WINDHOEK, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Namibia on Monday underscored the critical role of technology in conservation efforts, highlighting the importance of integrating tools like the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) to enhance data collection and management for protecting the nation's biodiversity.

Speaking at the Global SMART User Conference in the Namibian capital of Windhoek, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta stressed that technology and digitization are crucial in the battle to preserve protected areas. "We stand at a pivotal juncture in our conservation journey. Technology and digitization have become our most potent allies in the battle to protect our protected areas. Integrating SMART and other conservation technologies with our conservation efforts promises a brighter, more sustainable future for Namibia's biodiversity," he said.

He emphasized Namibia's commitment to preserving its natural heritage, highlighting that the country's protected areas are not just vast expanses of land but the lifeblood of the semi-arid nation. "They harbor our unique biodiversity ... are part of the global ecosystem and the entire world benefits from their preservation," he said.

Shifeta addressed the challenges facing conservation, including deforestation, habitat destruction, climate change, as well as poaching and illegal wildlife trade. According to Shifeta, Namibia adopted SMART across protected areas to replace the previous paper-based monitoring system as a response to these challenges.

"SMART empowers us to measure trends in wildlife populations, patrol efforts, invasive species, protected area infrastructure, and human-wildlife conflict, among others. SMART provides a platform for the implementation of our park management plans. Through SMART, we can control threats to wildlife and their habitats and secure threatened species' survival," he said.

He added that Namibia plans to digitize archiving systems, establish real-time central data management platforms, and incorporate a comprehensive workflow system to streamline operations. Enditem

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