New app will track movements of forest officials in real time

THE APP WILL HELP MONITOR ISSUES SUCH AS FELLING OF TREES, GRAZING AND POACHING

MUMBAI:TO counter issues related to the protection of forests, such as limited manpower, resource and infrastructure, the forest department will now use a mobile application to track real-time movement of their officers across various forests in the state.

While the app - Astra (Asset Tracker) – was launched by the state forest minister last month, the details were released on Thursday at the forest department’s head office in Nagpur.

The technology will not only enable monitoring of foot patrolling, but also help capture details of forest-related problems including illicit felling of trees, grazing, poaching, man-animal conflict, forest fires, and encroachments. The app also collates resources such as forest rest houses, office buildings, forest nurseries and forest tanks that are available using satellite imagery.

“This is the first such application in a Commonwealth nation to monitor reserved and protected forests through real-time forest governance,” said P Srivastava, additional principal chief conservator of forest, state forest department. “During the tracking process, officials can mark problems on the map or photographs can be uploaded, and corrective action can be taken in a speedy manner,” said Srivastava.

The app will also allow the department to track and safeguard forest areas that are inaccessible by foot. “The information is stored even when the cell phone is not in zone of connectivity. Once user enters a zone of connectivity, saved information gets uploaded on the server and it can be viewed by authorised users,” said Srivastava.

Environmentalists welcomed the move stating that it will increase accountability of forest staff. “The staff can no longer make claims about a particular area without visiting it. However, this is a new technology and challenges will unfold as the trials go on,” said Stalin D, director, Vanashakti, an environment group.