Sarawak goes high-tech to protect forests

If you have been to any protected area, you will notice that it is not easy to enter the rich timber area. There are Forestry Officers manning the area. While you and me are not allow into the area, you will be surpised to see large San Tai Wong (timber lorries) in the vicinity.
You and me always know that high tech devices in government department never really work when needed. Perhaps they work for a year or two before the devices kaput. So when a Forestry Department talk about enforcement using high-tech toys, it could be another case of wastage of public fund. How much training to use PDA and the software? How much wastage for the maintanence? Only time will tell.
Read the story below:

By SHARON LING

KUCHING: Sarawak's Forest Department is going high-tech in its enforcement against encroachment and illegal logging activities in protected areas.

Its monitoring, enforcement and prevention (MEP) system, which was unveiled during the state-level commemoration of World Forestry Day on Monday, incorporates remote sensing, image processing, mobile mapping and web-based applications to detect illegal activities.
The data is then sent to field officers via a web-based platform from which it will be downloaded to a mobile component such as a PDA.

State director of forests Datuk Len Talif Salleh said the MEP system had been developed by the department using the latest available technology.

"This system cannot operate on its own but it has to be backed up with ground enforcement. To respond to the data, we have helicopters which we can use to drop our officers in a matter of hours," he told reporters after the commemoration ceremony at Sumber Alam Sanctuary here.
With the system in place, he added, the department aimed to minimise encroachment into national parks and other protected areas in the state.

Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the system was in line with the department's efforts to strengthen its enforcement capabilities.
However, he added that enforcement alone was not enough and cooperation from the public was needed as well.

"People must give information with regard to illegal activities so that we can act fast. We don't want to see our protected areas encroached into as this will affect efforts to sustainably manage our forests," he said.

Source: Star Online Monday March 24