EU holds forest data seminar

JAKARTA (JP): The European Union's Forest Inventory and Monitoring Project (FIMP-EU), in cooperation with the Ministry of Forestry and Plantations' Directorate General of Inventory and Forest Land Use, is holding a four-day conference on data management using remote sensing and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for tropical forest land inventories.

Minister of Forestry and Plantations Muslimin Nasution, in his speech read by Director General of Inventory and Forest Land Use Soebagyo Hadisepoetro, said at the opening of the conference on Monday that the government would continue developing the use of remote sensing and GIS because the two systems could provide accurate and up-to-date data and information on the country's forest resources.

"Demands for the availability and accessibility of tropical forest data and information are increasing in line with community concerns on the vital role of tropical forests. In Indonesia, reliable forest information is needed because it will be the basis of government policies on forest management," Muslimin said.

The conference, attended by scientists, businesspeople, and practitioners from 16 countries, ends on Thursday. (gis)