With project validation almost complete, we can now begin the project tree measurement as main part of the initial verification process. As you may recall, we established a representative sample of 116 monitoring plots from among the 840 plots reforested between 2021 and 2024. Now we must measure all the trees present on the 116 plots covering 625 m², or 72,500 m² in total. This operation requires several steps:
- Update the standard operating procedure and train GUIDRE via videoconference
- For each of the 116 plots, the GUIDRE measurement teams must
- find the plot in the given village
- refresh the yellow paint in the centre of the plot
- mark the 625 m² perimeter of the circular plot with barrier tape
- identify each tree over 2 metres tall, mark it with a piece of coloured string so as not to measure it twice, measure its diameter at breast height and identify the species of each tree. This is a daunting task, given that there are around 100 trees in each perimeter.
- send the data via the Kobo-Collect form
In the first two villages (Linko and Kala), the teams also had to count all trees taller than one metre and measure the height of each tree taller than two metres.
Based on our experience in Samana, we know that this activity is demanding because it requires concentration and precision in a difficult environment (rain, dense trees and bushes). Although we want to stick to our schedule, we do not put too much pressure on the teams in order to guarantee the quality of the measurements. After a period of adjustment, both teams are making very good progress.
It is difficult to define the perimeter of the plot 14.1 metres from the centre due to dense vegetation.
