Training on Using SMART Mobile for Community-Based Forest Patrols in Xuan Nha

On October 28–29, 2025, PanNature in collaboration with the Management Board of Xuan Nha Special-Use Forest, organized a training course on “Using the SMART Mobile Application for Community-Based Forest Patrols.”

The training brought together 25 participants, including forest rangers from the Xuan Nha and Chieng Xuan ranger stations, as well as representatives from community forest protection teams in Kho Hong and Suoi Quanh villages (Chieng Son Commune) and Ban Bun and Ban Lay villages (Xuan Nha Commune). These participants are directly involved in patrolling, monitoring, and protecting the Xuan Nha Special-Use Forest – an area of high biodiversity value that is home to many rare species, including Xuan Nha Pine (Pinus kwangtungensis) and Taiwanese China fir (Cunninghamia konishii).

During the training, technical staff from the Management Board provided step-by-step guidance on installing and operating the SMART Mobile application on smartphones. Participants learned how to record patrol routes, document field observations, upload photos and data, and send reports directly to forest managers. In addition to classroom sessions, participants were divided into four groups to conduct practical patrols along four forest routes, applying the SMART Mobile app to monitor and protect key tree species such as Xuan Nha Pine and Taiwanese China fir.

By the end of the training, participants had become proficient in using the SMART Mobile application and were able to integrate it effectively into their regular patrol work. They will also act as local trainers, sharing the knowledge and skills with other members of their ranger stations and community forest protection teams, ensuring the wider adoption of SMART Mobile in forest monitoring and management across the region.

The introduction of SMART Mobile marks an important step in enhancing the use of digital technology for forest protection, enabling more efficient, transparent, and evidence-based monitoring. This initiative reflects the continued collaboration between PanNature and the Xuan Nha Special-Use Forest Management Board in strengthening community capacity and promoting sustainable, community-based forest management.

Some images from the training: