ERTS - ZAIRE

ERTS-Zaire (EZ), an indigenous agency, will implement the project with USAID technical assistance. A user assistance facility (UAF) will be constructed, equipped, and staffed within the existing EZ building. Both the UAF and the Zairian Geographic Institute (IGZ) will be provided with a photo duplication laboratory; IGZ will also be equipped with a photo enlarger. The laboratories will make possible increased distribution and replication of satellite imagery. EZ will also order, catalogue, and store approximately 250 negatives of existing LANDSAT frames of Zaire. Short-term participant training will be provided to 13 EZ staff members in remote sensing applications to develop an indepth familiarity with the nature of existing and future satellite data. These staff members, 10 of whom will be funded under a UN Development Program scholarship, will assist in the development of short-term local training at the UAF. A total of 72 GOZ technical departmental personnel will be trained by EZ staff in the use and application of satellite data to the following fields: geography, geology, environment, agriculture, forestry, and hydrology. Finally, three demonstration surveys utilizing satellite data wil be undertaken by EZ. In the Action Kusaidia demonstration, remote sensing techniques will be used to help plan rural development projects in the Kivu region. A demonstration will be conducted for the GOZ Department of the Environment to provide satellite surveillance of forest resource exploitation. The final demonstration, in cooperation with the GOZ Department of Agriculture, will develop vegetation cover mapping for the Shaba region. EZ will also respond to approximately 12 varied short-term requests for assistance from the GOZ Departments of Public Works, Mines, Planning, and others.