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With the internet being one of the fastest growing mediums of all time, this seemingly boundless tool can be a phenomenal source of information and at times, headaches. Without an effective approach for quickly finding the information you need, the uncatalogued mess of the online world can be difficult to sift through. However, with proper search and distribution techniques, we can capitalize on the vast nature of the internet to enhance forest-related research and the worldwide network of information partners.

At the pre-congress training workshop of the XXIII IUFRO World Congress in Seoul, Korea, GFIS Coordinator, Eero Mikkola, will be giving a presentation about the difficulties and strategies of sharing information online. "The Mess of Portals: The Challenges of Sharing and Finding Information" examines the best methods for using search engines, news aggregators and identifying quality portals for the dissemination of information.

While social media websites and tools are growing in popularity among internet users, the information search is still the most predominant internet activity. With the high number of web portals, information is abundant and users have a tendency to only look at the first few pages of a Google search or trust information that might not be from a reliable source. While a Google search does generate many results, it is only a partial search and never able to scan the entire internet.

News Aggregators and web portals can be extremely helpful in the pursuit of information because they are often consistent in the verification and gathering of valuable news and information sources. These portals can reduce the amount of time it takes for us to find the information we are looking for, allow for the creation of our own "personal newspapers" through the use of selecting our favourite RSS feeds and in general, lead to choice, communication and a more informed audience. When examining the reliability of a portal, remember to consider if the portal is:

• P - Practical: Allows for efficient usability
  
• O - Organized: Catalogued clearly and systematically
  
• R - Reliable: Fast and always accessible
  
• T - Timely: Offers relevant, valuable information
  
• A - Active: Updated regularly
  
• L - Likeable: Easy to navigate and appealing to users of all levels

Despite the variety of available websites, there is still a need for portals that gather and share valuable information in a well-organized manner, especially when it comes to niche topics.

When it comes to forest-related information, GFIS.net is the internet gateway to forest information resources and strives to consistently meet the aforementioned criteria. GFIS.net is dedicated to constantly upgrading its website and offering users the most effective tools for finding the forest-related information they need.

Julia Eskins

Communication trainee

GFIS Coordination Unit