An Ecological Forest Records Entry System (eFOREST) Portal launched for the State Forest Department of Himachal Pradesh

30 Jul, 2024

Digitalisation and forestry may seem a surprising match, but there is great potential to be tapped! Digital tools can enhance forest management practices through precise data collection, real-time monitoring, and advanced analytics, leading to a more sustainable and efficient use of forest resources. The Indo-German Technical Cooperation Project "Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystem Services," being implemented by GIZ India on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in cooperation with the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department (HPFD) and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) has developed the Ecological Forest Records Entry System (eFOREST) Web Portal.

The beta version of the portal was launched by Mr. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the hon’ble Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh on 30 July 2024. It aims to address critical challenges in forest compartment management, enhance the efficiency of forestry operations, and promote sustainable forest conservation.

‘The purpose of this software is to ensure that all on-ground operations, particularly those related to forest conservation and management, are accurately captured and integrated into decision-making processes. This will enhance data handling capacity and provide access to time-series data for better-informed decisions’- Mr. Rajiv Kumar, Former Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF), Head of Forest Force (HoFF) HPFD.

Key highlights of the portal:

• Captures detailed information about forest compartments, including location data, topography, ecological aspects, fire incidents and forest area encroachments.
• Records various forestry operations such as plantation, eradication of invasive alien species, soil and moisture conservation, boundary pillar maintenance, fire protection, and regeneration work carried out in the compartments.
• Simplifies the tracking of collected forest products such as timber and provides overall results for comparison.
• Monitors the progress of forest conservation and restoration and enables the implementation of adaptation measures.
• Provides detailed reports on the measures taken to protect the forest and on reported incidents/violations.

The eFOREST Portal will make a significant contribution to the conservation, protection and sustainable development of forests in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It harnesses digital technologies to conserve the country’s rich biodiversity and promote Natural Resource Management. These are also priority areas of bilateral cooperation between India and Germany, outlined in the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP).

eFOREST portal launch by the hon’ble Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh | © GIZ India /Aashima Negi

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About the project

Integrating the lessons from HP-FES, a follow-up project on ‘Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystem Services (FES)’ is being implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, State Forest Departments of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and GIZ India on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It aims to strengthen forest and agroforest management to integrate the Forest Ecosystem Services approach with a focus on water availability. Read More

For more information contact: biodiv.india@giz.de