Chop chop: ‘Tree census’ at university

HYDERABAD: The ‘timber mafia’ is going to have tough days ahead cutting trees illegally, at least in the premises of the Sindh Agriculture University (SAU). Remote sensing and GIS laboratory at the department of land and water management is carrying out a ‘tree census in the university’ with the help of satellite technology. “For the first time in the history of SAU and, perhaps Sindh, a complete geo-referenced data of trees is being gathered,” said Prof Dr Altaf Siyal on Wednesday. “Tree census can provide the record of plantation in a certain area or forest with at least 90 per cent accuracy.” The primary responsibility of the centre, established with the cooperation of the University of Maryland and Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco), is to monitor crops and natural resources in Sindh. In this project, which will be completed in a month’s time, the data of each tree, including its location coordinates, height, girth and life expectancy, will be recorded.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6^th, 2015.