A forest officer who has planted dozens of micro forests across the island delivered a talk about how he is using drone technology to manage the habitats.

Nicholas Coelho, who works for the Bermuda Zoological Society, revealed his techniques during a presentation at the Biosecurity and Plant Health in Botanic Gardens workshop in Barbados this month.

He told an audience of fellow horticulturalists how drones had helped him map, plan, plant and monitor the plants.

Mr Coelho said: “The detailed drone mapping works by taking a series of overlapping images and using programmes to stitch them together to create a model.

“This provides us with a non-destructive tool for evaluation, allowing us to fly the drone above dense vegetative areas.

“Using multiple light spectra, the drones can detect non-visible light such as red edge and near infrared to create incredibly detailed images.

“These images provide data that indicate where a plant is healthy or may require further investigation, as healthy plants reflect more near-infrared light.

“While regular picture data can offer some insight, it doesn’t provide the same level of accuracy.

“By using the multispectral drone, we can obtain detailed data through the multispectral camera, which captures how plants reflect and absorb specific wavelengths of light based on their health.

“This allows us to perform vegetation analysis, assess plant health and chlorophyll content, detect early signs of stress, and identify issues like pest or wind damage, or disease much more efficiently.

“With these insights, we can pinpoint problem areas before they become visible to the naked eye.”

Mr Coelho explained that increased use of drones, including the implementation of AI technology, enabled more accurate identification and analysis of plant species, improving efficiency and effectiveness in monitoring plant health and biodiversity.

Acting parks planner Jessica Carvalho and government landscape architect Danny Simmons also attended the workshop, which gave attendees an in-depth exploration of biosecurity and plant health management.

Key topics included pathway risk analysis, plant health monitoring within collections and the early detection of potential invasive species.

The workshop also offered a comprehensive overview of the legislative framework and international guidelines that support strengthened biosecurity measures.

It also highlighted effective strategies for preventing, managing and controlling the spread of pests, ensuring the long-term protection of plant health across the island.

“It was an excellent opportunity to share knowledge and enhance our collaboration between different organisations from island regions,” Mr Coelho said.