A Training Course on Forest Mapping using GPS and GIS technology

Using a compass for forest mapping is a common method so far we have, which is a very traditional one having low work efficiency and making mapping task much more tedious and much more time consuming. To eliminate such demerits and bring efficiency and ease while carrying out a forest survey, a new, more advanced and more sophisticated technique than the traditional one, called Geographic Information Systems (GIS hereafter) has been developed in the recent past. Compared to the traditional Method, GIS technique of forest mapping was proved to be more relevant, efficient and less time consuming.

According to the recently published data, more than 14000 FUGs have been formed and this will grow further in future. Constrained by both the human resources in terms of quantity required for scientific forest management and also the human resources sufficiently skilled in mapping of a forest having knowledge base of the new technology GIS, many CFUG's Operational Plans and Constitutions have remained unchanged and not amended yet once they were prepared some 10 years back because of this obvious fact of lacking new technology. For the resources to manage efficiently and more scientifically, GIS could be a more reliable tool in the present context of Nepal where the trend of forest handover has been rapidly increasing since it was initiated in late 80's. A systematic inventory of the forest and up-to-date data base of the resource base is very much required if the forest is to be well-managed. Therefore, this is an urgent and immediate need of the day to replace the existing traditional system of forest mapping by the GIS. Increasing use of GIS in natural resource management in other countries signifies the need of this technology to be adopted in Nepal too.

As stated earlier that the forestry sector in the country lacks sufficient and skilled human resources in forest mapping using GIS technology. This is the reason why KAFCOL felt the need of producing people having some sort of knowledge on GIS and its application in natural resource management with particular focus on the forest by running this short term course as a training package, aiming at enhancing the technical know how on GIS at grass roots level. KAFCOL feels such training is required for both the mid level technician working at the grass roots level and high level technician and bureaucrats working at decision making level. The recent policy document of community forestry has also opened up the horizon to use the GPS technology in forest boundary survey. The GIS technology accept input from the Remote Sensing, GPS, tabular data and existing maps i.e. Topographic maps, community maps. It allows to make some queries and modeling as a planning tool.

Course Contents

1. Application of GIS and GPS in forest management
2. Introduction to GIS and GPS technology
3. Use of GPS in forest mapping
4. Hands on GIS and GPS software
5. Field data collection procedures
6. Fundamentals of GIS and GPS
7. Data extraction from the GPS unit to the computer
8. Preparation of closed forest boundary map using GPS data in GIS environment
9. Finding the depicting areas by closed boundary
10. Map layout showing whole forest area

Methodology

Theories and fundamentals of GIS and GPS technologies will be discussed in classroom session. The theoretical part of application of both technologies in forest management especially in forest boundary survey could be linked up using certain software: ArcView and DNR Garmin.

The necessary field data will be gathered in comprehensive field cruising using Handheld GPS Unit. The exercise of hands on application of GPS field data and GIS software will be done in laboratory.

Pre-requisites

The trainee should be computer literate and able to handle database in computer system and persons who feel comfortable to work on Windows environment. Trainee also should have great interest and knowledge on forest resource management. S/He should also be having prior knowledge on community forestry mapping concepts and processes.

Target group

This training is mainly focused to the mid-level forestry technician and decision makers that include government forest rangers, NGOs staff, and active community workers.

Training Goals and Objectives

Goal
The goal of the training is to contribute in forest mapping as necessitate by different governmental programs i.e. Community Forestry Program (CFM), Buffer Zone forest management, NTFP management etc. to explore and apply new technique with advance technologies i.e. GIS and GPS technologies.

Objectives
· Introduce GIS as a mapping tool of forest land i.e. forest boundary, blocks, resource area (forest type, NTFP species) etc.
· Introduce GPS as a source of data to map the forest area and others.
· Introduce the map preparation using computer.
· Provide practical skill to the community worker, forest surveyor and rangers to use the latest GPS and GIS technologies for forest mapping.

Training Facilitator

Facilitator and resource persons will be pooled from various organizations involving in mapping and resource management.

Key Facilitators
Dr. Krishna Pahari, World Food Program (WFP) Nepal.
Dr. Ambika Prasad Gautam, AIT, Thailand
Mr. Him Lal Shrestha, KAFCOL, Kathmandu

Training Venue:

The training will be organized in training hall of the Nepal Agro-forestry Foundation (NAF), Phulbari, Amarawati Marga, Koteswor, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Course Fees

The course tuition fee mentioned in following table will cover tuition fee for the training and training materials.

Note: Transportation costs to and from the participant's work place has not been included in the above cost scheme

Application procedure

Interested persons can apply either by contacting directly at KAFCOL office, or by writing email to the coordinator or by posting with clearly mentioned mode of payment not later than February 10, 2026.

Date: February 20 -March 6, 2006

For further information, please contact
Him Lal Shrestha
KAFCOL
Tel: +977 1 2172504 (R)
Mobile: +977 9841302139
Email: [email protected]
Or,
Arun Dhakal
Academic Coordinator
Kathmandu Forestry College (KAFCOL)
Tel: +977 1 4475043
Mobile: +97798030320671
Email: [email protected]