The Special-Use and Protection Forest Management Board of Thai Nguyen Province currently manages over 20,000 hectares of protection and special-use forests, an extremely important “green lung” area. Notably, this includes the Than Sa – Phuong Hoang Nature Reserve, a special-use forest of national importance covering 18,704.89 hectares, along with over 2,000 hectares of protection forest that play an essential role in environmental protection and water resource regulation. However, the management and protection of this invaluable natural asset face numerous challenges: from its vast area and complex terrain to limited human resources,

Recognizing these difficulties and the importance of effectively protecting the existing forest area, the search for and application of advanced technological solutions has become a top priority. Therefore, the Center for Technology and Nature Conservation (CTNC) collaborated to organize an intensive training workshop on the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART), SMART Connect, the application of QGIS software, and satellite imagery for 32 officials from The Special-Use and Protection Forest Management Board of Thai Nguyen Province. The workshop took place over 5 days, from May 19 to May 23, 2025, at the headquarters of the Management Board of Protection and Special-Use Forests of Thai Nguyen Province, aiming to equip participants with effective tools to address practical issues.

Figure: Director Nguyen Van Tuyen of the Special-Use and Protection Forest Management Board of Thai Nguyen Province presenting regulations during the training session.

Figure: The group of officials from the Special-Use and Protection Forest Management Board of Thai Nguyen Province participating in the training.

Modernizing Forest Management – Harnessing Outstanding Benefits from Technology

The training workshop focused on equipping forest management officials with the knowledge and skills to maximize the benefits of high-tech tools, meeting practical demands:

With SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) Software:

This tool brings a breakthrough in field data collection. Specifically, SMART Connect fully standardizes the data collection process, thereby ensuring the accuracy, consistency, and synchronization of information right from the source. This eliminates common errors found in manual recording, making data more reliable for analysis and decision-making. Simultaneously, it significantly enhances the efficiency of patrols, monitoring of forest resources, and biodiversity over large areas.

Figure: CTNC expert(s) guiding participants on using the SMART Mobile application to collect field data..

With QGIS Software:

QGIS unlocks powerful spatial analysis capabilities. Participants were guided in creating various thematic maps (e.g., forest status maps for Than Sa – Phuong Hoang Nature Reserve, species distribution maps, maps of priority protection zones), and in conducting in-depth spatial data analysis. This enables managers to visualize information, identify trends and patterns, and make management decisions based on concrete scientific evidence. Furthermore, QGIS also supports several features related to satellite imagery, providing an invaluable remote monitoring tool. This helps officials effectively exploit and utilize satellite image data to continuously update forest status, closely monitor changes (such as growth, deforestation, forest degradation) over time, especially in hard-to-reach areas of the Than Sa – Phuong Hoang Nature Reserve. In particular, satellite imagery provides strong support for the early detection of negative impacts such as illegal logging, forest land encroachment, or areas at high risk of forest fires, allowing for timely intervention.

Figure: CTNC expert(s) guiding technical staff of the Management Board (BQL) on using QGIS software and remote sensing imagery

Moreover, the combination of these tools also helps to comprehensively optimize data management and progressively automate reporting processes, reducing administrative workloads and increasing time for fieldwork and in-depth analysis.

The training workshop did not stop at merely enhancing the professional qualifications of the staff of the Management Board of Protection and Special-Use Forests of Thai Nguyen Province. More importantly, this event opens up opportunities for the strong application of modern technology in the practical work of forest management, significantly contributing to nature conservation efforts and the sustainable development of forest resources in the province, especially in protecting the integrity of the Than Sa – Phuong Hoang Nature Reserve.

This is a significant step forward, affirming Thai Nguyen Province’s commitment to continuous innovation and the application of science and technology to protect its “green lungs,” while also contributing to the common goals of biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation.