to the databases or specific information derived from the databases, the Question and Answer Service, the Newsletter and the job vacancy announcements. However, donors could be sought to cover the costs of providing these services free to institutes and individuals in the South.

These ETFRN services should also be free of charge to ETFRN members paying a yearly membership fee.

Alternatively or in addition other donors could be sought to fund specific ETFRN activities, such as workshops or the maintenance of ETFRN databases and regular publications of directories based on these databases.

Whether services will be paid for or donors sought, in either case the ETFRN services will need to be further developed, become well known, and prove their use before anyone will want to pay for them. Therefore ETFRN should continue providing them free of charge for at least another two years. During this period, the possibility to charge for the different services should be further evaluated. Once a decision is made regarding which services will need to be paid for, network members and subscribers to the newsletter should be given notice well in advance (6 months) which services will need to be paid for in the future.

Financial sustainability will also be discussed in the 'Issues and Options' paper. In addition, all National Nodes should help identify potential sources of funds.