In establishing or strengthening marketing information systems, one of the first tasks is to identify sources of marketing information. The programme maintains a Compendium of forest products marketing databases which provides relevant descriptions of a number of computer-based databases of relevance to forest products marketing. It also promotes the establishment and strengthening of marketing information services. Special studies, such as A study of plantation timber prices in Latin America and the southern United States of America , compile information on particular issues. Training-needs surveys, which have been carried out in several countries around the world, provide a solid basis for the initiation and strengthening of education and training for forest products marketing.
Assistance is provided in course development and instructor training.
FAO also designs special training courses for those directly involved in forest products marketing at the enterprise level. FAO has paid particular attention to training in forest products marketing in countries in transition, organizing workshops in cooperation with various partners.