The Ministry for Forestry has launched their Annual Operations Plan for 2019-2020 and Drone Services will now be used to monitor Fiji’s forests.
Minister Osea Naiqamu says the drones will be fully operationalized for monitoring, reporting and verification of forest resources in the New Year for which three people have undergone training in Australia.
Permanent Secretary for Forestry, Pene Baleinabuli says the Ministry wants to monitor the way the trees are planted as the Ministry has undertaken the planting of 30 million trees in the next 10 to 15 years.
He says the investment in drone technology will help them address illegal activities such as illegal logging.
The ministry currently has one drone which cost $8,000 but hopes to purchase more and advanced drones with assistance from other partners.
Baleinabuli also says the Ministry has redirected 60% of their staff to populate forests with more trees.
He says the staff are helping people grow more trees and to help landowners manage their own resources.
