Development and Implementation of the Global Forest Watch (GFW) Website

www.globalforestwatch.org

Objective

The objective of the project is to develop and implement an Internet-based clearinghouse of authoritative, real-time information on forest activities for the counties of Canada, Gabon, Cameroon and Indonesia. The website will also highlight GFW Chapter work. The advantage of using a Web-based spatial information system is that the Internet is an efficient and affordable way to distribute spatial and non-spatial information in a timely fashion. Users will only require a browser such as Netscape or Internet Explorer to interact with the system, which resides on a centralized server.

Methods

The development and implementation of the GFW website builds on the research and education mission of CARES, specially the unique capacity that CARES has to offer in terms of Internet-based mapping.

CARES has developed interactive statewide (Missouri), county-level and watershed-based tools on the Internet to assist local stakeholders and/or extension personnel and resource-based agency staff. These interdisciplinary tools were developed in collaboration with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, EPA, and University of Missouri Extension. These tools have also been used in technical training and support (i.e., workshops, expert support, material preparation, and on-site demonstrations).

CARES’ website designing and Internet Map Server expertise, coupled with our research and education interests in natural resource management, are well suited for developing and implementing GFW’s primary information and dissemination mechanism.

Products

The GFW website has been operational since February 2000. The URL for website is: www.globalforestwatch.org. CARES hosts and maintains the GFW website, and develops Internet Mapping applications.

Principal Investigators: Chris Fulcher, Chris Barnett

Project Manager: Yan Barnett

Project Staff:Yan Barnett, Stan Wood

Funding Amounts: $138,565 (FY00: $40,649; 7/1/00~9/30/00: $10,000; FY01: $56,816;
FY02: $12,140; FY03: $18,960)

Funding Source: Global Forest Watch, World Resource Institute

Project Duration: July 1, 1999 - present

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