Information Support of the Project "Taiga - Model Forest"
Introduction
It is a well known fact that computers and computer-based information technologies determine the level and rate of the modern civilazation development. Unfortunately, the independent states of the former Soviet Union find themselves aside from this world telecommunication development. It's time to catch up on what has been missed as the need of information exchange is so great that many of the current programs of cooperation between the West and East countries are lent exclusively towards computer network development. It is conditioned by the fact that contemporary systems of education and science, in the field of forest in particular, are based on new information technologies, on computers, distant communication of students, teachers and scientists.Network technologies can provide access to resources of foreign and Russian computer networks.
Petrozavodsk State University provides access to these resources through the regional centre of RELCOM and RUNNet. Information resources in the field of forest science and education in the Republic of Karelia are mainly based on servers WWW.karelia.ru and WWW.krc.karelia.ru and include the following information in the Russian, English and Finnish languages:
general characteristics of forest complex of the Republic of Karelia;
curricula of the Faculty of Forest Engineering of the Petrozavodsk State University for forest specialities and specializations:
forestry
forest technology (forest enterprises management, woodwooking technology, CAD of roads)
forets machinery and equipment (logging machinery design, logging machinery service,
paper machinery)
publications
Unfortunately the current network resources in the field of forestry are not sufficiently complete. There are no courses of distant education. Due to some technical and economical problems most of forestry institutions have no servers or WWW pages of their own (except the Faculty of Forest Engineering of the Petrozavodsk State University and Forest Institute of Karelian Science Centre).
The goals
To inform the world and Russian public about the goals, tasks, ways of realization and the results of the project on the basis of INTERNET. Therefore it is necessary to form special WWW pages in English and Russian assigned for the project and to renew them every month on the server of the Faculty of Forest Engineering of the Petrozavodsk State University. Besides, with the purpose of forest science and education integration to create and support WWW pages for the most important forestry institutions, which at present have no own servers, such as the State Forest Committee, Karelian Research Institute of Forest Industry, Petrozavodsk Forest College et al.
Methods of realization
Elaborate content and structure of WWW pages should be worked out on the basis of financial support for specific subprojects. In first approximation :
brief information about the executors of the project;
description and photo (video) gallery of the most environment valuable objects in the model area;
list of financial subprojects, their goals, tasks, executors, course of fulfilment,etc.;
list of publications on the subjects of the project;
WWW world and Russian servers, connected with the subject of the project;
sponsors' advertisements, etc.
With the purpose of efficient information of the State Forest Committee and Pryazha regional authorities they should be privided with the proper equipment.
It seems expedient to inform world public about WWW pages of the project through the servers of the European Forest Institute, Finnish Forest Research Institute, United Nations Enviroment Programme et al.
Executors and distribution of duties:
Gerasimov Yu.Yu., Doctor of Science, Professor of the Petrozavodsk State University. General supervision, coordination of work among Karelian, Russian and foreign institutions, creation of Karelian regional forest information network, collection of information and creation of information network of WWW servers on the subject of the project.
Kostjukevich V.M., Candidate of Science, Associated Professor of the Petrozavodsk State University. Development and support of WWW pages of the project.
Kilpelainen S.A., senior lecturer of the Petrozavodsk State University. Development and support of WWW pages of the Karelian institutions which have no servers of their own.
Davydkov G.A., lecturer of the Petrozavodsk State University. Equipping the State Forest Committee and Pryazha forestry with network computer hardware and software, technical support of information ensuring of the project.
Significance
Karelian, Russian and world public through INTERNET will have the opportunity to get actualized information about the goals, tasks, ways of realization and results of the project.
The leading forest institutions of the Republic of Karelia will be able to create and support their own WWW pages and therefore to intergrate into the world information space.
Karelian regional information network on the problems of forest education, science and practice will be created.
Students, teachers and scientists of Karelia will obtain simplified access to the wolrd computerized information resources on forest and forestry.
Courses for distance education, reference information about environment protection to promote ecologically sustainable methods of cutting in the Republic of Karelia , when entered on the server of the Faculty of Forest Engineering of the Petrozavodsk State University, will be used to educate or retrain the staff of Pryazha forestry and, with the improvement of teaching methods , to educate the staff of other forest enterprises of Karelia.
