Data sharing policy

To contribute to EUFGIS, each data contributing country is asked to sign a Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) with the European Forest Institute (EFI). The agreement establishes the principles for contributing, managing and using data within EUFGIS. It is signed by an authorized representative of the contributing country and enters into force once signed by both parties. Contributing countries also designate one National Focal Point, who is responsible for transferring, updating, and managing national data in the EUFGIS platform.

The DSA covers the following areas:

• Data contributions

Contributing countries contribute and update information through designated National Focal Points and are the responsible for ensuring that the information provided can be shared through EUFGIS and that it meets the agreed standards for inclusion.

• How data may be used

Information available in EUFGIS is shared through a public interface and can be used to develop indexes and indicators, combined with other information to produce maps, summaries, and statistics and integrated with external data.

• Access restrictions

While EUFGIS promotes open access to information, participant countries may restrict access to specific data when needed. Information designated as restricted is protected through appropriate confidentiality and security measures.

• Data management and quality

Contributors can review, update, and, where necessary, remove their data from the system.

• Third-party data

EUFGIS may also include information provided by third parties. Access to such data may be subject to specific conditions. Users of third-party data are expected to acknowledge the original source when using the information.

• Data ownership and protection

Ownership of contributed data remains with the original providers.

If at any point personal data is processed, is handled in accordance with applicable legislation, and appropriate measures are applied to ensure secure processing and storage.