Application of Geographic Information System (GIS) in Forest Management

Abstract

The overall aim of this paper is to explore the potential application of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology in forest management in general and in 3 African countries. The use of GIS has flooded almost every field in the engineering, natural and social sciences, offering accurate, efficient, reproducible methods for collecting, viewing and analyzing spatial data. According to Upadhyay forests are a dynamic resource, affected by many coexisting ecological processes and direct management interventions. To make better decision, to improve productivity, to save time, money and man power in forest management activities, required are dynamic both locational and descriptive inventory data, rather geographic information. The evolution of GIS, the Global Positioning System (GPS), and Remote Sensing (RS) technologies has enabled the collection and analysis of field data in ways that were not possible before the arrival of computers. GIS has proven to play a vital role in the following • Resource Management • Harvest planning • Fire Management • Map production • GIS for strategic planning and modeling The range of applications reviewed in this essay is clear evidence to the significant value of forests and the potential of GIS to aid in their management. Despite the diversity of applications, however, a number of broad conclusions can be reached about the role of GIS in forestry.