| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 1998 |
| Authors | Jordan, G, H.; Bhuban Shrestha, |
| Journal Title | Discussion Paper Series - Mountain Farming Systems, ICIMOD |
| Pagination | i + 47 |
| Key Words | computers; geographical information systems; community forestry; forest resources; resource management; case studies; watershed; management; aerial photography; aerial surveys; mapping; remote; sensing; surveying; global positioning systems; forest manage |
| Abstract | Focusing on the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region it is noted that there is a growing need for forest resource information in community forestry to provide baseline data enabling changes in the resource to be assessed. Traditional methods of forest resource assessment are not appropriate for community forestry owing to the time and expense involved and their focus on timber production. The paper shows how recent geomatics' technology can be used in conjunction with participatory techniques to provide a framework for low cost, appropriate technology forest resource assessment. The role and value of a variety of different approaches (aerial photographs, global positioning systems, and geographical information systems) are evaluated by using case studies (from the Yarsha Khola watershed) as examples. The use of geomatics in a participatory context has great potential for community forest resource assessment in providing basic spatial data for management purposes rapidly and effectively, and by acting as a facilitation tool. |
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