Overview
The National Park Service as part of its ongoing sustainability initiative
has developed this sustainable information directory. Currently, information
on sustainability is scattered globally among many other government agencies, professional organizations, universities, non-governmental organizations and commercial entities.
The purpose of this directory is to provide an easy way to locate sustainable information on the Internet. People from any organization or company can get into the
directory and look for information related to sustainability. Conversely, those who have sustainable information to share with others, can post sustainable environmental information along with their contact information on this site. This enables a direct communication link between those who have information about sustainable information and those who are looking for that same information.
Information is grouped into communities, facilities, and products. Within those groups the information is grouped into location (city and country), ecoregion (polar,dry, temperate, and tropical), application (create, use, and reuse), and setting (urban, rural, or wilderness). These groupings help refine the search for information.
Recommended questions are provided to help educate the person searching for information. This results in empowering the consumer to make the appropriate choice. The information provider also benefits from this information transaction by learning what the consumer is looking for and needs.
In order to keep the information fresh, the information must be verified and updated at least annually. The information provider is automatically emailed a message as a reminder to update their information a month before expiration of the information.
This directory is in essence an information exchange forum on the Internet that allows those who have information about sustainable practices and those wanting to find information about sustainable practices to electronically access or input sustainable information, allowing this web site to be self-sustaining.
How do I search for information?
Select on one of the three
categories in which sustainable information are grouped.
Community: A sustainable
community process which may contain sustainable facilities and products.
Facility: A sustainable
facility process which may be included in a community and may contain sustainable
products.
Product: A sustainable
product type/process which may be included in a community and facility.
Sustainable information falls into three categories - community, facility,
and product. In essence, products makeup facilities, and a community is comprised
of a group of facilities.
These categories are arranged in finer detail. Click on Community, Facility, or Product for more information.
Every item is also grouped into these areas:
Location: Geographical reference to city and country.
Ecoregion: References a certain ecological climate zone.
Application: Refers to the "cradle to grave" aspect when related to a particular sustainable information source.
Setting: Describes the level of human development.
These groupings help refine the search for information. These categories are arranged in finer detail. Click on Ecoregion, Application, or Setting for more information.
Questions are provided to help educate the person conducting the search when asking questions about the information.
If you have sustainable information to share, add your own information to the directory.
How do I add and update information?
Click on Add Info in the menu.
First, you must get a password and user
number. This information will be used to provide other a way to contact you
about the information you are providing. You will promptly receive a user
number and password emailed to you.
Then you may input your sustainable
information directly into the directory. Look at the above search help to
determine where to add your information. The directory automatically adds
your contact information to each bit of information you add.
The data you
input will need to be updated ever year to keep the content fresh. You will
be notified by email. Click on Update Info in the menu. Simply view your information, review each item
and update the information. The date will be extended another year. Your contact information
can be updated also.
