Kon Ka Kinh National Park promotes digital transformation in forest management and protection

Digitalization in forest monitoring and protection

Kon Ka Kinh National Park ( Gia Lai province) is managing and protecting more than 41,913 hectares of forest spread over 4 communes: Ayun, Dak So Mei, Krong and Dak Rong in the western part of the province. This is where special-use forests with diverse and rich ecosystems are mainly concentrated.

In recent years, along with biodiversity conservation, Kon Ka Kinh National Park has used many software in forest management and rare wild animals and plants. Among them is Smart software to monitor patrols, early detect sub-areas and areas at risk of encroachment to promptly prevent acts of encroachment on forest resources.

Kon Ka Kinh National Park forest protection force patrols to protect the forest.
**Photo: Nguyen Diep**

Accordingly, from 2016 up to now, instead of patrolling the forest in the traditional way, which is both time-consuming and difficult to detect sub-areas at risk of encroachment due to the large area, the specialized forest protection force at 9 QLBVR stations and the Mobile Forest Protection Team of the Park have all skillfully used Smart software in the process of patrolling, controlling people entering and leaving the forest, as well as detecting new species of animals and plants.

Every day, when patrolling, the software will record the entire movement schedule into the sub-areas. Then, send data to the office technical department to analyze and evaluate the forest areas at risk of encroachment, report to the Board of Directors for timely handling to prevent acts of encroachment on the forest and rare flora and fauna in the Park.

Forest management and protection forces collect information via Smart software from forest management and protection stations. **Photo: Nguyen Diep**

Mr. Tran Van Thu - Director of the Center for Rescue, Conservation and Development of Organisms and Head of Forest Management Station No. 8 (Kon Ka Kinh National Park), informed: Currently, the Station is assigned to manage and protect forest areas in 2 communes Ayun and Dak So Mei.

Since using Smart software, the Station's specialized forest protection force has used it very effectively in the process of patrolling, controlling and protecting forests.

Through this software, the Park leaders know how many kilometers the patrol force has covered each week; which sub-regions and areas have been patrolled; how many people have entered and exited the forest, or what new wild animals have been discovered...

“In particular, when using this software, patrol routes in the forest are clearly defined, avoiding overlap between QLBVR stations. At the same time, we can detect early forest areas at risk of encroachment to report to superiors to mobilize coordinated forces to prevent timely prevention. The software also helps the Park leaders manage better without having to rely too much on paper maps in the field,” said Mr. Thu.

QLBVR Station No. 8 releases wild animals into the forest. **Photo:** **DVCC**

Mr. Nguyen Tan Dang Trinh - Specialist of Organization and Administration Department (Kon Ka Kinh National Park), shared: After many years of using Smart software, the Park leaders have managed patrol and monitoring work at the QLBVR stations very effectively.

Every month, the stations have data on how many kilometers they have patrolled, the areas and sub-areas they have patrolled, etc. Currently, in addition to Smart software, Kon Ka Kinh National Park also uses Flycam technology to serve forest fire prevention and fighting, and promote tourism in the Park.

Promoting digital transformation

Kon Ka Kinh National Park is located in the Kon Ha Nung Plateau World Biosphere Reserve - a place with a rich and diverse ecosystem, with a large area of natural forest, many rare species of flora and fauna are strictly preserved.

In addition to specialized forest protection forces and communities contracted to manage and protect rare animals and plants, applying new technologies to manage and protect rare animals and plants is the most optimal solution today.

Mr. Nguyen Tan Dang Trinh - Specialist of Organization and Administration Department (Kon Ka Kinh National Park), checks the images transferred from Smart software. **Photo:** **Nguyen Diep**

According to information from Kon Ka Kinh National Park, in recent years, along with the State's support resources, the Park has proactively trained its staff to access new software in forest management activities, biodiversity conservation, etc. Currently, in addition to Smart software, Kon Ka Kinh National Park is also equipped with 10 Flycams, handheld GPS, camera traps and a number of other applications that have brought many results.

Talking to reporters, Mr. Le Van Vinh - Deputy Director of Kon Ka Kinh National Park, said: Currently, the Park is applying QLBVR technology using Smart software at 9 QLBVR stations to record, take photos, and film clips with factors affecting the forest such as people entering and leaving the forest, discovering animal traps or new species of animals and plants. Thanks to that, it is possible to compare the increase or decrease in the number of incidents each month and the level of impact of people entering and leaving the forest. This is a new approach compared to other forest owners in the province today.

The specialized force protecting the Kon Ka Kinh National Park uses Flycam to detect early the risk of forest fires during the dry season. **Photo:** **Nguyen Diep**

In addition, the Park is using additional support equipment such as camera traps and cameras to monitor biodiversity through camera trap systems. Thanks to these software, people are also afraid of encroaching on forest resources and rare and precious flora and fauna in the Park.

“Digital transformation in the management of rare flora and fauna has initially brought many positive results and is relatively convenient. People no longer carry guns into the forest to hunt; areas with high risk of fire in the dry season are also warned early. Currently, Kon Ka Kinh National Park also uses many other software such as surveying, mapping, and managing administrative documents…” - Deputy Director of Kon Ka Kinh National Park added.

In the coming years, Kon Ka Kinh National Park will continue to coordinate with agencies and units inside and outside the province to open technical training courses, apply technology in forest management and protection of rare flora and fauna. Thereby, gradually digitize connections with related units to serve the development of ecotourism and sustainable forest development, protect the green color of Kon Ha Nung Plateau World Biosphere Reserve.