People will be able to send authorities information about forest safetywith their mobile devices in six provinces, under a project launched inHanoi on March 9.

The data-gathering software allowsorganisations to collect field data, including GPS location tags andimages, from the public's smartphones and tablets.

This is thefirst time this type of software has been used to monitor forestresources in the country. It will be installed in Bac Kan, Cao Bang, HoaBinh, Dak Lak, Tra Vinh and Bac Lieu provinces.

The digitaltools supported by Microsoft would allow locals to report forestmanagement or safety issues to authorities without needing to send anemail or file paperwork, said Bien Quang Tu, co-ordinator of theproject. They could also access the system to get information onforests.

Hoang Phuong Thao, country director of ActionAidVietnam, said the project's objective was to alleviate poverty byprotecting and utilising forest resources more effectively.

"Ourambition in our cooperation in Vietnam is to promote the important roleof forests, as we have done in Finland, to help with environmentalprotection, improve lives, develop the national economy and mitigateclimate change," said Kimmo Lahdevirta, Finnish Ambassador to Vietnam.

The three-year project, which cost 1.1 million EUR (1.2 million USD), is scheduled for completion in 2017.

It was financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland and ActionAid Vietnam.-VNA