Managing and protecting forests using... technology.

The Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve covers a total area of over 23,400 hectares, located in five communes in the northern part of Huong Hoa district. In recent years, thanks to the increased application of information technology and digital transformation, the unit's forest resource management, monitoring, and protection have seen significant improvements.

The forest patrol and trap removal team updates information through the SMART application - Photo: NP

The forest patrol and trap removal team of the Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve currently has 5 members, including 1 reserve officer and 4 local people from community forest protection contract groups. Before setting off on their forest patrol duties, the team members always carefully check their equipment and personal belongings.

Besides the familiar tools commonly used when patrolling the forest such as shoes, helmets, knives, machetes, and GPS devices, each person also equips themselves with a phone with SMART software installed, a tool that helps standardize data collection, analysis, and reporting on the current state of natural resource management and biodiversity.

During patrols, if they discover rare or endangered animal or plant species, or find animal traps, they will promptly record and enter the information, marking the location using GPS devices and smartphones with SMART software to report to the conservation area management department.

Mr. Ho Van Xuyen, a member of the team, said: “On average, we patrol the forest for about 30 days each quarter. This work also has potential risks; many nights, the team members have to stay in the middle of the forest. Alongside patrolling, we dismantle illegally placed animal traps and update observations on animal and plant species along the route... Since the introduction of the SMART software, patrolling and data updating have become much easier.”

In the Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve, the SMART application was implemented from the beginning of 2023. Previously, before this application, patrol data collection was done using tools such as handheld GPS devices, paper forms/sheets, and cameras, and then manually entered into a computer. However, this approach was very time-consuming and lacked objectivity, and the data entry process was prone to errors.

According to Tran Dang,队长 of the Forest Protection and Trap Removal Patrol Team of Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve, the task force is small and manages a relatively large area in complex terrain, so the application of mapping software, including the SMART application, is essential.

This is considered one of the optimal solutions currently available to improve human resource management and enhance the effectiveness of forest patrol and biodiversity monitoring. SMART stores complete information on forest patrol routes, including coordinates, patrol distances, and patrol dates.

“Initially, we encountered many difficulties in getting acquainted with the SMART application. However, this software is integrated on phones, suitable for team members to record field information during field inspections; it supports many functions during the performance of tasks.”

"After more than a year of implementing SMART on smartphones, the results of patrols and field inspections are updated through the management software more quickly and accurately," Mr. Dang said.

According to information from the Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve, data automatically transmitted to the server by the SMART application since the beginning of 2023 has recorded more than 700 patrol days by forest protection teams with nearly 1,500 officers participating, including the removal of more than 60 animal traps and monitoring of rare and endangered wild animals and plants.

Thanks to this, forest management and protection are highly effective, and forest biodiversity is monitored meticulously and accurately. It is clear that SMART is an effective tool, providing strong support to conservation area management boards in managing and monitoring the performance of staff during forest patrols, protection, and biodiversity monitoring.

From there, the conservation area's leadership will have timely guidance to improve and enhance the quality and effectiveness of the staff's professional work, contributing to strengthening the management and control of forest resources and biodiversity within the unit.

Director of the Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve, Ha Van Hoan, affirmed that management at the reserve has significantly improved since the application of SMART. The data recorded from the SMART application has greatly assisted the management board in developing regulations and proposing appropriate solutions to manage and conserve forest resources more effectively.

“The Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve is home to a population of rare and endangered flora and fauna such as the white-crested pheasant, the Ha Tinh langur, the saola, the large muntjac, the striped rabbit; the pine, the slipper orchid, the agarwood tree..., including many species that are at risk of extinction.

The use of SMART software in forest management, protection, and biodiversity conservation contributes to promoting digital transformation. This helps the forest protection task force of the management board to access science and technology in a timely manner and address urgent needs in forest protection and biodiversity conservation.

"In the coming time, the unit will summarize and evaluate activities related to the use of the SMART application to report to the competent authorities for consideration of financial support and equipment with the application installed for officials and people participating in forest protection patrols," Mr. Hoan said.

Southern

Source