The dissertation thesis deals with the application of a participatory approach to the creation of complex geographic information systems in the field of forestry research, education and practice. The main objective of the thesis is to design and implement web-based GIS for providing information on forest landscape and forest ecosystems. The product is designed and developed for the specific needs of the University Forest Enterprise (UFE) of the Technical University in Zvolen. Potential users of the system are students, teachers, researchers, UFE employees as well as the professional public. Due to the varying focus of the users and their experiences with GIS, we assumed that they will have different requirements on the content and functionality of the system. The exact survey and its statistical evaluation have enabled us to comprehensively examine and integrate user requirements in the system specification. The analysis of preferences confirmed significant differences among target groups in perceiving the importance of different data sources and map functions. Differences have also been confirmed by exploring thematically similar mapping tools and data sources. This allowed us to define priorities in the design and implementation of the system. Participatory web-based GIS integrates several map applications aimed to different topics using a shared geographic database. The system provides a platform for data sharing, a collaborative solution of practical and scientific-research tasks, the exchange of knowledge and experiences among users. It is also designed to allow convenient change of map content without programming skills.