Permanent Secretary (PS) of Forestry & Research Vaeno Vigulu said a training conducted by his Ministry to facilitate United Nations REDD (Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Degradation) project, will help stakeholders develop a National Forest Monitoring System for Solomon Islands.
Speaking during the opening of the workshop Mr Vigulu said by the end of the training, participants will be able to analyse high and very high resolution satellite imagery for a wider variety of purposes.
In his opening remarks of the induction program, the permanent secretary outlined some major aspects that will benefit the work of the Forestry sector as: (1) Support multi-phase National Forest Inventories, (2) Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry assessments, (3) Monitoring agricultural land and urban areas, (4) Validation of existing maps, (5) Collection of spatially explicit socio-economic data and (5) Quantifying deforestation, reforestation and desertification.
“The training is necessary and significant in order for us to build capacity towards developing a National Forest Monitoring System for Solomon Islands in the near future.”
Mr Vigulu also said that participation of his ministry and the Ministry of Environment (MECDM) is a positive step and a leading role in enhancing the country’s monitoring system.
By AATAI JOHN
