Essential steps of a forestry maintenance plan

The main advantage of carrying out optimal monitoring of planted trees is that it allows making decisions regarding forestation and conservation of the planting. In addition, it is possible to evaluate how the maintenance protocols are being executed, and it is possible to determine if the objective of the planting was achieved. Because the purpose is not just to go to a property, open a hole and leave a tree planted without foreseeing its subsequent maintenance. The ideal is that, from the planting of 1,000 trees, at least 990 survive, which can only be achieved with optimal monitoring of the species planted.

Currently, technology is at the service of this monitoring and automated control, with which an optimal tracking of each species is achieved. Through satellite cameras, apps that take photos of planted trees, drone videos, GPS location tracking, among others, are available for forest measurement. For this reason, the Colombian company Grupo NW, creator of the Tree Network Foundation, developed a technological platform that allows its use offline and its technological innovation allows to see the information of the forest in real-time.

Netwoods' new technological development is called RDA MONITOR. This technological tool allows recording data during the maintenance phase, such as: taking a photo from the application, tree height, leafiness, observation field, option to mark if fertilization was applied, if irrigation was done or if the species has phytosanitary problems. With the collection of these data in a unified way, it becomes reliable and accurate information, ideal to make decisions and act quickly in the face of any novelty that may arise with the planting.

When accurate data are available, the range of species can be expanded, it becomes clear which species are best suited to the terrain. In this way, it is possible to determine which species adapt faster and which deteriorate the most. With these technological advantages, optimal monitoring is sought, which guarantees the reduction of seedling mortality in each planting. "In visits by Red de Árboles I found that out of 400 trees planted, 2 were lost, which does not even represent 10%." Mauricio Castrillón, forestry guide of the Red de Árboles Foundation, commented.

This technological advance is a great ally for the entities that must perform control and maintenance. "With the application, everything is done, before it was with a table and there was a risk that if it rained the leaves would get wet or lost, which generated disorder and confusion, instead now, you can record relevant data such as coordinates, height, diameter and take the

photo right there from the application". Natalia León, an environmental engineer from Fundación Red Árboles, said.

With RDA MONITOR you can control planting and forest maintenance. This fundamental technological tool at the service of the environment is aimed at the Regional Autonomous Corporations or entities of each municipality that are engaged in planting, reforestation and need a strict record of data on the control and monitoring of plantings.

This App is easy to use, has an unlimited number of users, and works offline, that is, it does not require internet, which is very beneficial for those who register. Users must be created online from the software, once that happens, they can automatically enter the application with username and password. In this way, whoever registers for forest maintenance can travel to the moor or go to a remote place there is no internet signal because RDA MONITOR simply does not require mobile data to be activated.