The mapping of indigenous lands has been one of ACT's most powerful tools in conserving the Amazon rainforest in partnership with indigenous peoples. ACT's experience has demonstrated that any meaningful strategy for conservation of indigenous lands must begin with the generation of a detailed "ethnographic" map that clearly demarcates the region claimed by indigenous groups as their ancestral territory; demonstrates the indigenous groups' use of that region; and identifies the sites of greatest importance to indigenous peoples. Subsequently, ACT and its partner groups use this map as a basis to create a "risk" map that identifies areas within the mapped region that either are currently threatened or are at greatest risk of harm from external actors.
ACT's mapping efforts originated from the requests of our indigenous partners for tools to respond to land-use issues concerning their territories. Together, ACT and its partners have developed and perfected a participatory methodology to map indigenous traditional territories, which has resulted in over 40 million acres of rainforest mapped in partnership with 19 indigenous groups. In most cases, the maps have true legal standing because they have been created under agreements with or in cooperation with national governments.
Participatory Ethnographic Mapping
Participatory ethnographic mapping is distinguished from other forms of mapping through the direct involvement of indigenous peoples in the map's creation. The maps incorporate and represent the the cultural and ecological knowledge of the traditional population.
The development of ethnographic maps relies on the participation, input and empowerment of our indigenous partners every step of the way, leading to the creation of a map made for the community, by the community. A finished product usually contains hundreds of accurately placed sites of cultural and historical importance, locations of natural resources, settlements, and place names.
Click here to view a sample ethnographic map
Why make maps?
To help all stakeholders make better informed decisions regarding land use
Few modern maps of Amazonian regions, if any, adequately demonstrate the presence and extent of the land-use patterns of indigenous communities, especially those in isolated regions. Unfortunately, many modern land-use policies and projects rely on modern maps that lack this information. Participatory ethnographic maps help give indigenous communities a voice in these larger discussions. Because the mapping process identifies existing patterns of indigenous land use as well as external threats, it provides the basis for formulating sustainable and equitable management plans for indigenous territories.
To help indigenous groups and governments identify, diagnose, and respond to area threats
In most cases, ACT and its partners operate within areas the size of small European countries. Understanding the current patterns of land use over such enormous areas is a daunting task, even for government agencies. The mapping process helps communities and governmental authorities to diagnose and respond to regional threats by isolating those areas most at risk, enabling both groups to optimize the effectiveness of survey expeditions, over-flights, and other monitoring activities.
To develop the conservation capacity of indigenous groups
In ACT's experience, the mapping process and its by-products are as important as the map itself. The exercises train indigenous participants to interpret and make use of geographical information in technical formats and presentations. The trained representatives gain a greatly enhanced understanding of the extent and location of external threats, and therefore are in a position to work with national institutions to help secure established borders. Additionally, the information acquired and the means of presenting that information are invaluable when negotiating land claims with national governments.
Additional Reasons for Ethnographic Mapping
- Provides a foundation from which to develop other types of geo-spatial analyses including risk maps, ethno-environmental surveys, and local capacity maps
- Catalyzes the creation or expansion of official protected areas
- Builds new alliances with governments and organizations
- Helps prevent and resolve conflicts between stakeholders
- Increases governmental and institutional accountability
- Creates a strong basis for the assertion of indigenous land rights
- Provides a historical and educational reference for future generations, particularly within indigenous communities
- Empowers indigenous communities and promotes cultural pride
How It's Done
With ACT's assistance and training, beginning in 1999, Amazonian indigenous groups have traveled throughout their traditional territories, documenting and naming geography, settlements, areas of use, areas of exceptional biodiversity, and sites of historical or
sacred significance. Using hand-held GPS devices, they establish coordinates and record waypoints to supplement their hand-drawn maps. Their meticulous and highly accurate drawings are ultimately compared with satellite images and government base maps. Finally, GIS software is used to create a final digital product incorporating the village-level data into cartographically accurate maps of great legal credibility.
In the majority of cases, the indigenous maps add hundreds of new features to the pre-existing base-maps. The final maps are the property of the indigenous groups, and are copyrighted and registered with national cartographic authorities.
Results
Presently, ACT and its partners have trained hundreds of indigenous cartographers and helped over 26 ethnic groups map:
- Over 75 million acres of rainforests in Brazil, Suriname, and Colombia
- Thousands of indigenous place names
- Hundreds of indigenous villages and sites of cultural and historical importance
- Thousands of sites of traditional resource use
Propagation of ACT's Methodology
ACT's model for conservation emphasizes social entrepreneurship: we wish to enable our indigenous partners to assume ownership of conservation results that benefit both their communities and the environment. In the case of ethnocartography, our indigenous partners are trained in the mapping process to propagate their knowledge locally and to promote indigenous-led, inter-tribal training initiatives. Today, some tribal members have become mapping experts, traveling throughout the Amazon to help other tribal groups develop their own maps. Going forward, ACT seeks to continue this trend by establishing indigenous-run training centers within their territories that are capable of hosting training activities with other indigenous groups.
Although ACT's indigenous-led mapping efforts have been extremely successful, we receive more requests for mapping projects and training than our resources permit. In recognition of this limitation, ACT published its mapping methodology in a manual designed to be easily comprehended by indigenous audiences.
Read more about our mapping efforts in:
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