Overview of the Interagency Information Cooperative

The Interagency Information Cooperative (IIC) was created from the Sustainable Forest Resources Act of 1995 (M.S. Chapter 89A.09).  The overall mission of the IIC is to enhance the access and use of forest resources data in Minnesota.  The following public organizations have representatives on the IIC: Minnesota Association of County Land Commissioners, United States Forest Service, Land Management Information Center, University of Minnesota, and Department of Natural Resources.  The IIC Memorandum of Understanding was created in 1997, and goes into greater depth on the purposes, membership, and duties of the IIC.

Many projects have been completed by the IIC in accordance with its mission.  In 1997 a needs assessment was published that outlines key forest information needs generated by workshops held throughout the state.  This report was then used as a guide for the IIC to collect data.  From 1997 to 1998 the IIC concentrated its efforts on locating data described in the needs assessment, and creating metadata (brief descriptions about data).  In early 1999 the IIC launched this web site, which gives access to the compiled metadata and background descriptions on many forest resource data topics. Currently over 200 metadata records are accessible from the IIC web site that range in topics from wildlife to land cover to strategic plans.  Also available on the web site is an in-depth overview of the Ecological Classification System (ECS).  The IIC is currently working on combining public forest land, stand level, inventories into a common format.  This will facilitate forest data to be more readily available to the public and forest managers for landscape planning, coordination, and research. Another project the IIC has been working on is providing forest information to the Minnesota Forest Resources Council's landscape program.  The IIC also is continuing its ongoing effort to meet the requests outlined in the needs assessment and keep the IIC web page current.
 

Timeline of IIC projects:
    Winter 1996-97  Completed Needs Assessment.
    Summer 1997    Created Memorandum of Understanding
    1997 to 1998     Compiled and created metadata based on Needs Assessment.
    1998                Started work on forest inventory common format GIS data.
    Summer 1998    Assisted in the creation of the "Atlas" document for landscape 
                            program committees in NE MN.
    Winter 1998-99  Launched web site.
                              -Provides information on the IIC.
                              -Initially over 200 metadata records accessible.
                              -Background information on many forest resource topics.
                             -Access to entire MFRC Atlas document.
   Spring 1999(current) Help create draft assessments for the following MFRC landscapes: 
                                   NE, NC, and SE MN.
                                Begin assembling common forest inventory.
                                 Keep web site current and add 90+ metadata records.