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Low-Cost Non-Contact Forest Inventory: A Case Study of Kieni Forest in Kenya

Author

Listed:
  • Cedric Kiplimo

    (Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Dedan Kimathi, Nyeri P.O. Box 10143, Kenya
    Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAIL), Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Dedan Kimathi, Nyeri P.O. Box 10143, Kenya)

  • Ciira wa Maina

    (Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Dedan Kimathi, Nyeri P.O. Box 10143, Kenya
    Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAIL), Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Dedan Kimathi, Nyeri P.O. Box 10143, Kenya)

  • Billy Okal

    (NVIDIA Corporation, 2701 San Tomas Expressway, Santa Clara, CA 95050, USA)

Abstract

Forests are a vital source of food, fuel, and medicine and play a crucial role in climate change mitigation. Strategic and policy decisions on forest management and conservation require accurate and up-to-date information on available forest resources. Forest inventory data such as tree parameters, heights, and crown diameters must be collected and analysed to monitor forests effectively. Traditional manual techniques are slow and labour-intensive, requiring additional personnel, while existing non-contact methods are costly, computationally intensive, or less accurate. Kenya plans to increase its forest cover to 30% by 2032 and establish a national forest monitoring system. Building capacity in forest monitoring through innovative field data collection technologies is encouraged to match the pace of increase in forest cover. This study explored the applicability of low-cost, non-contact tree inventory based on stereoscopic photogrammetry in a recently reforested stand in Kieni Forest, Kenya. A custom-built stereo camera was used to capture images of 251 trees in the study area from which the tree heights and crown diameters were successfully extracted quickly and with high accuracy. The results imply that stereoscopic photogrammetry is an accurate and reliable method that can support the national forest monitoring system and REDD+ implementation.

Suggested Citation

  • Cedric Kiplimo & Ciira wa Maina & Billy Okal, 2024. "Low-Cost Non-Contact Forest Inventory: A Case Study of Kieni Forest in Kenya," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-20, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jchals:v:15:y:2024:i:1:p:16-:d:1359025
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pradipta Halder & Javier Arevalo & Liisa Tahvanainen & Paavo Pelkonen, 2014. "Benefits and Challenges Associated with the Development of Forest-Based Bioenergy Projects in India: Results from an Expert Survey," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 5(1), pages 1-12, March.
    2. Okumu, Boscow & Muchapondwa, Edwin, 2020. "Welfare and forest cover impacts of incentive based conservation: Evidence from Kenyan community forest associations," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    3. Andrew G. Cervantes & Patricia T. Vega Gutierrez & Seri C. Robinson, 2023. "Forest Inventories in Private and Protected Areas of Paraguay," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-20, April.
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