The present system covers a number of key topics related to conservation and use of forest genetic resources. The basic question underpinning its development was: "Who is doing what on which species?". The system has therefore aimed at providing a short review of the activities carried out in a given country or for a given species, and relevant links to those institutions where the main activities are being carried out. Considering the large number of existing forest tree species and their unequal importance to human beings, REFORGEN has initially focused on those tree species of high utilitarian value, whatever the nature of the value² . Once basic information has been gathered, compiled and updated for all important tree species, the system may be extended, time and resources permitting, to a wider range of topics, in close collaboration and consultation with participating countries and institutions, based on the results and experiences gained.

Fig 2. Example of a REFORGEN's "Country Profile"

SOURCES OF INFORMATION
The core data in REFORGEN was provided by FAO member countries through replies to a specific questionnaire despatched in March 1993 to all Heads of National Forest Services. The questionnaire invited Heads of Forestry to contact and consult the national institutions and agencies concerned, as well as other governmental bodies, research institutes, universities, the private sector and other relevant NGO's. The information provided through replies to the questionnaires has been complemented by data found in country reports prepared for the Fourth International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources (ICPGR) held in Leipzig, Germany, June 1996. Additional relevant information is currently extracted from various country reports, publications, FAO field programme activities, travel reports, etc.

As mentioned above, the system presently includes information on forest genetic resources activities in 146 countries. The information relates to more than 1600 tree species. The amount of available information is fairly well distributed between regions and between developed/developing countries. It is however far from complete and there are large differences between countries in the amount of information presently available in the system, ranging from limited information on a few national priority forest tree species for some countries, to detailed information on a wide range of species and activities for other countries.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND UPDATING OF REFORGEN
Having reliable and updated information is of crucial importance to the system, and efforts to secure a high degree of data reliability will receive top priority.

The task of maintaining and regularly updating reliable information is complicated by the many and different types of organizations active in the field of forest genetic resources in individual countries and the often low level of national coordination between them. It is further complicated by the different jurisdictions involved, at local, provincial, state and national levels. FAO has for some countries received uncoordinated information from more than one organization, and for others the information at present in the system is unlikely to be a fair representation of priority forest genetic resources in the country due to lack of comprehensive information from national actors. These shortcomings underline the importance of regular revision of information available in REFORGEN.

The process of revision and updating of the information by countries is on-going. Since the data is now available in the internet, it is hoped that countries, institutions, individual experts and users concerned will be in a position to help improve and complement the data. Other sources of updated and valuable information include country reports prepared for regional and sub-regional workshops on forest genetic resources³ . In countries not yet covered by a regional process, individual focal points will be approached and their assistance requested for reviewing and complementing the data. Possibilities for delegating responsibility for updating to interested focal points, and options to allow users to update information directly through the internet, are also being explored. Voluntary contributions of information from individual institutions, experts and persons with an interest in the matter are also very much appreciated. REFORGEN is a tool whose value very much depends on the collaboration of its users to regularly revise, up-date and improve information contained in it.

Several databases containing either data on tree and shrub species data, or information on countries, exist on the internet today. The unique features of REFORGEN in addition provide crossed country/species information at species and population levels. Efforts are being made to link REFORGEN with other databases containing complementary information. The FAO Forestry Department homepage already allows navigation by countries for a number of topics (including forest cover, forest products, trade), and links to REFORGEN are planned in the future. Outside FAO, several databases complement REFORGEN's scope and format. They include: (i) the Tree Seed Supplier Directory and the Agroforestree Database maintained by ICRAF; (ii) the 2000 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; the World Conservation Monitoring Centre's Tree Conservation Database; and the CAB Forestry Compendium. Several taxonomic initiatives have also recently been launched or revived and their databases contain increasing amounts of data. Opportunities to create links with such databases and other systems will be explored in the future.