A FOREST LANDS INFORMATION SYSTEM IN SUPPORT OF SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT AND USE OF FORESTS

Transcription

1 A FOREST LANDS INFORMATION SYSTEM IN SUPPORT OF SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT AND USE OF FORESTS National Cadastre & Mapping Agency () Ministry of Environment 288 Mesogion Ave. Cholargos (Athens) Greece

2 Introduction Spatial data and information about forestlands are among the most critical in the context of: Forest and environmental protection Spatial planning Monitoring Forest governance From the Land Administration perspective, it becomes more crucial in determining their definitive boundaries and their associated property rights (tenure) for their sustainable use and development. 2

3 Sustainable Management and Use of Forests The notion of sustainable management has a very long tradition in Forestry. The first ever written statement about the effects of unsustainable practices regarding forests, referred to the deforestation of the hills around Athens, as a result of logging for shipbuilding and clearcut for agricultural use (Plato, 5 th Century B.C.). The very term 'sustainable' was first used to refer to the sustainable yield of forest resources: forest resources should be used with caution to achieve continuity between increment and felling (Von Carlowitz, 18 th Century A.D.). 3

4 Sustainable Forest Management and Sustainable Development Sustainable forest management (SFM) refers to the stewardship and use of forests and forest lands in a way, and at a rate, that maintains their biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality and their potential to fulfil, now and in the future, relevant ecological, economic and social functions, at local, national and global levels; and that does not cause damage to other ecosystems (FAO, 2013). Sustainable development has a widen meaning and refers to economic, social and environmental development. 4

5 Forestlands Information Systems (FIS) and Land Administration Systems (LAS) FIS refers to the process of recording geospatial data, disseminating and reporting spatial information about forestlands, their associated resources and management activities as well, for their sustainable management. These activities, are associated with national or international commitments made by each country. LA refers to the process of recording and disseminating information about ownership, value and use of land and its associated resources. LA includes, inter alias, cadastre, land registers, land consolidation, valuation, spatial information management for a sustainable management of land resource (Economic Commission for Europe, 1996). 5

6 Forest Lands Administration & SFM Based on work of Williamson et al.,

7 National Efforts towards Forestlands Definitive Delineation 7

8 Background Forestland mapping, along with ownership, known as forest cadastre, is an unaccomplished task for forestry in Greece. The First National Forest Inventory completed in 1985 but not continued ever since. The Forest Cadastre program started in 1976, lead to cadastral maps development for a small area of 320,212 Ha across Greece. The National Cadastre program started in 1997 and is still under development. The Forest Map program started in 1998 and is still under development. 8

9 Background Main reasons for the delay: Lack of institutional capacity over the last century (technology, ICT). Lack of a National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) (sparse spatial data, duplication, use of multiple geodetic references, no central deposit). Lack of Cadastre System (instead, a registry system of deeds with no spatial reference). Old-fashioned attitudes (act as a barrier towards modernization). Inadequate policies (limited to short term expectations), and above all Lack of Administration will! 9

10 Background Thus, Greece lacks a FIS which eventually lead the Administration to favor the circumstantial confirmation of whether certain parcels or areas are forestlands or not! A practice that deprives environment of protection regarding forestlands. Even worse, it has been expanded to all aspects of state lands administration (e.g. urban/non urban, consolidated land or not, etc.) and eventually compromises the principles of sustainable development. 10

11 An example of unsustainable land development

12 An example of unsustainable land development

13 An example of unsustainable land development

14 An example of unsustainable land development Today 14

15 Why we need a National Forestlands Information System? Strategic goals for building a National FIS: Establish the conditions for transparency in forestlands administration, Assist in better decision and policy making, Develop geospatial infrastructure for assessment and monitoring of forestlands and their resources (2 nd level of further development), and Support sustainable forest management and overall sustainable development. 15

16 Why we need a National Forestlands Information System? Operational goals: present an accurate picture of forestlands geographic location and their boundaries, make relevant, reliable, accurate, and up-to-date spatial forest data and information continuously available to the government, land authorities, business and community as well, provide consistency in reporting, reduce costs through the sharing of information technology, facilitate citizens, professionals, research, and build the land market. 16

17 Towards FIS Development (The Forest Map) Authoritative data is the foundation of any FIS! Explicit geospatial data and information with institutional and legal enforcement and power, across jurisdictional boundaries. 17

18 The Forest Map the leading Greek government company, responsible for the development and operation of national cadastre in Greece, has launched an ambitious program to develop final Forest Maps at the national scale till Cadastre development comprises of all land properties, and therefore cadastral forest mapping is necessary for a successful cadastre establishment. The Forest Map aims to: 1. Assessment and environmental protection of forestlands and 2. Identify and promote state property rights on forestlands through cadastral process. 18

19 The Forest Map Cadastral forest mapping deals with forestlands boundary delineation and their associated characterization (forest/nonforest) based on the landcover characteristics from multi-temporal aerial remotely sensed data and fieldwork. In addition, it takes in account a plethora of existing data, such as administrative deeds issued by local Forest Districts, historical cadastral or land distribution diagrams, court decisions, urban boundaries, etc. to document the legal status of land (forest/nonforest). The Forest Maps are authorized by the State, following a transparent procedure including wide publication of their content via internet, public participation through objections submission, which are examined by independent committees. 19

20 The Forest Map Legend : Forestlands A: Other Lands 20

21 Forest Map Progress in Greece (October 2014) LEGEND Areas with published or final Forest Maps (1.65%) Areas with Forest Maps to be published (9.27%) Areas under implementation (49.49%) Areas with no Forest Maps (39.59%) 21

22 Building the National FIS has taken major steps into setting up a technological infrastructure that supports effectively: The development of a Cadastre and Forest Maps, The operation of Cadastre through the establishment of Cadastral Offices across Greece. Web-enabled services to community. The cornerstone of FIS development is the large scale (1:5.000) nationwide digital orthoimagery and the final authorized Forest Maps. 22

23 Architecture and Components of National FIS 23

24 System Overview (Data and Information Flow through Web and Cadastral Offices/Forest Districts) IIS and Application Server Internet Internet Web client Web client Cadastral Offices/ Forest Districts Data saved to database through ArcGIS server objects Central database (ArcSDE Schema) GIS Custom Software ArcGIS ArcGIS ArcSDE NSDI by NCMA 24

25 Web Application for Electronic Requests Sign In into the web Application* Provide personal data Provide Unique Parcel ID or Geographic Coordinates Use spatial tools for querying Pay a fee Submit the request * The web Application was created using.net framework 25

26 Web Application for Electronic Requests Sign in of new user UserName: Password: Verify Password: Security Question: Security answer: Please repeat the above number Create User Your account has been successfully created! You will soon receive a message with instructions at your address. 26

27 Web Application for Electronic Requests FIS KTIMATOLOGIO Electronic Services Personal Data Requests Help FAQ Contact EXIT You are at the main page of Requests regarding Land Status For your convenience, please use the menu above, using Help when necessary It is important to read the Instructions carefully to avoid mistakes. 27

28 Input of Legal or Physical Personal Data User FIS KTIMATOLOGIO Electronic Services Personal Data Requests Help FAQ Contact Personal Data Objections against Forest Map content Help FAQ Personal Data Contact All data below must be in Capital Greek or Latin characters! Attention! Data with * are necessary to proceed. Surname* EXIT Name* Tax Num. Married Place of birth Date of birth ID Number/Passport* Date of Issue* Type of Issuer* Name of Issuer * Choose Father Surname Father Name* Mother Surname Mother Name Spouse Surname Spouse Name Contact Data Street* From To ZIP cod Foreign Residence City* Area* Country* Choose Phone Number* Mobile* Fax Do you wish to contact you at the above address? Yes No Save 28

29 Web GIS-based Application AOI Spatial Delineation FORESTLANDS INFORMATION SYSTEM GO SCALE LAYERS BASELAYER (ORTHOPHOTOS) POLYGONS LAND STATUS 29

30 Web GIS-based Application Site Searching Queries By Address By Coordinates QUERIES Property ID LEGEND See the explanation of Forest Map Legend AREA DELINEATION Alternatively there are the following methods: TYPE STREET NAME, TOPONYM, POINT OF INTEREST Starts with Includes Text (at least 3 letters): 1. For area delineation you may use the tools at the upper side screen Help for area delineation Examples 2. If you have an AutoCad DXF 2000 (ASCII) file with the boundaries of the area you may uploaded it here. Import Press NEXT to continue Queries Zoom in an area by address, geographic coordinates or parcel ID Press CANCEL to cancel the process Upload polygons By ASCII DXF (AutoCad) files or by ASCII text files 30

31 Web GIS-based Application Forest Map Area of Interest FORESTLANDS INFORMATION SYSTEM SCALE LAYERS BASELAYER (ORTHOPHOTOS) POLYGONS LAND STATUS LEGENT 31

32 Web GIS-based Application Spatial Selection of Forest Map polygon The selected polygon of Forest Map, marked with yellow. 32

33 Certificate of Land Status (Forest/non Forest) 33

34 Concluding Remarks The FIS is a indispensable component of a modern land administration system. Authoritative land spatial data & information is the key element for FIS development. The implementation of the proposed FIS will improve a) administration of state lands and the quality of land information, b) provide secure and update forest land data & information, and c) provide access and legal security. and thus: promote sustainable management and use of forestlands. 34

35 Thank you for your attention 35