Srinagar, Mar 18: To check timber smuggling and protect forest assets, the Jammu and Kashmir Forest Department has prepared a blue print where by latest technology will be adopted to prevent damages to the forests.
 Sources said the government mulls to examine Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) initiatives of Madhya Pradesh Forest Department and emulate them here to save the forests from degradation.
 Sources said the main objective of the ICT application in the department will be to systematically organize planning, implementation and monitoring of forestry and other related operations.
 Some features of new ICT initiative will be: Forest Protection Management System (FPMS) which monitors protection status of forests and wildlife, Forest Offence Management System (FOMS) which registers forest offences electronically, Fire Alert Messaging System (FAMS) which uses processed remote sensing data of active fire locations obtained from MODIS satellite and sends alerts to concerned field staff, Protection Information Management System (FIMS) and Protected Area Network Management System (PANMS).
 The JK Forest Department, sources added, has prepared the blue print of the project and work on it would soon start.
 “The department is contemplating to refurbish infrastructure through funding from 13th Finance Commission, Forest Department agencies and Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA),” sources added.    
 The ICT initiative is expected to accelerate the pace of implementation of the Forest Policy adopted recently by the Department.
 According to sources with the help of ICT tools, there will be fast communication linkage and transfer of information system from bottom to top.
 Sources said the data in the department will be digitized.
 Sources said Forest Minister, Mian Altaf, has given clear instructions that all the degraded forest areas should be on top most priority for afforestation.
 Meanwhile, the department is planning to plant thousands of trees on World Arbor Day on March 21 in Srinagar.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 18 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 18 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 19 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST