BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Understanding the use of GIS and remote sensing tools is important to communities that are part of the ongoing conservation activities in the country.

Tracey Vunagi, a female Lecturer at SINU who participated in a week-long workshop on geospatial analysis, using open-source GIS and remote sensing tools, told Island Sun in an interview.

A total of 19 representatives from Government ministries and the national university participated in the week-long workshop on geospatial analysis of seagrass and mangrove ecosystems and carbon stock assessment, using open-source GIS and remote sensing tools.

The MACBLUE project, supported by the Government, held at the King Solomon Hotel, started on Monday, 28 April and concludes on Friday, 2nd May.

As part of the project, the technical skills sharing workshops include mapping seagrass and mangrove as well as guidance on accessing, analysing, and monitoring changes over time.

“Many of these communities sometimes depend on the traditional or assumptions to collect data or information. However, with this workshop, we will help communities familiarise themselves with the tool,’’ said Miss Vunagi.

“For example, they might be unaware of a large area of mangrove destroyed in the communities due to logging or mining, so with these remote sensing and GIS tools, they can collect information and provide data to us and inform us of the mangrove and sea gras ecosystem in their communities,’’ she said.

“The imagery satellite tools will then help them find ways, in collaboration with authorities, to manage their coastal ecosystem. so, with this tool, it will help us to help the communities who also help to provide information on their conservation programs,’’ she said.

For feedback, contact:[email protected]