Talk:EFI Policy Portal
EFI Policy Portal
Information Portal on Forest Policies, Institutions and Instruments
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Background information on Semantic Mediawiki
The semantic web is a set of standards and tools that permit the storage, search and exchange of structured information within websites. Information is structured in the form of triples subject-predicate-object, like "Bob is 35" or "Bob knows Fred". In the case of forest policies these examples could be “National Forest Program is legally binding” or “FOREST EUROPE has scope pan-European”.
A wiki is a system that allows users to edit text collaboratively online. Full history of all modifications can be kept publicly available. Mediawiki is the software chosen to host that system. In a standard wiki, most of the content is human readable text that cannot be understood by a machine.
A semantic wiki enables users to structure text using semantic triples. Part of the human grammar becomes machine readable. For example, on a semantic wiki, one can ask a computer to find all Italian film directors born in the 1960s. This search would not be possible in an un-structured text. In the case of forest policies and institution the example could be “find all related non-governmental institution” or “find all legally binding policy instruments having as scope European Union or Pan-European”.
Improvements suggested to the policy portal
- Policy processes:
- On the explanatory site you have some categories for the processes (Global, EU, Regional and National), however there’s not reference between the listed item and the start site list
- Points under the “international level” are too crowded (especially the Conventions). Maybe structuring would be helpful, in line with the explanatory site. Define categories according to Global, EU, Regional, not only international.
- The Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) is not a process, but an institution.
- Policy instruments:
- Same as above. Explanatory site doesn’t match with the main site.
- If the EU Biodiversity Action Plan is here, than you could include the EU Forest Action Plan as well
- I think the VPAs should be mentioned here as well
- I’m not sure about the FLEGT it’s here or under the processes (but the FLEGT Facility could be an Institution)
- Forest institutions:
- Rephrasing is needed. Maybe institutions would be just fine or Forest policy related institutions (I would vote for the first) -> OK renamed the page "Forest institutions" to Institution
- FOREST EUROPE Criteria and Indicators
- The layout is clear, but in the same time is a bit dry. I think it would be good to have a bit more dynamic layout. Maybe with the “show” function under them? So the long list appears when the user wants it.
- This you did for the individual indicators in the top-right box. Here I would have only a formatting comment. It looks a bit weird that sub-bullets are in front of the main bullet point (chek C1 and C1.1; C1.2 ect.)
Sub-National level
Documents such as these official regional forest management plans could be added to the policy portal:
