Abstract: The forest sector contributes a significant part to the total economic activities in a number of countries worldwide. Currently however, malfunctions and problems exist that limit its efficiency and further growth. In order to overcome some of these limitations, Internet-based service delivery through portals can be a valuable tool, in particular for information dissemination and business transactions. The objective of this article is two-fold. Firstly, to present a flexible framework for electronic service delivery based on portal technology. This framework enables the one-stop shop concept for providing integrated information and services in the forest sector. Secondly, to develop a simple prototype portal for the case of natural Christmas trees in Greece using the proposed framework. This prototype can offer an interesting alternative for increasing the efficiency and quality of current commercial practices of forest producers. It is based on Internet technology, uses open source software, requires minimal investment and provides a cost-effective way of carrying out a set of business transactions.
