DENR-NCR trains personnel on LAWIN Forest and Biodiversity Protection System

• Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/231478226245/denr-ncr-trains-personnel-on-lawin-forest-and-biodiversity-protection-system
• Sunday, November 6, 2016

(DENR-NCR/RJB/SDL/PIA-NCR)

QUEZON CITY, Nov. 6 (PIA)--The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-National Capital Region (DENR-NCR) recently started training its personnel on the uses and functions of LAWIN Forest and Biodiversity Protection System (LFBPS).

The four-day training held at Timberland Sports and Nature Club in San Mateo, Rizal included a practicum at the La Mesa Watershed Area in Quezon City, where participants get to test LAWIN on ground.

LAWIN is a mobile application developed by DENR in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

It was developed to help improve the response mechanisms of DENR and other stakeholders in addressing observed threats to the environment using smart phones. It operates on web-based, open-source software called “Cyber-Tracker” for data collection and the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) for data analysis, mapping and report generation.

DENR-NCR Regional Director Lourdes C. Wagan said the application is a welcome technological advancement, especially in the field of monitoring and reporting on the status of the environment.

She said that “applications that help people at the frontlines respond better, efficiently and accurately, should receive government support”. “LAWIN”, she adds, has successfully “integrated a science-based monitoring tool with user-friendly technology to help us track the status of our protected areas and critical habitats”.

She is hopeful that the ever-increasing appeal of mobile technology to people will encourage them to use LAWIN and help the authorities in monitoring and reporting on the status of our environment.