This project supported a series of activities centered on the application of remote sensing analysis of land use and land cover in Southeast Asia and the development of geospatial data and data products for environmental monitoring and management. In addition to product development, regional scientists participated in scientific workshops and advanced training within the region. Under this project, a regional application has been developed for the Mekong River Basin countries implementing state-of-the-art web-GIS to support the Mekong River Commission Forest Assessment. This new application resides at NAMRIA in the Philippines. Central to the ongoing efforts of SEARRIN, this project included a strong capacity building component that included field-level training in forest fractional cover validation techniques, advanced remote sensing analysis methods, and web-GIS development. Perhaps the most exciting development as a result of the project work is a new, formal collaboration between SEARRIN scientists and the Mekong River Commission Secretariat, who have asked to serve as a conduit between SEARRIN scientists (who develop data products and information) and the managers and policy makers at the national and regional levels (who require data and information in order to implement natural resources policies).
Project • 2003-08-NMY, 2004-04-CMY