Kristopher Hilbert / 2:31 PM / 02.01.08 / Pollution / 3
As I reported a few weeks ago there have been many problems with illegal deforestation. From the thick jungles of the Amazon to rare woods found in Africa to Southeast Asia and even in the United States and Canada. Recently though, new technology is being implemented to combat deforestation in Cameroon.
Though it may sound like Science Fiction, Cameroon is using GPS trackers to keep control of forests. There used to be no proof of illegal activity when it came to deforestation but now there is evidence. These computers keep track of the kinds of trees and what they can be used for. Even rivers are marked on the handheld computerized maps with fish symbols.
These computers have been given to local villages and tribes for property purposes. A group carries one each time they go hunting so they will not cut down trees or kill on land that is not theirs. The GPS systems even allow the tribes (who are mostly illiterate) to touch the screen and place symbols of trees, rivers, or important sites.
I guess this is cool. It’s cooler than not doing anything and if implemented properly it might be able to hinder the illegal deforestation business some. If it does actually help protect individual tribes and the environment it can’t be all bad. However, I am skeptical of how it could be used in order to keep tribes on “their land” and expand land that could be cut down. We’ll have to see how it goes. Hopefully, if this becomes implemented successfully in other areas the world will be able to see a change in greenhouse gases. Pollution rates will be cut if we have more large, living, trees.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7218078.stm
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