By Mary Mwendwa
Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA ) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are developing a remote sensing technology that is aimed at improving forest governance in 53 Countries across the world.
The system which is known as JJ-FAST will see conservation of worlds tropical forests improved.
During the 6th TICAD side event where associate professor from Tokyo Denki University,Dr. Manabu Watanabe demonstrated to participants on how the project works , it was clear that forest early warning systems information was critical in tropical forest governance issues.
According to Dr.Manabu, “The system which will be officially launched in November 2016 uses Jaxa’s advanced land observating satellite (ALOS-2 ) with sensor name (PALSAR-2) .This system transmits information through a cloud and is able to monitor tropical forests every one and half months basis for the 53 targeted countries. “Radar back scattering from the trees is collected and this is particularly from the trunk and branches.”
“Low radar back scattering comes with weak reflection from the ground and the image picked by the satellite is usually dark meaning no forest cover.Similarly high radar back scattering comes with strong reflection from a forest and therefore the image is usually bright meaning forest cover.”
Manabu confirms that they have to use a cleaning software for data calibration.
The portal is easy to use as it can be accessed on personal computers and other mobile devices.”This particular satellite L-band SAR earth observation satellite is only placed in Japan where it picks forest information.Japan does not have a tropical forest therefore this is intended for those with this kind of forests.”Manabu adds.
Dr.Manabu continues to say that the project was started in April 2016 and will be free of charge for countries that have tropical forests to use.
“My role in this project is to develop advanced algorithm where Moisture variation in a tree trunk and branch should be considered for the advanced algorithm,because the variation affects the brightness of radar image.I collect the time variation data of tree moisture then work on the data.”
The purpose of the project is to detect the deforestation area by using SAR (radar) sensor.Here two types of algorithms are used to detect the deforestation.
1.Core algorithm (simple algorithm)
2.Advanced algorithm (complex algorithm)
Dr.Manabu says that he has been doing this kind of research for the last 15 years . “We hope to make the data available to African Countries by December 2016 and January 2017.”
Hiroshi Kato, Vice President, JICA noted that this project was of great importance to countries with tropical forests to help them manage their forests well using scientific data.This project will help improvement of Forest Governance which will in turn contribute to global tropical forest and biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation by using Japan’s advanced satellite technology and multi-stakeholder partnerships.
Kenya is expected to benefit from this project because it is a home to Kakamega forest which is tropic in nature.Kenyan governent is also benefiting from another remote sensing project done from Vienna on drought which is handled by Kenya’s National Drought Management Authority.
