The Ethiopian Space Science & Geospatial Institute has initiated a project to digitally register forests in the South West Region. Commencing with the Kefa Sheka forest, recognized as a UNESCO-reserved biosphere area in Ethiopia, the project aims to employ advanced technologies to map and monitor these critical ecosystems.
Berhan Gessesse, Senior Researcher, and head of the Remote Sensing Department told Shega that the digital registry would streamline data access for research purposes, especially considering the forest’s susceptibility to the adverse effects of rapid population growth.
Spanning 238,750 hectares, the Kefa Sheka Forest encompasses a distinctive biogeographic unit that ranges from cold and extremely wet highlands to hot lowland areas. Its diverse vegetation includes over 300 higher plants, with at least 55 being endemic to the area.
Utilizing a combination of high-resolution satellite imagery and on-the-ground manual data collection, the Institute aims to create a comprehensive map accessible to anyone with internet connectivity.
“The map will display historical, current and future predictions of forest conditions. We will be digitally recording all…
