• ESRI, the world's leading supplier of geographic information system (GIS) technology to natural resource professionals.  For more information visit the ESRI site at http://www.esri.com/forestry or  contact them at info@esri.com.

• JUNIPER SYSTEMS, manufacturer of rugged field computers and GPS for forest management and forest product applications. Their Allegro Field PC has both Windows CE and DOS operating systems for   application flexibility and is rugged and waterproof for use in outdoor environments. It is ideal for forest inventory applications. For more information, visit Juniper Systems at http://www.junipersys.com  or contact them via email at  js@junipersys.com

CHARACTERIZING THE EARTH - The April 2000 (Volume 21 Number 6/7) issue of the International Journal of Remote Sensing is devoted to Global and regional land cover characterization from satellite data. You may wish to check it out.

IUFRO 4.02 ACTIVITIES AT THE WORLD CONGRESS - As you may know, the International Union of Forestry Research Organizations (IUFRO), is holding its XXI World Congress this year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 7-12 August 2000. IUFRO Research Group 4.02 (Forest Resource Inventory and Monitoring) has numerous activities planned:
Monday, 7 August
* 1630-1800 - Panel - Global Forest Resource Assessment  - this will be an update on the long anticipated 2000 report.
Tuesday, 8 August
* 1630-1815 - Panel - Using Growth Models for Better Forest Management in the Tropics.
* 1630-1815 - Panel - Remote Sensing and Forest Monitoring
* 1930-2200 -Business meeting. Subject to be discussed include Accomplishments since 1995, Plans for next 5 years, and nominations for new officers. If you have other subjects to be discussed,  please contact Risto Paivinen (Leader of IUFRO 4.02) at r.paivinen@efi.fi
Wednesday, 9 August -
* 1630-1815  - Panel -  Trees Outside of Forests
* 1630-1815 - Task Force Panel - Global  Forest Information Service (GFIS)
* While not a 4.02 activity, yours truly will be presenting a slide-illustrated talk -“Coming to terms with  politicians and definitions” during the 6.03.02 Panel - Forest terminology-living expert knowledge. How to get society to understand forest terminology. Time - 1630-1815.
* 1930-2200 - Division 4 business meeting.
Friday, 11 August
* 1430-1615 - Panel - Small and large scale multipurpose resource inventories
* 1430-1616 - Panel - Update calibration and enhancement of forest inventories through inclusion of remotely sensed data (Session I)
* 1430-1615 - Panel - Scenario approaches, models and assumptions behind the forestry analysis used in regional, national and global policy making.
* 1630-1815 - Panel - Forestry products collection and sustainable forest management.
Saturday, 12 August
* 1400-1615 - Panel - Forest Data Collecting for Better Knowledge of Ecosystem Management.
* 1400-1615 - Panel - Update calibration and enhancement of forest inventories through inclusion of remotely sensed data (Session II)
Of course, there are numerous other sessions, poster displays, exhibits, and tours taking place during the Congress that will be of interest. For more information about:
* the World Congress see: http://frim.gov.my/iufro.html  Email: iufroxxi@frim.gov.my
* 4.02 see: http://iufro.boku.ac.at/iufro/iufronet/d4/hp40200.htm
* 4.02 Newsletter: http://iufro.boku.ac.at/iufro/iufronet/d4/wu40200/nl40200.htm
* 4.00 Inventory, Growth, Yield, Quantitative and Management Sciences Division, see: http://iufro.boku.ac.at/iufro/iufronet/d4list.htm
* IUFRO in general see: http://iufro.boku.ac.at. If your organization is not an IUFRO member, you may consider joining. Contact email: iufro@forive.ac.at . Thanks, Gyde.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

• RANDOM POINT GENERATOR WANTED. Tim Robards writes, "I am looking for references to publications and software for generating random points on a plane given various degrees of uniformity or clustering.  I need this for inventory simulations.  I am aware of the following reference: L.C. Wensel. 1975. Computer generation of points on a plane. Hilgardia, Agricultural Exper. Sta., U.C. Berkeley. 43(5):159pp." Please send suggestions to Tim Robards, State Forests Research Coordinator, California Dept. of Forestry & Fire Protection, PO Box 944246, Sacramento, CA 94244-2460 USA. Tel: +1-916-657-4778. Fax:+1-916-653-8957. Email: tim_robards@fire.ca.gov

• NATURAL RESOURCE DISCUSSION LISTS -Jennifer Plyler is looking for a list of natural resource related discussion lists. If you know of ones, please send her the name and subscription information at plylerj@safnet.org

• HOW DO PEOPLE GET INFORMATION - Jennifer Plyler is also looking for any literature or publications on where people receive their information re: environmental issues. Any stats on internet use would be helpful. Contact Jennifer at plylerj@safnet.org

• POLLUTION DAMAGE TO FORESTS  - Rafal Buczkowski writes, "I am a forestry student from Poland. In my thesis I am analyzing spatial distribution of damages in forest caused by industrial pollution in one forest division. I would like to ask you for help. I am looking for information about methods of detecting damaged zones in forests under influence of industrial pollution. I am especially interested in indicators and methods of interpolating zones from sample plots. Thanks in advance for your help and Darzbor (Polish foresters greeting)." If you can help, please contact Rafal at buku@friko.sos.com.pl

• HOST UNIVERSITIES WANTED - Sunandan Tiwari writes, "Winrock International India, a non-profit organization based in New Delhi, India, is going to be organizing short courses and study tours for Indian foresters over a period of 2 years. The topics we want to cover, our estimated duration of each event, number of courses and number of participants are as follows: International Courses including: Forestry economics, Overseas training in new nursery and plantation practices, Human resource management, Tropical forest management, Participatory forest management (PFM), Natural resource and biodiversity monitoring, and Field assessment techniques  - duration - 1-3 months, number of courses - 1-3, number of participants - 1-11. International Study Tours:  Sectoral change and management, FMIS, Study the preparation and style of management plans, New nursery and plantation practices, Tropical forest management, PFM, New plantations, New technology and plantation management, Forestry conservation centres, and Wildlife management - duration -  2-3 weeks, number of courses - 1-2, number of participants - 2-20. Kindly let me know whether your university organizes / can organize any of these courses (or any other forestry related courses), facilities available, and what your charges would be. I would be grateful if you could provide me with the necessary details as soon as possible. Looking forward to hearing from you." Sunandan Tiwari, Project Officer, Natural Resources Management, Winrock International India, 7, Poorvi Marg, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi 110 057 India. Tel: +91-11-614-2965; Fax: +91-11-614-6004. email: sunandan@winrock.ernet.in

• FIVE POSTGRADUATE-STUDENTSHIP POSITIONS  - open for application, Department of Physical Geography, Lund University, Sweden.  The research is multi-disciplinary and focuses on the carbon, water and energy exchange of boreal terrestrial ecosystems. Depending on the research topic MSc in physical geography, forestry, forest ecology, hydrology, meteorology, and a strong interest in experimental work, or digital remote sensing is requested. Closing date: 17 May 2000. Information can be found on the internet: http://www.natgeo.lu.se

• AUTHORS STILL NEEDED  - UNESCO is going to publish an  “Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems” (EOLSS).  Dr. John Owens is the editor of the section dealing with Forest and Forest Plants. He is in need of qualified authors for the following topics:

5.3.1.2. Classification and distribution of forests and forest types geographically.
5.3.1.6. Forests in Environmental Protection
5.3.1.8. Flow and Conservation of Energy
5.3.2.5. Tree Species in Arid Climates
5.3.4.3. Forests in Cropland and soil Conservation
5.3.4.4. Recreational Role of Forests
5.3.5.   Forest Tree Breeding, Silviculture and Pathology
5.3.5.8. Agroforestry Systems
Topic (three-digit)  level manuscripts are to be 10,000 to 15,000 words and Article (4-digit)-level manuscripts are to be 5,000 to 10,000 words.  The fee for writing is $30 US per 1000 words.  The time-frame is to have completed manuscripts within six months, mid 2000.   The detailed Conceptual Framework and the Instructions to Authors are available from the EOLSS website www.eolss.co.uk . If you are interested, contact Prof. John N. Owens directly at Centre for Forest Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria BC, Canada. Email: jowens@loxinfo.co.th

• Blam, Yuri, et al. 2000. Institutions and the Emergence of Markets - Transition in the Irkutsk Forest Sector. IIASA Interim Report (IR-00-017). Laxenburg, Austria: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, March. Hard copies available from IIASA, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria or URL www.iiasa.ac.at
• Borgesa, José G.; Hoganson, Howard M. 2000. Structuring a landscape by forestland classification and harvest scheduling spatial constraints. Forest Ecology and Management 130(1-3):269-275. [abstract] | [Full text] (PDF 105 Kbytes) http://www.elsevier.com/inca/publications/store/5/0/3/3/1/0/
• Carlsson, Lars, et al. 2000. Why Is the Russian Bear Still Asleep after Ten Years of Transition? IIASA Interim Report (IR-00-019). Laxenburg, Austria: International Institute for Applied System Analysis. Hard copies available from IIASA, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria or URL www.iiasa.ac.at
• Corbley, Kevin P. 2000. Maryland makes GIS data available on the Web. EOM9(4):10-12.  http://www.eomonline.com
• Huang, Yishuo; Dewitt, Bon A. 2000. Exploring Ground Truth from Given Photos by Applying a Model-Based Approach Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing 66(3):281-286. Abstract: http://www.asprs.org/publications.html
• Johannsen, Chris J. n.d. Tractors, planes and satellites:advances in remote sensing for agriculture. http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/inspection/frep/docs/tps.htm
• Laurance, William F.2000. Do edge effects occur over large spatial scales? Trends in Ecology & Evolution 15(4):134-135.
• Mayaux, Philippe, et al. 2000..Central African Forest Cover Revisited. A Multisatellite Analysis. Remote Sensing of Environment 71(2):183-196.
• Mohapl, Jaroslav. 2000.  Measurement Diagnostics by Analysis of Last Digits. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 61(3):407-417
• Montès, N. et al. 2000.  A non-destructive method for estimating above-ground forest biomass in threatened woodlands. Forest Ecology and Management 130(1-3):37-46. [abstract] | [Full text] (PDF 451 Kbytes) http://www.elsevier.com/inca/publications/store/5/0/3/3/1/0/
• Nijs;  Impens, I. 2000. Biological diversity and probability of local extinction of ecosystems. Functional Ecology 14(1):46-54.
• Olson, Jennifer M. et al. 1995.  Exploring Methods for Integrating Data on Socio-Economic and Environmental Processes that Influence Land Use Change: A Pilot Project . Rwanda Society Environment Project, Department of Geography, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 USA. http://www.bcnet.org/learning/african/olsonm.htm
• Pahari, Krishna; Murai, Shunji 1999. Modelling for prediction of global deforestation based on the growth of human population.  ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing 54(5-6):317-324. Full text at http://www.elsevier.nl/cas/tree/store/photo/sub/1999/54/5-6/1157.pdf
• Piipponen, Minna.  1999. Transition in the Forest Sector of the Republic of Karelia. IIASA Interim Report (IR-99-070). Laxenburg, Austria: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, December. Hard copies available from IIASA, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria or URL www.iiasa.ac.at
• Ricklefs, Robert.E. 2000. Rarity and diversity in Amazonian forest trees. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 15(3): 83-84.
• Ricotta, Carlo et al. 1999.  Mapping and monitoring net primary productivity with AVHRR NDVI time-series: statistical equivalence of cumulative vegetation indices. ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing 54(5-6 ): 325-331. Full text at http://www.elsevier.nl/cas/tree/store/photo/sub/1999/54/5-6/1153.pdf
• Roberts, S.A. et al. 2000.  Analysing forest fragmentation using spatial autocorrelation, graphs and GIS. International Journal of Geographical Information Science 14(2):185-204.
• Rumbaach, Markus. 2000. German firm on edge of Radar technologies. EOM 9(4):14-16. http://www.eomonline.com
• Servigne, Sylvie et al. 2000.  A Methodology for Spatial Consistency Improvement of Geographic Databases. GeoInformatica 4(1): 7-34.
• Shrestha, B.; Pradhan, S. 2000.  Kathmandu valley GIS database: bridging the data gap. 197p. ISBN 92-9115-085-1. Price: US$ 20.00 (Developed Countries, US$ 15.00 (Developing Countries, US$ 10.00 (ICIMOD Member Countries). Contact: Nira Gurung-Burathoki, Distribution Officer, ICIMOD, P.O. Box 3226, Kathmandu, NEPAL. Tel: 977-1-525313,536747, Fax: 977-1-524509. E-mail: distri@icimod.org.np. URL: http://www.icimod.org.sg/publications/catalogue/catalind.htm
• Soliday, Brian. 2000. High-resolution satellite imagery - a valuable asset for environmental monitoring, disaster mitigation, and emergency response. EOM 9(4):18-19. http://www.eomonline.com
• Stehman, Stephen V. 2000. Practical Implications of Design-Based Sampling Inference for Thematic Map Accuracy Assessment. Remote Sensing of Environment 72(1):35-45.
• Treitz,  Paul; Howarth, Philip. 2000. Integrating Spectral, Spatial, and Terrain Variables for Forest Ecosystem  Classification. Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing 66(3):305-318. Abstract: http://www.asprs.org/publications.html
• Winter, Stephan; Frank, Andrew U. 2000. Topology in Raster and Vector Representation. GeoInformatica 4(1):35-65
• Wright, Robert G. 2000. Using remote sensing and GIS in wild turkey research. EOM 9(4):28-30. http://www.eomonline.com

18-21 June 2000. Regional Planning:  Redefining Our Role -Northeastern Forest Resource Planners' Association 2000 Annual State Forest Resource Planners' Conference. The Legends Resort & Country Club, McAfee, New Jersey, USA. Contact: NFRPA, C/O Craig Coutros, Forest Service, PO Box 404, Trenton, NJ 08625-0404 USA. Tel: +1-609-984-0813. FAX: +1-609-984-0813

26-30 June 2000. Twentieth Annual ESRI International User Conference. San Diego, California, USA. For complete information about the conference please visit the User Conference web site at http://www.esri.com/events/uc/index.html.

5-8 July 2000. People and Nature: Operationalising Ecological Economics. The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. For information see:  http://www.anu.edu.au/cce/isee/ Interestingly, its pre-conference abstract book is available at http://cres.anu.edu.au/~dstern/ISEE2000/abstract.html

24-27 July 2000. Second Annual Short Course in Spatial Statistical Modeling of Ecosystem Resources and the Environment. Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. Due to the nature of the material presented in the course it is recommended that participants have a good background in basic statistics.  A previous basic introduction to S-PLUS would be beneficial as well as knowledge of ARC/INFO and ARCVIEW. Registration/Questions contact: Robin M. Reich, Tel: +1-970-491-6980. Email: robin@cnr.colostate.edu. URL: http://www.cnr.colostate.edu/~robin/course.html

27-30 September 2000.  SAF symposium on systems analysis in forest resources. Aspen, Colorado, USA. Contact: www.for.msu.edu/e4/ssafr2000.htm

4-6 October 2000. Northeastern Mensurationist Organization  - Conference 2000.   Boothbay Harbour, Maine, USA.   Contact: www.fs.fed.us/ne/durham/4104/nemo

4-16 October 2000.  International Training Workshop on Sustainable Bamboo Management and Processing Techniques for small-size Bamboo Enterprises. Hangzhou,  China.  The full cost of tuition, inclusive of all course materials, and scheduled field excursions, will be US$350. This does not include travel to and from China. Expense for accommodation and food estimated at US$50 (sharing room) or US$60 (Single room) per day are not included within the tuition, With the funding from MOST, the tuition is waived for participants from developing countries. Contacts:  Mr. Jiang Chunqian, Deputy Director, the International Farm Forestry Training Centre Beijing 100091, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Tel: +86-10-62889093/94,  Fax: +86-10-62888345. Email: jiangchq@caf.forestry.ac.cn  or Prof. Zhu Zhaohua, Deputy Director General, INBAR.  Tel: +86-10-64956982,  Fax: +86-10-64956983. Email: zhzhu@inbar.org.cn

22 November 2000.  Annual Conference, International Society of Tropical Foresters.  Washington, D.C.   Contact:  Dr. Warren T. Doolittle, President, ISTF, 5400 Grosvenor Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814:   Fax:+1-301-897-3690;  E-mail: istfr@igc.apc.org;   URL: www.cof.orst.edu/org/istf

4-5 December 2000. Western Forestry Conference. Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, U.S.A.   Contact:   Richard Zabel, Western Forestry and Conservation Association, 4033 SW Canyon Rd., Portland, Oregon 97221 USA.  Tel:+1-503-226-4562;  Fax: +1-503-226-2515;   Email:  richard@westernforestry.org

18-25 April 2001. 16th  Commonwealth Forestry Conference. Fremantle, Perth, Western Australia.   Contact:   Commonwealth Forestry Association, Oxford Forestry Institute, South Parks Rd., Oxford OX1 3RB, UK.  Fax:+ 44-1865-275074;  Email:  cfa@plants.ox.ac.uk

13-14 October 2000. Forest Owner Cooperation: Balancing Ecology and Economics. Madison, Wisconsin, USA. Contact: Jody Padgham. Tel: +1-608-262-0705. URL: www.forestrycenter.org.

22-30 September 2003. World Forestry Congress. Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.   Contact:   Website:   www.wfc2003.org/
 

REMOTE SENSING

• Remote Sensing Practicals - http://www.livhope.ac.uk/ebs/ebswww/www/remotewww/remote1.htm
• Scope of Remote Sensing - http://www.fes.uwaterloo.ca/crs/geog165.w2000/scopers.htm
• Radar Remote Sensing: Basic Principles - http://www.fes.uwaterloo.ca/crs/geog376/RadarRS/RadarBasics.html
• Radar remote sensing - http://www.etl.noaa.gov/25anniv/radar/
• Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation & Analysis  - http://mercator.upc.es/tutorial/table.html
• Remote Sensing And Remote Inference - http://www.meto.umd.edu/RESEARCH/remsweb/remsweb.html
• Africa Remote Sensing Data Bank - http://pestdata.ncsu.edu/informatics/databank.htm

• EcoTerms Dictionary - .http://www.ecoweb.org/terms.htm#a
• Malta State of the Environment Report on-line:  http://www.environment.gov.mt/publications/soer98/
• Maptech's MAPSERVER -  Free USGS Topo Maps and Nautical Charts. Visit http://www.maptech.com   For Full Text Visit: http://ens.lycos.com/e-wire/March00/29March0003.html (from the Interamerican Resources Management Newsletter 22 April, 2000)

--
H. Gyde Lund
Forest Information Services
8221 Thornwood Ct.
Manassas, VA 20110-4627 USA
Voice: +1-703-368-7219, Fax: +1-703-257-1419
Email: gklund@worldnet.att.net
URL: http://home.att.net/~gklund
"Specializing in Web searches and information synthesis"