KUCHING: Drones are being used to monitor protected forest areas and the species of plants and animals, while also preventing illegal activities.
According to Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration, and Environment, Datuk Len Talif Salleh, the collection of various types of data through drone surveillance is vital for further research and enhancement of forest protection efforts in Sarawak.
Speaking at a media conference held at Hilton Hotel during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) and Sunway University, Len stressed the significance of this data in guiding the state government’s forest management strategies without compromising surrounding habitats and the environment.
“So this is in line with our PCDS 2030, which embodies social responsibility by involving the community for economic prosperity and environmental sustainability. Apart from that, we will also learn how we can manage our resources efficiently. That is how we move forward,” added Len.
He thanked Japanese partners Aerosense and Funlead Corp, as well as Sunway University, for their invaluable contributions to the collaborative group. This partnership has achieved remarkable success, securing awards from Category 1 and 2 of the highly competitive Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) grant.
Len commended the involvement of the Japanese-developed drone, emphasising its positive impact and the potential for future knowledge exchange and innovation.
“In terms of the information we obtain (through the drone), we can assess carbon stock and estimate the carbon content in processes related to carbon management. Using the drone enables efficient data and information storage while providing extensive coverage in a short period,” he explained.
He further highlighted the advantages of using drones in obtaining forest health information and identifying tree species within the forest.
The SFC has already employed drone services for monitoring and control purposes in forest areas.
“That’s why drones like this can be used to monitor and halt illegal activities at an early stage,” he concluded.
