The paper is based mainly on the long experience in the collection and dissemination of information on forest resources and forest products industries, trade and markets gained by the FAO/UN-ECE Agriculture and Timber Division, Geneva. A distinction needs to be made between the type of information sought from international and that from national sources User needs for the former should be carefully considered, and the data that are collected and published should be trimmed to essentials to avoid overburdening the national agencies that have to provide them. Considerable changes are taking place in the types of user seeking international information and hence in the information asked for. This now should include more qualitative information, for example relating to environmental and social issues and services of the forest, which is more difficult to collect and to make internationally comparable than that relating to wood. Advantage should he taken of new communication systems for disseminating information at the international level, while ensuring that it remains available through traditional channels to all who can benefit from it. The paper concludes with the suggestions on specific measures that could be taken to bring about improvements.
