DeSurvey is a project funded by the European Commission that aims to develop a computer-based system for the monitoring, assessment and forecasting of desertification.

Some of the computer-based tools already available are not actually used for guiding environmental management and policy making. The members of DeSurvey consider that if more participation of stakeholders in the design of the tool is promoted, the use of the system for policy and management purposes will be ensured. Hence, the DeSurvey consortium would like to request the participation of people involved in desertification management and policy making.

Because of the effects of deforestation in the state of land and the
importance of forests in the control of desertification, the
contribution of forest managers, policy makers and conservationists
would be highly appreciated.

In order to facilitate participation, we have designed a couple of
questionnaires, available in four languages, at

www.cranfield.ac.uk/sas/desurvey

- The first questionnaire includes questions about the activities
carried out by those forest managers, policy makers and conservationists and the state of land in the areas where they work.
http://public.cranfield.ac.uk/sims/c076728/Desurvey_UserRequirements_English.html

- The second questionnaire assesses the quality of computer-based
information systems currently in use in terms of information quality,
effectiveness, efficiency and ease of use.
http://public.cranfield.ac.uk/sims/c076728/Desurvey%20questionnaire%20useful%2008.htm

The information obtained will then guide the design of the DeSurvey
System.

Those who fill out the questionnaire before the 15th February will be
entered in a prize draw for one of two Personal Data Assistant(PDAs)
valued at 320€ each. Please, fill out the fields of 'organisation',
'department' and 'role' so that we can identify and contact the winner.
Note, however, that the questionnaires will be available until the end
of June 2007.