The Mapping & Inventory unit is responsible for monitoring Zimbabwe’s forest resources and compiling the data that underpins forest management, planning and decision-making — from individual gazetted forests to nationwide land-cover assessments.
Five things we measure, map and monitor
From satellite imagery to ground-truth plots — the unit’s work covers the full chain from raw data to actionable forest intelligence.
Execution of Timber Surveys
Comprehensive measurement and assessment of timber stands across gazetted, communal and commercial forests — building the inventory that informs both conservation and commercial decisions.
Change Detection
Monitoring forest-cover dynamics over time using satellite imagery — spotting losses, regrowth and land-use change.
Vegetation Maps
Production of vegetation maps at national and local levels — visual baselines for planning.
Fire Data Analysis
Analysis of fire incidents in gazetted forests — informing prevention, response and recovery.
Permanent Increment Plots
Long-term assessment of Permanent Increment Plots (PIPs) for accurate growth estimation across species and sites.
From pixels to policy.
Every map produced, every plot remeasured, every fire incident analysed feeds back into the decisions that shape Zimbabwe’s forests — from local management plans to national climate reporting.