From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 8): DENR employs ‘spy plane’ to fight illegal logging
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Caraga has acquired an unmanned aircraft to closely monitor the activities and movements of illegal logging operations in remote mountain villages in the region.
Regional Executive Director Nonito M. Tamayo on Thursday said that the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) also known as the “drone” was developed by Filipino scientists and engineers and the first to be employed by the DENR in any part of the country.
The “drone” or “spy plane” monitors the activities in areas where suspected illegal loggers operate and subsequently send photos to the command center at the DENR regional office here.
Tamayo said that the DENR’s Forest Management Sector would then analyze the data and pictures that were taken through the video camera of the UAV related to the National Greening Program being implemented by the DENR .
He said that the UAV provides up-to-date data and real time information of the forest condition of the various areas in the Caraga Region.
Tamayo said that the “drone” will also examine the status of all forest species planted under the government’s National Greening Program.
Tamayo admitted that illegal logging and timber poachers continue to proliferate in the region although its incidence has gone down to low level due to sustain anti-illegal campaign in the area.
“In spite of the government’s no-nonsense anti-illegal logging drive, timber smugglers were always there waiting for an opportune time to break in and transport illegally cuts logs,” Tamayo added.
He said that the use of the unmanned aircraft would definitely boost the anti-illegal logging campaign in the region.
“With the employment of the spy plane, we hope to put a stop to all illegal logging activities in the Caraga region,” Tamayo said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&sid=&nid=0&rid=552971
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Caraga has acquired an unmanned aircraft to closely monitor the activities and movements of illegal logging operations in remote mountain villages in the region.
Regional Executive Director Nonito M. Tamayo on Thursday said that the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) also known as the “drone” was developed by Filipino scientists and engineers and the first to be employed by the DENR in any part of the country.
The “drone” or “spy plane” monitors the activities in areas where suspected illegal loggers operate and subsequently send photos to the command center at the DENR regional office here.
Tamayo said that the DENR’s Forest Management Sector would then analyze the data and pictures that were taken through the video camera of the UAV related to the National Greening Program being implemented by the DENR .
He said that the UAV provides up-to-date data and real time information of the forest condition of the various areas in the Caraga Region.
Tamayo said that the “drone” will also examine the status of all forest species planted under the government’s National Greening Program.
Tamayo admitted that illegal logging and timber poachers continue to proliferate in the region although its incidence has gone down to low level due to sustain anti-illegal campaign in the area.
“In spite of the government’s no-nonsense anti-illegal logging drive, timber smugglers were always there waiting for an opportune time to break in and transport illegally cuts logs,” Tamayo added.
He said that the use of the unmanned aircraft would definitely boost the anti-illegal logging campaign in the region.
“With the employment of the spy plane, we hope to put a stop to all illegal logging activities in the Caraga region,” Tamayo said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&sid=&nid=0&rid=552971