Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment Optimizes Drone Technology for Forest Conservation -
The government continues to promote reforestation and forest conservation in Indonesia. Various collaborative efforts continue to be launched to achieve this goal.
The Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment through the Deputy for Environmental Management and Forestry conducted technical coordination with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, West Java Provincial Government, Perhutani, APHI in order to optimize the use of drone technology in forest conservation efforts on 3-4 June 2021 .
Drone technology has been widely used in various sectors. Good for agriculture, plantations, military needs, also for forest rehabilitation. For reforestation, several countries have started using drones to do aerial seeding in locations that are difficult for human intervention to do.
Drones can also be used for mapping, maintenance, and monitoring of areas being rehabilitated. However, the use of drones for forest conservation in Indonesia is still not optimal.
The Deputy Team for Environmental and Forestry Management at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment made a working visit to Aeroterrascan Bandung to review drone technology to be prepared for trials on upland and coastal areas (mangroves).
"The Coordinating Ministry for Marves continues to support innovation and the use of technology in forest conservation, for that we need to collaborate with all parties to realize this common mission," said Head of Forest Control, Utilization and Conservation, Fatma Puspitasari at the coordination meeting. According to him, space and support are needed for innovation by the nation's children.
The use of technology will have a significant impact on environmental conservation.
"Drones are tools that are used to make people's lives easier. It makes mapping the area easier, helping with maintenance and monitoring. For example, in areas that require restoration but are difficult to access, drones can be utilized," he said.
"There are various types of drone technology, from consumer, prosumer, industrial to military classes. The drone being tested is an industrial class drone. It is being prepared for trial planting," explained Heru Gunawan, program manager for agriculture, plantation and forestry applications.
This nursery drone from Bandung is controlled automatically using Artificial Intelligence (AI). In this meeting and field visit, the team carried out drone trials in the sector area of 23 Citarum Fragrant, to see the consistency and ability of the equipment in conducting nurseries//Release - VOI