NFA STAFF TRAINED ON USE OF SMART CONSERVATION TECHNOLOGY

By ANDAMA MOSES

MASINDI

The national forestry authority( NFA) Uganda is pioneering new era of forestry management by training its staff to use the spatial monitoring and reporting tool (smart).

This innovation is used to enhance the management of Uganda forest reserves providing comprehensive approach to decision making.

About 100 staffs yesterday were trained in using smart technology including forest law , enforcement team GIS mapping information technology communications and human resources professionals at various levels in the different parts of Uganda working with NFA.

James Mununa the NFA enforcement coordinator highlighted the significant of smart in gathering critical data. The tools collect data in both ilegal activities such as timber cutting and encroachment and legal activities including development of new tourism sites biodiversity generation and management of roads.

Mununa adds that this robust data collection capability is vital for making informed decisions that will safeguard our forest reserves.

“One of the stand out features of smart is the ability to provide irrefutable evidence in courts of law , smart offers geo-referenced photos and detailed information about suspects such as their names all collected while still at the scene ”
He says this functionality not only strengthen legal proceeding, but also as deterrent to those considering illegal activities.

The Budongo forest one of the largest and biological diverse forest reserves has already seen positive impacts from smart.

Boaaz Basingirenda NFA range manager for Budongo emphasised the tools effectiveness in staff management and strategic development.

“In westnile and south western region forest has been under constant threat from ilegal logging and encroachment, with smart these regions are now better monitored and allowing further actions against the offenders and better protection of biodiversity”

Aldon Walukamba the NFA communications and public relations manager expressed optimism about the digitisation of forest operation.

“With digitisation of forestry operations, NFA will have real time evidence and data to update its partners and clients easing communications about 506 central forest reserves in Uganda Walukamba stated “.

The integration of smart into the NFA’s operation is a collective effort supported by wildlife conservation society (WCS) and world wide fund (WWF) .this partnership ensures that both human and technological resources are maximised to enhance the management and development of central forest reserves in Uganda.