Remote Sensing and GIS Applications for Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management

Malaysia is one of the countries blessed with rich natural resources including being one of the mega-biodiversity countries, which is the heritage that we are proud of Natural resources and environment management require multi-sector spatial and non- spatial data that are integrated, multi-temporal, multi-spatial resolution, routinely collected and timely to support the development and implementation of policies and strategies for sustainable development, the management and utilization of natural resources, and immediate response to environmental crisis. Remote sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) are tools capable to meet such diverse and timely information needs. This paper highlights the capabilities of remote sensing and GIS technologies in acquiring, analyzing, processing and presenting the information easily understood by resource managers and policy makers. Malaysian Centre for Remote Sensing (MACRES) initiated a program entitled National Resource and Environmental Management (NAREM), which encompasses of database development, modeling and decision support tool to illustrate the needs for an integrated spatial and non-spatial database to support holistic planning, and management of natural resources and the environment.