Background

Currently, district and industry operational staff are forced to access their forest information requirements and applications from numerous sources. Often, they have difficulty locating core information while at other times they may spend too much time sorting through excess information.

These costly problems are addressed in the new plan to consolidate access to the information and tools needed during the Core Forest Information Cycle's 3 phases: planning, notifying, and reporting. The Forest Information Mall (the Mall) will simplify the user's interface by providing one-stop-shopping for users in government and industry while conducting routine forestry tasks.

The Mall is an initiative that stemmed from district input during the Streamlining Project. Its purpose is to connect users through the internet with the information repositories, the applications, and the policy, standards and process information they need to complete their required tasks associated with forest operational planning and reporting.

Some of the exceptional features of the Mall include:

• A task-sensitive approach that allows a user wanting to access information about forest planning to avoid sorting through procedures on notification or reporting.
  
• A networking function that allows users to access support and expert advice.
  
• A functional design that allows users to understand where and how they fit into the forest information cycle.
  
• A customized interface that allows users to set their own preferences.