Spatial Monitoring Interactive Tool - "SMART" for short - is a groundbreaking tool for those in the marine and forestry department. It presents a more efficient and modern way to collected, shared, and analyze data.
Today was the launching ceremony not just for the SMART technology but also for the Sustainable Forest Management and Fire Management Communication Strategies for the Forestry Department.
We found out more at the launch of both programs today.
Nicole Auil Gomez, Wildlife Conservation Society's Country Director
"Smart technology is actually a technology that is used around the world and it has been predominantly used in the terrestrial landscape looking at protected areas. It is heavily used in Africa for instance. In Belize it was introduced about 2010 to 2012 and it really began as a model to look at how it can be used by law enforcement agencies for conservation compliance within the marine sector so our focus was really working with the fisheries department and up to now in 2018 we have it being used by non-governmental organizations that co-manage marine protected areas as well as the fisheries department. Now the forestry department and terrestrial area manager are utilizing the system as well. It provides transparency to managers, accountability so that patrols can be logged and monitored properly and reports can be generated so that decisions can be made by managers as to where to best deploy resources. It really helps to make patrols more efficient."
Hon. Dr. Omar Figueroa, Minister of State
"One of the main challenges we will encounter as the country develops when it comes to enforcement and monitoring so what SMART does is it really increases the efficiency and the effectiveness of how our enforcement units are able to go out and patrol the environment, monitor, and collect data. Then come back and manage the data that is out there."
"It refers to the communication strategy right. I think parallel to the enforcement and monitoring the departments. The forest department really needs to be effective in how we develop and implement communication strategies. We need to make sure that the stakeholders are a key part in understanding what the forestry department does. The importance of what it does and get these folks to actually be our partners so that is what the communication strategy, in a nutshell, will aim to accomplish."
New licensing equipment was also handed over to the Fisheries department at the event.
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