New Zealand: New Zealand’s Environment Minister Nick Smith and Science and Innovation Minister Wayne Mapp announced that the country’s cities, forests, rivers and pastures will be mapped under a government research project. It aims to provide information for regional councils, research organisations and the natural resources sector.
Under this project satellite technology, geospatial mapping techniques and “advanced computing power”, will be used over the next four years. For this project, the New Zealand Government will contribute USD 1 million.
“Using the best in modern technology, we can thoroughly map New Zealand’s changing land use so we can quantify the pressures on water quality and biodiversity,” Dr Smith said. He added that the land cover research is “moving forward and needs to apply the best in science and innovation for the sake of New Zealand’s environmental and economic health”.
“Up-to-date information about vegetation, water sources and the built environment is critical for the success of natural resource industries such as agriculture and forestry,” Dr Mapp continued.
Source: 3News
