Integerating GIS , Remote Sensing and IT for managing Ethiopian Green Legacy Inititative
Through the Green Legacy Initiative by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia has planted over 32 billion seedlings. This initiative aims to combat deforestation, restore degraded landscapes, increase the country's forest cover, and ensure food security. Despite various afforestation and tree-planting initiatives declared at different times by the Ethiopian government, the effectiveness and impact of these efforts on vegetation cover are not well known (Takele et al., 2022). Many of the tree planting sites were not georeferenced until July 2023, when the Prime Minister initiated a georeferenced tree planting scheme. However, this scheme has faced numerous challenges. The collected data came in different formats, languages, and reference systems, creating significant problems for data processing and visualization. Additionally, there is no unified data collection system; some data are collected using GPS, while others use open-source methods. There is also no national repository for managing the collected data, making it difficult for people to access it. Furthermore, monitoring the survival rate of the planted trees often relies on manual methods, which are prone to bias, less cost-effective, and challenging to manage across the entire country. To address these issues, we have developed a project titled "Integrating GIS, RS, and IT for Managing the Ethiopian Green Legacy Initiative." The project comprises three components: data collection, system development, and monitoring. 1. Data Collection: We are customizing an open-source mobile app called QField. This app is offline-capable, inexpensive, equipped with built-in GPS, user-friendly, multifunctional, and features advanced mapping tools. Using this mobile app will help integrate data, maintain data quality, and make data easily accessible and shareable. 2. System Development: We are building a system that includes an interactive map, user registration/login, field data upload and download capabilities, visualization, and data management features. 3. Monitoring: We will monitor the survival rate of the planted seedlings using satellite imagery, specifically NICFI satellite imagery. Overall, our solution addresses the challenges faced by the Ethiopian Green Legacy Initiative and helps Ethiopia achieve its targets.
Sky, Space And Communication Technologies
Geographic information systems
Two years
The project will be implemented in entire Ethiopia. So, it will include all regions and local administrations.
This project represents a novel approach, as it has not been previously implemented by any organization or government. Its successful execution will yield significant benefits for project leader /teams, the institution, and Ethiopia as a whole. By pioneering this initiative, Ethiopia can take a advantage • Know the exact location of tree planting sites. • Easily monitor the survival rates of planted trees. • Reduce the cost of monitoring. • Improve decision-making, such as determining whether to continue planting. • Make data accessible for researchers. • Maintain data quality by applying a standardized collection system. • Ensure data is easily shareable. • Demonstrate the initiative's progress to the international community. • Facilitate carbon sales.
No award yet but it is presented on conference and media by me (PI) and others . o Covered on media on June 6 , 2024 EBC and ENA . Available at facebok page and main stream media . o presented in GGG week October 23-27, 2023 o will be presented on Earth Observation symposium for Africa 2024 , at Fracait , Itally o presented to annual space Science and Geospatial Institute conference June 2024 : o presented to regional agricultural Bureaus and environmental protection authorities in 2024 .
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