Protecting Forests with Modern Technology

Over 2,000 Alerts Sent by the System

For forest rangers and forestry management units in Lam Dong, using technology to protect forests is no longer new—especially for those in the southeastern districts of the province. The FMS software, which integrates satellite imagery and mobile devices, has become an essential tool for monitoring, patrolling, and verifying forest resources.

The system analyzes satellite images and sends automated alerts via SMS and email to registered organizations and individuals. Since 2021, it has proven highly effective, detecting and issuing over 2,000 alerts related to changes in forest cover, forest fires, illegal land encroachment, and unauthorized logging.

The mobile application allows forest rangers to automatically record patrol routes, take geotagged photos of field conditions, and update forest change data directly from the site. Nearly 400 user accounts have been issued to forest owners, rangers, and local authorities, creating an efficient verification network that helps prevent large-scale deforestation.

Leveraging Advanced Technologies

Lam Dong has the largest forest area in Vietnam, with 1.16 million hectares of forestry land, including 1.13 million hectares of forested land. The province’s forests are rich in biodiversity, but illegal encroachment and deforestation remain challenges, especially as local ranger forces are limited and terrains are mountainous and difficult to access.

After recent administrative mergers, the system revealed certain limitations such as inconsistent data and outdated user accounts from restructured forest management units. The current FMS focuses mainly on monitoring forest cover changes and has yet to integrate broader forestry databases or advanced AI technology for data analysis.

To address these issues, the Lam Dong Forest Protection Department has proposed upgrading and expanding the remote sensing and satellite-based FMS system, integrating it with the province’s forestry database. The project, with a proposed budget of 6 billion VND, is expected to be implemented during 2025–2026.

The goal is to develop FMS Lam Dong into a unified, intelligent, and data-driven forestry management platform. By incorporating cutting-edge AI and digital mapping, the upgraded system will enhance monitoring accuracy, provide early forest change warnings, and minimize false alerts. It will also enable forestry specialists, local authorities, and citizens to access reliable forestry information conveniently — marking a major step forward in modern, technology-based forest protection.