CSIRO remote sensing technology is to play a key role in assisting Indonesian environmental agencies fight degradation of its forests, reefs, rivers, and farmland.

Airborne software developed by CSIRO to monitor the Hawkesbury River and Port Philip Bay will be put to work to help the Indonesian government plan its future land, water resource and population strategies.

A new environmental monitoring consortium called TheMAP was signed into existence in Jakarta today. Using CSIRO's software, the Queensland company Comserve Australia Pty Ltd has formed a joint venture with a major Indonesian firm PT Ramatelindo Perdana Consultant.

CSIRO's Director of Environmental Projects, Professor Graham Harris, said today that the joint venture was the result of three years of negotiation with his Indonesian counterparts, including a series of trials in Australia and East Java, Indonesia.

"We are delighted to be able to use our airborne monitoring software to assist in meeting Indonesia's national development objectives," said Professor Harris.

"CSIRO will continue hands-on cooperation with the TheMAP Consortium through the licensing agreements and a series of pilot projects," said Professor Harris. "A number of Indonesian agencies are involved in the projects, which will demonstrate the software to key market sectors."

CSIRO will also provide in-country training for TheMAP Consortium staff.

Professor Harris said that the CSIRO technology had originally been introduced to BPPT (the Indonesian Agency for the Assessment of Science and Technology) in June 1993, through the inter-governmental Committee on Science and Techology in Australia and Indonesia (COSTAI).

More information from: Professor Graham Harris 06-2818480