KATHMANDU: Department of Forest Research and Survey (DoFRS), under the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, has started an intensive survey of the country's forest.

The work has gained momentum after the arrival of a Finnish technical team two weeks ago.

"The five-year project, which will be conducted all over the country, is funded by the government of Finland," said Sahash Man Shrestha, Director General (DG), DoFRS, adding, that a survey methodology was being prepared.

The last forest inventory of the nation was started in 1990 and was completed in 1998, under a Finnish aid. According to DoFRS, 1990 inventory was the first of its kind since the 1960s.

Latest technologies such as Light Detection and Ranging System (LiDAR), which was successfully used in surveying the forests in Finland and Laos, will be employed for the purpose.

"Aerial photography and satellite imagery were used along with field survey before this. It will be replaced by LiDAR this time," Shrestha said.

The 1990-1998 survey showed forest cover of about 4.27 million hectares (29 per cent) and shrub cover of 1.56 million hectares (10.6 per cent) of a total land area of 14.72 million hectares in the country.

Altogether 39.6 per cent of the total land area is covered by forest and shrubs, according to the survey. "This inventory will provide more accurate and updated data about the forests," added Shrestha.

Chief technical advisor Tuomo Kotimaki, senior technical advisor Ian Thomas, junior technical advisor Tinja Latila and mapping expert Basanta Gautam have joined the team at DoFRS.

"This type or research is not possible to conduct frequently as it needs highly skilled manpower and a lot of money. Since we have got both this time, I am sure we will do it as per the need," claimed DG Shrestha.