Philippines: The Community Environment and Natural resources Office (Cenro) in Pinukpuk and the Second Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resources Management Program (CHARMP2) are using GPS and GIS technologies to identify reforestation sites and validating plantation projects.
Magdalen Buyogan Cenro Pinukpuk Eco-System Management specialist and Norma Frances Damian CHARMP2 provincial point person revealed this in an interview.
Buyogan said the satellite-based information data gathering using the GPS ensures project sites of their actual profile and status as reported on ground by project implementers. “Images and videos of reforestation projects captured on ground could be validated using GIS,” she said.
On the other hand, Damian said the instrument is being used on CHARMP2 reforestation projects to validate if the identified area is the actual site where seedlings are planted.
“There are reported cooperators of CHARMP2 refo projects who allegedly capture images of nurseries and planting sites not of CHAMRP2 and report them as the site of their contracted project to collect payments,” Damian revealed.
Damian said reforestation projects in three of the 20 barangays covered by CHARMP2 in the municipalities of Tanudan, Tinglayan, Pasil and Lubuagan are aided by GIS.
“The GIS tool also helps covered areas establish their barangay mapping to guide them in development planning,” she said.
Source: PIA
