Zimbabwe's Forestry Commission launches drone monitoring for enhanced forest data and carbon tracking

The Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe has introduced a drone-based monitoring system to modernize forest management and data collection. Initial field operations were conducted this week at Ruzawi Forest in Marondera, in collaboration with Afrostain Farmtech. The drones utilize high-resolution cameras and sensors to capture real-time data, significantly improving the speed and accuracy of forest assessments. This technology allows for detailed imagery and measurements, which are then processed to generate precise forest metrics. The Commission stated that the drones can estimate tree biomass, aiding in understanding carbon dioxide capture, and can calculate tree volume and map carbon storage by analyzing canopy height and vegetation density. This deployment signifies a move towards digital innovation in Zimbabwe’s forestry sector, aiming to enhance sustainability, monitoring, and resource management.