BIT Mesra, NRSC Hyderabad, and Jharkhand Forest Department Sign MoU for Forest Phenology Monitoring

A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Tuesday between the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), ISRO, Hyderabad, the Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, and the Jharkhand Forest Department to launch a Phenocam-based Forest Phenology Monitoring Program. The

collaboration aims to monitor seasonal changes in forest ecosystems using a combination of satellite remote sensing data and ground-based Phenocam observations.

The MoU signing ceremony took place at BIT Mesra and began with a welcome address by Dr. V. S. Rathore, Head of the Department of Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics. He highlighted the importance of academic-government partnerships in promoting advanced research in environmental monitoring. The project was then introduced in detail by Dr. Niraj Priyadarshi, Scientist, NRSC Kolkata who explained how the integration of Phenocam sensor and satellite data would enable continuous and accurate observation of forest phenology across Jharkhand and Dr. Girish Pujar, Scientist, ISRO Headquarter, Bangalore, who explained the significance and relevance of this Phenocam project.

The gathering was addressed by several dignitaries. Prof. Indranil Manna, Vice Chancellor of BIT Mesra, emphasized the need for research-driven collaborations to address pressing environmental challenges. Dr. Prakash Chauhan, Director of NRSC, Hyderabad, noted that phenological monitoring is essential for understanding vegetation response to climate variability. Shri Paritosh Upadhyay, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), Government of Jharkhand, spoke about the critical role of scientific technologies in improving forest management. Dr. S. K. Srivastava, Chief General Manager, Regional Remote Sensing Centre, ISRO, spoke on the practical applications of satellite data for local and regional forest planning.

The MoU was formally exchanged between Shri Suraj Singh, District Forest Officer (DFO), Hazaribagh, NRSC scientists, and Dr. Sudeep Das, Registrar of BIT Mesra. The event was attended by several prominent figures including Dr. C. Jeganathan, Professor, Department of Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics and present Vice Chancellor of Sarla Birla University, Shri Ravi Ranjan, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Jharkhand, Shri S. R. Natesh, Chief Conservator of Forest, wildlife, Jharkhand, Deans and faculty members, among other members from academia and the forest department.

Phenocam are stationary digital cameras installed at fixed points in forested areas to capture continuous images of vegetation. These images record changes such as leaf emergence, flowering, and senescence, which are critical for studying plant responses to seasonal and climatic factors. When used alongside satellite remote sensing, Phenocam data offers a more refined understanding of forest health, supports ground validation of satellite observations, and helps identify early signs of environmental stress.

By combining ground-based and satellite technologies, this initiative will provide valuable datasets for tracking forest phenology, supporting climate research, enhancing carbon monitoring, and improving biodiversity conservation efforts in Jharkhand. The program marks a significant step forward in using space technology for ecological sustainability.