Being on a map means to exist: the Saramaccan experience

Saramaccan communities in Suriname seek government’s recognition of their traditional knowledge

On 23 February 2016, 18 Saramaccan community representatives from the Brownsweg and Upper Suriname River areas met in the capital city, Paramaribo, with key stakeholders and policymakers. The meeting was organised by the Saramaccan Peoples to share the results of a two-year process which led to the visualisation and documentation of their traditional environmental knowledge over a vast area.

Maps generated using data extracted from the 1:15000 scale participatory 3D model of the Brownsweg area (manufactured in November 2015), combined with the digital elevation model obtained from the Foundation for Forest Management and Production Control, Suriname.

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words and maps may be even more effective in conveying messages when it comes to resource distribution and access. In fact the outcome of the process – which the Saramacca delegates proudly presented at the meeting – consisted of a series of community-generated physical and digital maps.

The maps and various data sets were produced in Saramaccan, English, and Dutch languages as a result of three Participatory 3D modelling (P3DM) exercises that took place in 2014 and 2015, involving 220 residents, including women, youth and the elderly. A film documentary about the process was released in 2015 in Saramaccan, English, and French.


Saramaccan leaders highlighted the uniqueness of the data the communities were able to collate, geo-reference and visualise using highly sophisticated technology, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Benefitting from external technical support, knowledge-holders were able to share their mental maps and memories which were used to populate blank 3D models.

The Saramaccan representatives drew attention to the relevance and accuracy of the data, and its accessibility to third parties, provided free prior informed consent for their use was given. "We made the map for it to be used. We want other people to make use of it. We only ask that the data is not used without involving us, the Saramaccan Peoples," concluded a community representative.

The Saramaccan delegates welcomed the use of the data for spatial planning purposes and called on the government and private investors to recognise them as key stakeholders and fully involve them when planning logging activities, protected area management and gold mining concessions within traditional Saramaccan lands.

They urged for the replication of P3DM processes in the rest of the Saramaccan territory so that a complete map of traditional Saramacca lands could be generated. To achieve this, they called on the government, development organisations, private sector, and NGOs present at the meeting to raise the necessary funds.

The event was hosted by Tropenbos International Suriname, WWF Guyanas and the Association of Saamaka Authorities.

In addition to Tropenbos International Suriname, project sponsors included the UNDP-GEF Small Grant Programme and CTA. Contributions by both organisations were duly acknowledged, with participants stating that their valuable contribution established a 'fertile ground' for community empowerment via P3DM which they considered to be a very innovative process. Participants also acknowledged that the P3DM process had inspired other communities who were now requesting support to deploy the P3DM process in their areas.

Related blogposts:

• Saramakan’s forests: watercourses at the core of a Participatory 3D Modelling exercise along the Upper Suriname River (10 September 2014)
• Les forêts des Saramaca : les cours d'eau au coeur d'un exercice de modélisation participative en trois dimensions le long du Haut Suriname (10 September 2014)
• Saamaka peoples upscale the use Participatory 3 Dimensional Modelling along the Upper Suriname River (08 August 2015)

Stay connected:
Follow on @PPGIS on Twitter and the hashtag #P3DM
Visit www.iapad.org.
Subscribe to the PPGIS online discussion list.

Hands on Culture - Participatory 3D Modelling with Mandingalbay Yidinji People in Australia

This video is about the 3D mapping project of the Mandingalbay people near Yarrabah North Queensland. This project was supported by the Wet Tropics Management Authority, IUCN and CTA to producing a short film based on the amazing project the community took on to bring their 3D mapping project to life.

Participatory mapping processes for data generation and exchange in SIDS by Aly DeGraff at the Caribbean-Pacific Agri-Food Forum in Barbados

Participatory mapping processes for data generation and exchange in SIDS from CTA

Participatory mapping is the solicitation and incorporation of geospatially focused local knowledge in bottom-up decision-making processes. It provides a wide decision-making base, taking into consideration the collaborative collection and validation of data while building ownership in the generated data. Participatory mapping can be used as a powerful tool to strengthen public participation in governance and social change in agribusiness communities.

Aly DeGraff delivered her talk at the Caribbean-Pacific Agri-Food Forum in Barbados organised by CTA and partners.

L’équipe samoane de cartographie participative a reçu un prix de développement durable

Le 25 septembre 2015, le département forestier du Ministère des ressources naturelles et de l’environnement des Samoa (MNRE) a reçu le prix de l’innovation et de l’excellence dans la fonction  publique dans la catégorie initiative en faveur d’un développement durable et respectueux de l’environnement pour la mise en œuvre du projet sur l’intégration des risques et de la résilience au changement  climatique dans la gestion des forêts  (ICCRIFS).

Le projet ICCRIFS Project s’étale sur une durée de quatre ans et est financé par  le Fonds pour l’environnement mondial (FEM, GEF en anglais) via le le programme des Nations Unies pour le développement  (PNUD). L’objectif du projet est d’intégrer les risques liés au changement climatique dans la gestion des forêts aux Samoa. Après une formation organisée en 2012 par le  Centre technique de coopération agricole et rurale (CTA) portant sur l’utilisation de la modélisation participative en trois dimensions (MP3D), les équipes du projet ICCRIFS ont mis sur pied 18 exercices de MP3D à l’intention des communautés locales dans des domaines comme la gestion de l’eau, des forêts et le tourisme. Le premier modèle participatif en trois dimensions qui a été mis en œuvre  (il couvrait les villages s’étendant de Laulii à Falevao) est devenu un outil de plannification très efficace. Il a permis d’impliquer les gens en leur apportant des connaissances et des compétences en matière de gestion de l’environnement et en leur fournissant des outils pour s’adapter au changement climatique et en réduire les effets.

La remise des prix de l’innovation et de l’excellence dans la fonction publique a eu lieu le 25 septembre dans le cadre de la quatrième journée de la fonction publique. Cette journée est organisée pour commémorer, célébrer et reconnaître la contribution et le rôle de la fonction publique en vue du développement national des Samoa. Près de 50 ministères gouvernementaux et d’organismes publics ont pris part aux célébrations cette année.

Ces prix visent à saluer le dévouement que les fonctionnaires mettent à remplir la mission des ministères et départements pour lesquels ils travaillent. La désignation des lauréats potentiels a été demandée au grand public au mois d’août et ces choix ont ensuite été évalués par un panel indépendant de trois membres : le Président de la Chambre de commerce au nom du secteur privé, Vaasilifiti Moelagi Jackson (Président ad intermim de SUNGO) au nom de la société civile et le Président de la Commission.

Le grand public ainsi que les établissements scolaires étaient invités à cette occasion à communiquer avec les agences gouvernementales afin d’avoir une meilleure compréhension de leur rôle et de leurs fonctions, ainsi que de la manière dont ces agences ont une influence sur la vie de tous les jours.

Samoa’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment receives award for engaging civil society via participatory mapping

On 25 September 2015 the Forestry Division of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Samoa (MNRE) received a Public Service Innovation and Excellence Award in the Environmental Friendly/Sustainable Development Initiative team category for the successful implementation of the Integration of Climate Change Risk and resilience into Forestry management in Samoa (ICCRIFS) Project.

The ICCRIFS Project is a 4 year project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The goal of the project is to integrate climate change risks into forestry management in Samoa. After being trained by the Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Development (CTA) in practising Participatory Three-Dimensional Modelling (P3DM) in 2012, staff of the ICCRIFS Project successfully facilitated a total of 18 P3DM exercises with communities in various sectors including water, forestry, tourism. The first P3D Model to be implemented (covering villages from Laulii to Falevao) became a very effective planning tool. It helped engaging the community by building capacity, knowledge and skills on environmental management, and ways to adapt and mitigate climate change.

The 2015 Public Service Innovation and Excellence Awards ceremony, took place on the 25th of September 2015 as part of the 4th annual Public Service Day. The Public Service Day is held to commemorate, celebrate and recognize the public sector’s contribution and service into achieving the national development of Samoa. Close to 50 Government Ministries and Public Bodies took part in this year’s celebrations.

These Awards are used to recognize the dedication of public servants in achieving their respective Ministry’s and Office’s objectives. Nominations of potential awardees were solicited from the general public in August and were thereafter assessed by an independent panel consisting of 3 members: the Chamber of Commerce President on behalf of the private sector, SUNGO Interim President Vaasilifiti Moelagi Jackson on behalf of the civil society, and the Chairman of the Commission.

The general public as well as schools were invited to take advantage of the opportunity to engage with Government agencies to gain an in-depth understanding of the functions and roles of each of the participating agencies and how these relate to their everyday life.

Related post: Top UN officials Helen Clark and Naoko Ishii praising outcome of P3DM activities in Samoa

More information on the P3DM process and case studies are found here and here.

Mapping for Change: Practice, technologies and communication - 10 years have passed - publication still valid and available

This CD “Mapping for Change: Practice, technologies and communication” includes a selection of papers presented at the “Mapping for Change: International Conference of Spatial Information Management and Communication” held in Nairobi, Kenya, on 7th-10th September, 2005 and published in Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) 54 in April 2006. Guest editors of PLA 54 are Giacomo Rambaldi; Jon Corbett; Mike McCall; Rachel Olson; Julius Muchemi; Peter Kwaku Kyem; Daniel Wiener and Robert Chambers.

The CD contains PDF versions of the articles published in PLA 54 translated in the following languages: Arabic, Bangla, Chinese (traditional and simplified), French, Hindi, Persian-Dari, Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili and Tamil as well as the English versions. The CD includes additional resources (mainly in English), including a video of the Conference and key literature on the practice, including UNESCO Conventions on Cultural Mapping.

Available (for free) to residents in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries via CTA Publishing.

Credits for Translations, layout and typesetting 

• Arabic: Translation by Dr. El-Hussaini Yehia, Center for Development Services, Cairo, with thanks to Ali Mokhtar
• Bangla: Translation by Enamul Huda and Taifur Rahman, PRA Promoters’ Society, Bangladesh
• Chinese (Simplified): Translation by Liu Xiaoqian, Yang Fang , Li Fang, Li Xiaoyun, China Agricultural University, Beijing
• Chinese (Traditional): Translation by Wang Yaohui, National Linkou Senior High School, Linkou Township, Taiwan with special thanks to Hsiao Ya Wen, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua City, Taiwan (Chapters 1 and 2); Lin Mei Jhih, Shengang Junior High School, Shengang Township, Taichung County, Taiwan (Chapter 4); Chuang Yu Chun, National Yangmei Senior High School, Yangmei Township, Taoyuan County, Taiwan (Chapter 7); Shen Tsui Mei, National Linkou Senior High School, Linkou Township, Taipei County, Taiwan (Chapter 9); Jhang Yu Jing, National Sihu Senior High School, Sihu Township, Changhua County, Taiwan (Chapter 12); Lin Wen-Xin, Kaohsiung Municipal Chung-Cheng Industrial Vocational High School, Cianjhen District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan (Chapter 15)
• French: Translation by Maryck Nicolas, with thanks to Marie Jaecky of IIED for proofreading
• Hindi: Translation by Meera Jayaswal, with thanks to Dr. Neela Mukherjee, Director, Development Tracks, Delhi, India, and to Mr.K.K.Singh, Ujjawal Kumar and Sanjay Das for page layout and typesetting
• Persian-Dari: Translation by Reza Nobacht, with thanks to CENESTA, Tehran for technical support, to Esmaeel Hamidi and Jeyran Farvar for copy editing and proof reading, to Pooya Ghoddousi for coordination and Jeyran Farvar for page layout and typesetting
• Portuguese: Translation by Francis Sahadeo, with thanks to Ines Fortes for copyediting
• Spanish: Translation by María Isabel Sanz Bonino, with thanks to Alejandra Larrazábal and Mike McCall for copyediting and Tanya Pascual for proofreading
• Swahili: Translation by Catherine Wanjiku Gichingi and Margaret Njeri Gichingiri (ERMIS Africa) with thanks to Julius Muchemi, Executive Director and Bancy Wanjiru, Programme Administrator
• Tamil: Translation by John Devavaram and his team at SPEECH, Madurai, India, including Arunodayam

Saamaka peoples upscale the use Participatory 3 Dimensional Modelling along the Upper Suriname River

In partnership with Tropenbos International Suriname (TBI), WWF, and the Association of Saamaka Authorities (VSG), CTA introduced the Participatory 3D Modelling (P3DM) process in Suriname in 2014. Due to the successful outcome of the 1st exercise, VSG – supported by TBI – applied for support from UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP) for extending the mapped area and upscale the community based planning exercise along the Upper Suriname River, towards the interior of the country.

Once GEF-SGP released the funds, a second P3DM exercise took place in June and July 2015. Areas that are important for the community’s way of life, particularly areas with high cultural and historical value were at the core of the process. Over an 11-day period, a total of ~65 representatives from 10 villages traveled to the village of Pikin Slee, to collectively determine a representative portion of Saamaka traditional land as a 3D physical map (built at a 1:15,000 scale).

The map was conceived with the specific objective of empowering local communities to play an active role in sound land-use and sustainable development. Saamaka participants populated the 3D model with locations of ecosystem services and cultural and historical landscape of value. With this, P3DM is demonstrating its utility in both socio-ecological production landscape based research, as well as in collaborative historical, cultural and ethno-archaeology studies in Suriname.

In this context, Tropenbos International Suriname is collaborating with the History Department of the Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Faculty of Humanity so that historical and contemporary cultural landscape use and services are better portrayed.

Notes: The project is granted to the Association of Saamaka Authorities (VSG), executed by Tropenbos International Suriname and financially supported by the UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme. CTA supported the participation of 2 delegates from CARIBSAVE in the exercise to ensure wider replication of the process in the Caribbean region.

More on 2014 P3DM activities in Suriname:

• Suriname - 15 July, 2015. Mapping the livelihoods of the Saamaka people.
• Saramakan’s forests: watercourses at the core of a Participatory 3D Modelling exercise along the Upper Suriname River
• The film “The enabling power of participatory 3D mapping among the Saramaccan People of Suriname” launched at CWA2014

Participatory 3 Dimensional Modelling in Madagascar: A process to be replicated in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Participatory three-dimensional modelling (P3DM) has already shown considerable potential in a number of countries with regard to the mobilisation of communities in the context of bottom-up planning and management of natural resources.  In Madagascar, the very first P3DM exercise took place in February 2015, in the Avaratrambolo water catchment area.

The exercise was conducted in a rural farming area some 35 km from the Madagascan capital, Antananarivo. The population of this region, situated in the northern part of the island, makes a living almost exclusively from rice farming, with weak purchasing power and poor access to the markets. The rural landscape is dominated by paddy fields, small forest plantations and a small remnant of natural forest. The catchment represents the source of a number of important river courses.
The P3DM exercise took place within the framework of a project aimed at promoting agriculture and water management called "Let's move towards change", Ndao hivoatra in the Madagascan language. This project, which involves several local, national and international, has gained special significance for local communities.



As in many parts of Africa, property issues are very sensitive in Madagascar. This explains why, in recent years local communities have ben reluctant in participating in a number of rural development projects. The P3DM exercise in Avaratrambolo made a significant contribution to removing concerns related to potential land grabbing. As with earlier projects in the area, the Ndao hivoatra project was thought by rural communities to be a trick to take over ancestral land for the benefit of multinationals that pose as promoters of rural development in remote areas of Africa. In spite of the numerous awareness-raising meetings which preceded the P3DM exercise communities perceived the forthcoming mapping process as a means for identifying areas which could be taken away. This had to radically change during the P3DM process …

The first phase of the exercise involved the construction of the blank 3D model. This phase was preceded by a workshop involving local facilitators and international facilitators from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as well as representatives of the institutions involved in the Ndao hivoatra project, to plan the process, identify preliminary equipment, logistics and define how best to engage the communities in participating. It was during this workshop that all those involved gained an understanding of the overall scope of the forthcoming mapping exercise.

The first visit by facilitators to the village of Ambohitrakely took place under a torrential downpour over a severely eroded and hardly accessible dirt road. This first activity was intended to guide schoolchildren trace and cut out cardboard layers for the construction of the 3D model. The children's work on the model sparked the curiosity of their parents. Gradually, adults including residents of nearby villages became involved in the construction of the model.

On 13 February 2015 the completed 3D model was officially displayed in the village of Ambohitrakely. In addition to representatives from the project implementing agencies, national ministries, researchers and other stakeholders, the event brought together a large and festive crowd including local, religious and traditional authorities and the local population which initially appeared reluctant to participate in the Ndao hivoatra project due to the sensitivity of the land tenure issue. The positive messages and the enthusiasm shown by the participants were a clear indicator of the behavioural change occurred. The model-making process proved to have plaid a reconciliatory role with regard to the project. Active participation of the local communities in the construction of the model and, in particular, in their driving role in defining the content of the map legend and populating the model with geo-referenced data, noticeably increased their confidence and feeling of ownership and control of the process. Residents now feel that the 3D model belongs to them as a tool to guide the implementation of the Ndao hivoatra project.

P3DM proved to be a powerful process for land and forest planning, management and development. The success of this exercise in Madagascar points to the usefulness and the opportunity for replicating the process elsewhere in Africa. For example, the exercise could be run in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the process of governance and management of community forests continues to progress. The publication of Decree No. 14/018 dated 2 August 2014 sets the modalities for allocating forest concessions to local communities in the DRC. Concerned local communities and Indigenous Peoples would benefit from P3DM to identify their ancestral territories and effectively plan and implement both conservation and sustainable development projects. The creation and operationalisation of the community forests and the recognition of indigenous and community conserved areas (ICCAs) in the DRC is a process that requires not only the passing of pertinent legislation, but also, and in particular, a commitment on the part of a range of stakeholders. Without obtaining full support from technical, scientific and financial stakeholders, the good will of the DRC government may be in vain.

Written by Dominique Bikaba, Strong Roots Congo

Notes from the author: The success of this first P3DM process in Madagascar can be credited also to the qualities and skills of the lead facilitator Mr Barthélemy Boika, who demonstrated his talents as an educator and community motivator. My thanks also go to the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) for its technical inputs and for supporting my participation in the exercise.

The project « ndao hivoatra » has been launched by the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) with funding provided by the World Bank to promote sustainable rural development. Le projet is implemented by Artelia Madagascar with technical support provided by Farming and Technology for Africa (FTA) in partnership with FOFIFA (Centre National de la Recherche Appliquée au Développement Rural). The P3DM exercise which represents a punctual component of the overall project has been supported technically and financially by CTA.

1st Participatory 3D Modeling in Madagascar

This 5 minute video documents the 1st Participatory 3D Modelling (P3DM) exercise in Madagascar, specifically with communities residing within the  Avaratrambolo Watershed, a few hour drive from the capital city Antananarivo. The event took place at the beginning of February 2015.


More information on the event are found in this blogpost.

Participatory 3D modelling in Madagascar: a major first

Located 35 km from the capital Antananarivo, Avaratrambolo water catchment, which has three fokontany (a traditional Madagascan village or a group of villages): Avaratrambolo, Ampahitrizina and Ambohitrakely, is in the rural commune of Ambohitrolomahitsy. It covers an area of more than 13 km². The agro-climatic and socio-economic characteristics of the water catchment are typical of the central region of Madagascar, which is characterised by high plateaux.

A rural development project called Ndao Hivoatra ("Let's move towards change") is being implemented in the three fokontany. It is funded by the World Bank through the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) and is run by Artelia Madagascar with technical support provided by Farming and Technology for Africa (FTA), as well as scientific support provided by the National Centre of Applied Research for Rural Development (FOFIFA).

The chief of the Commune illustrating the 3D model to
government authorities and members of the local communities

To stimulate community participation, the project management team opted for a new, more participatory approach that had been tested in other countries – participatory 3D modelling (P3DM) – a first for Madagascar. The P3DM exercise took place from 3 to 13 February 2015, with the active participation of residents of the three fokontany, project staff, local co-facilitators, various non-governmental organisations (NGO) and two experienced facilitators from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The latter were supported by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA). The exercise comprised three distinct phases: construction of the model, development of the map legend and development of the model using data based on mental recollections of the residents. The model covers a total land area of 2,304 ha; it is on a scale of 1:3,000 (1 cm on the model corresponding to 30 m on the ground) and measures 1.6 m on each side.

The first phase required precise work: i.e. each action that was taken demanded the greatest attention to detail. This manual work was the responsibility of 20 volunteer students from the public primary school in Avaratrambolo and the Ampahitrizina general secondary school under the guidance of the facilitators from DRC, local co-facilitators, project staff and NGO representatives. It was completed in just two days thanks to the enthusiasm of the pupils and the motivation of the facilitators. Avatrambolo community and mapThe second phase centred on the elaboration of the map legend and how to visualise legend items on the model. This phase was completed in one day through close collaboration between representatives of the three fokontany and external stakeholders. The final phase involved the population of the 3D model, a task that required detailed knowledge of the local agro-ecological environment. This phase involved the active participation of the local population; men, women, young people, elders and leaders were all involved in the task. In other words, it demonstrated the effectiveness of the participatory approach as most of the community came together to identify and depict the land and its characteristics on the map according to the previously defined legend; this was completed without the intervention of experts and facilitators.



During the process, the local community mumbled doubts as to whether the map could have any use for them. Once the 3D map was completed, their first observation was that their rice fields covered only a small part of the area, which left them a much larger area available for farming. The second observation gave rise to problems related to land tenure, an issue which is high on the national agenda. Certain participants were persuaded that, thanks to this tool, this issue would be addressed by a discussion around the model with land agents. The third was in relation to the water network; project staff noted that the area is rich in water, and that the efficient management of this resource was essential, which is one of the project's objectives. Once completed, the 3D model was unveiled to the general public, including children to adults and even those who were not local to the area.



In conclusion, this first P3DM exercise has been a success, as project implementers have been receiving requests for its replication since its presentation. It demonstrates the essence of the participatory approach, as during all of the phases the active participation of different groups of the local communities, with no concern for social status, circumstances or gender was visible. In other words, the discrimination barrier was removed. We can therefore be confident that this exercise will not stop here. It is only the first in a series of such operations, as this participatory tool has demonstrated its power and richness at all levels of rural society.

Below is a short interviews with the lead facilitator, Mr Barthélemy Boika Mahambi.


Dominique Bikaba from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) attended the exercise as observer and co-facilitator. He is now in the process of organising a similar exercise in his country.



Written by Christian Andrianarison Sitraka and Sarobidy Hasimbola Razanajatovo Tsilavo

Reproduire le processus en République démocratique du Congo - La modélisation participative en trois dimensions à Madagascar : une grande première -

La narration des co-facilitateurs locaux publiée le 25 mars 2015 a été enrichie, le 19 mai 2015, avec la publication d'un article d'opinion écrit par un observateur venu de la République démocratique du Congo sous l'invitation du Centre technique de coopération agricole et rurale (CTA).

Ecrit par Dominique Bikaba, Strong Roots Congo

La Modélisation participative en trois dimensions (MP3D) a déjà démontré, à travers plusieurs pays, un potentiel non négligeable quand il s’agit de mobiliser des communautés pour qu’elles planifient et gèrent de façon participative le territoire où elles habitent et les ressources naturelles qui les entourent. A Madagascar, le tout premier exercice de MP3D a eu lieu en février 2015, notamment dans le bassin versant d’Avaratrambolo.

L’exercice était conduit dans une zone rurale et agricole à plus ou moins 35 km de la capitale malgache, Antananarivo. La population de cette zone située dans la partie septentrionale de l’ile ne vit que de l’agriculture rizicole, avec un faible pouvoir d’achat et d’accès aux marchés. Le paysage rural est dominé par des terrasses de cultures rizicoles, certaines portions de plantations sylvicoles et un petit reliquat de forêt naturelle. La zone est aussi importante car elle constitue un bastion de sources des principales rivières de la région.

L’exercice de modélisation participative a eu lieu dans le cadre d’un projet de promotion agricole et de captage de l’eau potable intitulé « Allons vers une évolution », soit Ndao Hivoatra en langue malgache. Ce projet, qui a mobilisé plusieurs partenaires locaux, nationaux et internationaux dans cette partie de Madagascar, revêt une connotation particulière pour les communautés locales.

L’implémentation du projet de développement rural se déroule dans trois villages, avec le financement de la Banque Mondiale via l'Association pour le Renforcement de la Recherche Agricole en Afrique Orientale et Centrale (ASARECA) est sous la responsabilité d’Artelia Madagascar avec l’appui technique de Farming and Technology for Africa (FTA) et le Centre national de la recherche appliquée au développement rural (FOFIFA) comme partenaire scientifique. L'exercice de MP3D représente une composante ponctuelle du projet, qui compte avec le soutien technique et financier du Centre technique de coopération agricole et rurale (CTA).

Comme dans plusieurs zones en Afrique, les questions foncières sont très sensibles dans cette région. C’est ainsi qu’on explique que, en général, des communautés locales puissent être moins participatives aux multiples projets de développement rural dans le milieu. L’exercice MP3D au Madagascar a contribué sensiblement à briser les barrières liées aux sensibilités foncières de ce projet. Comme pour les projets précédents dans la zone, le projet Ndao hivoatra était sous-entendu par les communautés rurales comme une astuce de l’accaparement des terres ancestrales au profit de certaines multinationales qui se font passer pour promoteurs du développement rural dans des zones reculées en Afrique. Quand bien même, la question de la cartographie était comprise par les communautés bénéficiaires comme un moyen d’identifier les terres propices pour cette allégation d’accaparement, malgré les multiples séances de sensibilisations des facilitateurs locaux qui ont précédé l’exercice de MP3D dans le village d’Ambohitrakely.

La première phase de l’exercice prévoyait la construction de la maquette de MP3D. Cette étape était précédée par un atelier regroupant les facilitateurs locaux et internationaux venus de la République Démocratique du Congo (RDC), ainsi que les représentants des institutions impliquées dans le projet Ndao hivoatra pour donner l’ossature de l’exercice et pour identifier les préalables matériels, logistiques et de participation communautaire dans la zone du projet. C’est lors de cet atelier qu’une compréhension commune sur l’ampleur du projet de la maquette s’est dessinée.

La première visite des facilitateurs au village d’Ambohitrakely s’est déroulée sous une pluie torrentielle dans une zone érodée et moins praticable. Cette visite visait à mobiliser particulièrement les enfants écoliers pour contribuer aux travaux de traçage et de découpage des couches de la maquette, après avoir réuni au site tous les matériels requis. Le travail des enfants sur la maquette a suscité la bonne curiosité de leurs parents. Progressivement, les parents des enfants et beaucoup d’autres habitants des villages du bassin versant d’Avaratrambolo se sont mobilisés pour contribuer à la construction de la maquette. Madagascar MP3D

Le 13 février 2015, lors de son exposition officielle, la maquette a réuni dans le village d’Ambohitrakely des représentants de différents ministères en charge des affaires foncières et du développement rural, des chercheurs et des représentants des acteurs de développement intervenant dans la zone, les autorités locales, religieuses et coutumières, ainsi que toutes les couches sociales de la population qui initialement semblaient participer timidement au projet Ndao Hivoatra suite à sa sensibilité liée aux questions foncières. La maquette s’est avérée donc un élément réconciliateur avec le projet. La participation active des communautés locales du bassin versant dans la construction de la maquette et, particulièrement, dans la capture des données géo-spatiales de la zone, a notablement accru la confiance du chef des bénéficiaires. Il faut savoir que la maquette appartient aux communautés locales en tant qu’outil pour orienter les travaux du projet Ndao Hivoatra.

La maquette de MP3D se veut donc un outil puissant de planification, de gestion et d’aménagement foncier et forestier. Le succès de cet exercice à Madagascar a suscité l’utilité de l’étendre dans d’autres régions en Afrique. Par exemple, l’exercice pourrait être répliqué dans l’est de la RDC, où le processus de gouvernance et de gestion des forêts communautaires poursuit son parcours. Après la publication du Décret No 14/018 du 02 août 2014 fixant les modalités d’attribution des concessions forestières aux communautés locales en RDC, celles-ci et les peuples autochtones qu’elles regroupent, nécessitent cet outil pour les zonages de leurs territoires ancestraux au profit des projets de conservation et de développement durable dans la région. La création et le fonctionnement des forêts communautaires, ainsi que la reconnaissance des Aires et territoires du patrimoine autochtone et communautaire (APACs) en RDC est un processus qui requiert non seulement la passation d’une législation y afférente, mais aussi et surtout, d’un engagement déterminant des autres parties prenantes. Sans l’accompagnement de cette initiative par les autres acteurs techniques, scientifiques et financiers, la bonne volonté du gouvernement de la RDC pourra difficilement se réaliser.

Note de l'auteur : Le succès de cette modélisation participative en 3 dimensions revêt aussi les qualités et les compétences de l’expert en MP3D et facilitateur de cet exercice cartographie participative  à Madagascar, Barthelemy Boika, qui a démontré ses talents d’éducateur et de mobilisateur communautaire tout au long de l’exercice dans le bassin versant d’Avaratrambolo. Nos remerciements s’adressent également au Centre technique de coopération agricole et rurale (CTA) pour l’appui technique et financier à ce projet de MP3D à Madagascar.

Regardez l'entretien vidéo avec M. Dominique Bikaba, directeur de Strong Roots Congo. Le CTA invita Dominique à participer à l'exercice de façon à l'exposer à la pratique de MP3D et ainsi faciliter la reproduction de l'exercice dans le bassin du Congo.

Commentaires de Dominique Bikaba sur sa participation à un exercice de MP3D à Madagascar from CTA on Vimeo.

La modélisation participative en trois dimensions à Madagascar : une grande première

Situé à 35 km de la capitale Antananarivo, le bassin versant d’Avaratrambola qui inclue trois fokontany (village traditionnel malgache) dont Avaratrambolo, Ampahitrizina et Ambohitrakely, appartient à la commune rurale d’Ambohitrolomahitsy. Elle couvre une superficie de plus de 13 km². Les caractéristiques agro-climatiques et socio-économiques du bassin versant sont typiques de la région centrale du Madagascar, qui est formé par des hauts-plateaux. Dans le cadre du développement rural, un projet appelé Ndao Hivoatra qui signifie « Allons vers une évolution » a été appliqué aux trois fokontany cités précédemment. L’implémentation du projet financé par la Banque Mondiale via l'Association pour le Renforcement de la Recherche Agricole en Afrique Orientale et Centrale (ASARECA) est sous la responsabilité d’Artelia Madagascar avec l’appui technique de Farming and Technology for Africa (FTA) et le Centre national de la recherche appliquée au développement rural (FOFIFA) comme partenaire scientifique.

Pour stimuler la participation de la communauté, l’équipe de gestion du projet a opté pour une nouvelle approche, plus participative et ayant déjà fait ses preuves dans divers pays : la modélisation participative en trois dimensions ou MP3D, une première à Madagascar. Cet exercice de cartographie participative a eu lieu du 3 au 13 Février 2015 avec la participation active des habitants des trois fokontany, des techniciens affectés au projet, des co-facilitateurs locaux, des représentants de diverses Organisations non gouvernementales (ONG) ainsi que de deux facilitateurs expérimentés venus de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC). La présence de ces derniers était soutenue par le Centre technique de coopération agricole et rurale (CTA). L’exercice s’est effectué en trois grandes étapes biens distinctes : la construction de la maquette, l’élaboration de la légende de la maquette et la mise en place de la maquette sur la base des données générées à partir des souvenirs des résidents. La maquette, élaborée à l’échelle 1 : 3000 (1 cm sur la maquette correspond à 30 m sur le terrain), couvre une surface totale de 2,304 ha et mesure exactement 1,6 m de chaque côté.

La première étape exigea un travail de précision. Chaque action devait être entreprise avec un maximum de méticulosité. On laissa ce travail de bricolage aux petits soins d’une vingtaine d’élèves bénévoles, issus de l’école primaire publique d’Avaratrambolo et du collège d’enseignement général d’Ampahitrizina avec l’encadrement des facilitateurs congolais, des co-facilitateurs locaux, des techniciens affectés au projet et des représentants des ONG. Cette étape se déroula en deux jours avec l’enthousiasme des élèves et le dynamisme des facilitateurs.

Dans la deuxième étape, il fallait élaborer la légende de la carte et définir la façon de la visualiser sur la maquette. Complétée en un jour, cette phase témoigna l’étroite collaboration entre les représentants des trois fokontany et les intervenants externes. Pour finir, l’étape du remplissage de la maquette se présenta. Ce travail exigeait une parfaite connaissance du milieu agro-écologique local. Cette étape vit une participation active et disparate de la population locale : hommes, femmes, jeunes, personnes âgées et dirigeants s’impliquèrent dans la tâche. En d’autres termes, elle démontra l’efficacité de l’approche participative, car presque la totalité de la communauté locale était réunie autour de la carte pour essayer d’identifier ses terres et ses caractéristiques suivant la légende définie préalablement ; tout cela sans l’intervention des experts ni des facilitateurs.

Durant le processus, la communauté se posait à voix basse la question « à quoi servira cette carte pour nous? ». Dès que la carte fut achevée, le premier constat de la population locale fut que leur rizière ne couvrait qu’une petite partie de la maquette, d’où la conclusion que l’exploitation d’une plus grande surface est envisageable. Le second constat souleva des problèmes liés au régime foncier, une préoccupation prioritaire dans l’approche nationale du développement. Certains participants furent de l’avis que, grâce à cet outil, ces problèmes pouvaient être résolus à l’aide d’une discussion autour de la maquette avec les responsables du foncier. La troisième observation était en rapport avec le réseau hydrique ; les techniciens affectés au projet remarquèrent que le milieu est riche en eau, donc la gestion efficace de cette dernière doit être primordiale ; ceci est d’ailleurs un des objectifs du projet. Une fois achevée, la maquette fut alors dévoilée au grand public : des enfants aux adultes, et même à ceux qui étaient étrangers au milieu.

Pour conclure, ce premier exercice de MP3D fut un franc succès dans la mesure ou, dès sa présentation, les exécutants du projet ont reçu plusieurs demandes de répétition. L’exercice démontra l’essence même de l’approche participative car, durant toutes les étapes, l’on a pu observer la participation active de différents groupes représentatifs de la communauté du bassin versant, et cela sans aucune préoccupation de la situation, du niveau de vie, du genre. En somme, la barrière de la discrimination a été supprimée. Ainsi, on peut affirmer que l’exercice ne s’arrêtera pas sur ce lieu. Ce n’est que le début d’une succession d’interventions comme celle-ci, puisque cet outil a démontré sa puissance et sa richesse à tous les niveaux du milieu rural.

Ecrit par Christian Andrianarison Sitraka et Sarobidy Hasimbola Razanajatovo Tsilavo

Regardez l'entretien vidéo avec l'un des experts, M. Serge Rakotoson, lors de l'implémentation du projet.

Est qu'on arrivera à faire pareil? Serge Rakotoson réfléchit sur les défis et les résultats surprenants d'un exercice MP3D from CTA on Vimeo.

Participatory Data: Public or Private?

Participatory 3D modelling (P3DM) is a community-based process centred, which integrates local spatial knowledge with data on elevation of the land and depth of the sea to produce physical 3D models. Residents of a given area assemble a 3D model of the territory they rely on for their livelihoods and cultural practices. P3DM is used for a number of purposes and addresses a range of issues including spatial planning, land tenure, climate change adaptation, intergenerational knowledge exchange, building community identity, documenting local knowledge for advocacy purposes, and more.

P3DM has been used mostly in developing countries in rural areas. A P3DM exercise covering an area of 1000 km2 at a 1:10000-scale lasts approximately 10 days and involves 50-100 knowledge holders. The resulting 3D map stores a huge amount of geo-located data, matching a well-defined legend. The legend - developed by the local communities - includes point, line and polygon data; it reflects local and traditional knowledge of all sectors of society, including women and elders. Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) obtained, data displayed on the 3D model are imported into GIS environments and further analysed and compared with other data sets. Depending on the scale used, a P3DM exercise may generate up to 80 layers of information including land cover, resource use and tenure, social infrastructure, settlements, sites of cultural significance and more. Some data may be considered as sensitive by the knowledge holders and treated as confidential (i.e. removed from the model or stored as classified layers in a GIS). Custodians of data (usually NGOs operating on behalf of communities) should manage these according on ethical principles and agreed procedures.

P3DM works best at 1:5000 – 1:10000 scale or larger. The larger the scale (1:5000 is larger than 1:10,000), the more detailed and diversified the input of the knowledge holders will be. As a consequence, P3DM can be applied on moderately large areas (1000-4000 km2) at a time, although repeated exercises may result in the full coverage of small island nations. In countries covering large portion of the Earth, P3DM can and should be applied on selected “hot spots” to address specific issues.

As a follow-up to the 2006 “Mapping for Change” Conference which took place in Nairobi, the Community of Practice devoted to the improvement of Participatory GIS (PGIS) practice, developed guidelines on “Practical ethics for PGIS practitioners, facilitators, technology intermediaries and researchers” available 12 languages.

Data generation is part of the P3DM process, but not its end. Evidence has proved that as a result of the process, knowledge holders gain a deeper understanding of their bio-physical and social environments, heightened awareness on the importance of sound and climate-smart resource management and more. Data are usually generated to serve the process as the communities (all generations) learn by doing and to empower knowledge holders in interfacing with higher authorities.
Sharing of data is strategic and meant to serve purposes set by the knowledge holders. On the other hand the process allows for traditional and scientific knowledge systems to come together and make use of or build on the best of the two “worlds”.

CTA Open Seminar: "Participatory Data: Public or Private?"

The seminar "Participatory Data: Public or Private? is organised by CTA in anticipation of the forthcoming International Open Data Day

"Within Participatory mapping processes participatory data are usually generated to serve the process itself as the communities learn by doing and to empower knowledge holders in interfacing with higher authorities. Sharing of such data is strategic and meant to serve purposes set (ideally) by the knowledge holders. On the other hand the process allows for traditional and scientific knowledge systems to come together and make use of or build on the best of the two worlds."

When? Wednesday, 21 January,  2015, 10:00 – 12:00
Where? CTA, Agro Business Park 2, 6708 Wageningen, The Netherlands;
What?: get the flyer
Who? all those interested.
How? you are free to join. Here is our location on Google Maps

Aljazeera reports on P3DM made and used in Samoa to adapt to climate change and mitigate disasters

Participatory 3D Model (P3DM) done by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) in Samoa in the framework of the GEF-Funded "Integration of climate change risk and resilience into forestry management in Samoa (ICCRIFS)" Project now in on Aljazeera news.

Top UN officials Helen Clark and Naoko Ishii praising outcome of P3DM activities in Samoa

During the SIDS Conference which took place in Apia, Samoa, in September 2014, Ms Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator and Dr Naoko Ishii, GEF CEO & Chairperson are introduced to the Participatory 3D Model (P3DM) done by representatives from 14 villages in Lauli'i to Falevao area on Upolu Island, Western Samoa in the context of the GEF-Funded "Integration of climate change risk and resilience into forestry management in Samoa (ICCRIFS)" Project.

This short video captures some of their inspiring comments.

Credits for footage and still images: Paulo Amerika, MNRE, Samoa

Related article on the Samoa Observer Ltd.

Mandingalbay Yidinji Traditional Owners mapped their lands in 3 dimensions - Don't miss their feedback at the World Park Congress in Sydney

Australian aboriginal Mandingalbay Yidinjii people have recently completed a P3DM exercise within the ancestral territories (traditional country) in Queensland.

They will showcase their work and replicate the population of one section of their 3D model during the World Parks Congress in Sydney They will do this at the WIN and Pacific Community Dialogue Pavilion (Pavilion 2) on 13-15 November. You should pass by and talk to them about their exciting experience.

On Monday, 17 November 8:30 – 12:00 they will officially present their achievements at the WIN & Pacific Community Dialogue Pavilion (Pavilion 2) during the session “Voices and choices: The risks and values of georeferencing traditional and local knowledge”. This session is organised by CTA with support provided by IUCN, UNDP, GEF-SGP and the WTMA.

More on this activity and related events at the Worls Parks Congress is found on this flyer.

Forthcoming P3DM-related activities at the 6th World Park Congress, Sydney 12-19 November 2014

Click to download the flyer

This is to update you about a series of events which will focus on Participatory GIS practice during the forthcoming IUCN World Park Congress. The events we are organising have a common denominator: Participatory 3D modelling (P3DM).

Below is a short description of the 3 events / activities:

Rolling activity (13-17 November),  at the WIN & Pacific Community Dialogue Pavilion (Pavilion #2)

Title: Participatory 3D modelling of the traditional country of the Mandingalbay Yidinji People, Queensland, Australia

Organisers: Wet Tropics Management Authority with support provided by IUCN, CTA and UNDP Equator Initiative with financial support provided by UNDP GEF-SGP

Starting on 13 November and for the duration of the conference, representatives from the aboriginal Mandingalbay Yidinji People will work on a 3D Model reproducing their ancestral territory within the Wet Tropics World Heritage site. The model will be at a 1:10,000 scale and include terrestrial and coastal components. It will be a replica of a larger model completed by a wider representation of the community in Queensland with support provided by the Wet Tropics Management Authority, IUCN and UNDP GEF-SGP. The population of the 3D model with data will occur during the conference within the WIN Communities Dialogue Pavilion. Support in the process will be offered by Partners with Melanesians. The completed model will be presented by Mandingalbay Yidinji People during the Side event “: The risks and values of geo-referencing traditional and local knowledge” which will take in the same pavilion on Monday 17 (see below).

Pavilion event; 17 November 8:30 – 12:00, WIN & Pacific Community Dialogue Pavilion (Pavilion #2)

Title: Voices and Choices: The risks and values of geo-referencing traditional and local knowledge

Organisers: CTA and IUCN

Note: Coffee, tea and cakes will be served to participants by mid-morning

This event focuses on Participatory 3 Dimensional Modelling (P3DM) a method within the Participatory GIS family which enables communities to geo-reference and spatially document their complex systems of traditional land/seascape knowledge. The method benefits from its integration with GIS, multimedia production, Web2.0 and social media and serves multiple purposes, including landscape planning, rights advocacy, inter-generational knowledge transmission, influencing policy-making and enhancing communities’ socio-environmental resilience.

At the onset of Participatory GIS (PGIS) practice, concerns were expressed that the nature of and access to GIS would simultaneously marginalize or empower different groups in society. The practice evolved along different lines and among diverse interest groups. Currently it embraces a blend of applications ranging from Internet-based spatial multimedia to field-based participatory methods with a modest GIS component. In this fast-evolving context, there is a seemingly unstoppable excitement about georeferencing human physical, biological and socio-cultural worlds and making the information publicly available. This embodies both potentials and risks, aspects which need to be taken into consideration by knowledge holders, technology intermediaries/facilitators and researchers.

A physical 1:10,000 scale 3D model completed by the Mandingalbay Yidinji People representing a portion of their ancestral territory within the Wet Tropics World Heritage site in Queensland, Australia will be showcased at the event. Representatives from the community will share their experience in going through the various phases of the process, how they dealt with sensitive data, and their plans on how best to make use of acquired skills, knowledge and completed products (the model and derived maps) in their future endeavours.

Coordinator: Giacomo Rambaldi (rambaldi[at]cta.int)

Session within Stream 7; Tuesday 18 November 2014, 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Title: Knowledge management and technologies: Participatory 3D modelling in Protected Areas, landscapes and seascapes

Organisers: IPACC and CTA, in cooperation with Association des Femmes Peules Autochtones du Tchad, Minorités Pygmées du Gabon, and Yiaku People’s Association of Kenya, Melca Ethiopia and other indigenous peoples and local communities.

Background and summary: IPACC, African Biodiversity Network and other organisations have used Participatory 3 Dimensional Modelling (P3DM) to represent complex systems of indigenous landscape knowledge to themselves and decision-makers. P3DM, a geo-referenced and yet participatory system of knowledge representation serves multiple usages, including landscape planning, rights advocacy, inter-generational knowledge transmission and improving conservation.

The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) promotes skills transfer in P3DM for indigenous peoples and local communities in Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific regions.
Oral knowledge of biological systems emerges through the methodology, associated with resource governance, rights and indigenous values. The tool provides a multi-use medium for negotiating land use, understanding customary use systems, education for sustainability, and empowering indigenous peoples as holders of expert knowledge in conservation and planning.
P3DM case studies describe a broad range of ecosystems and contexts. P3DM provides a valuable tool for intercultural understanding of diverse knowledge and land use systems relevant for Protected Areas.

Coordinators: Nigel Crawhall (nigel.tilcepa[at]gmail.com) and Giacomo Rambaldi (rambaldi[at]cta.int)

Une carte en 3D financée par le CTA aide une tribu à consigner et à articuler son savoir traditionnel

Les Saramaca installés le long du Haut Suriname espèrent qu'un système d'information géographique proposé par Tropenbos International et le CTA leur permettra de surmonter le traumatisme provoqué par la perte de leurs terres historiques voilà cinq décennies, dont les effets se font sentir aujourd'hui encore. Lors de l'édition 2014 de la Semaine caribéenne de l'agriculture, Godfried Adjako, l'un des chefs des Saramaca, a parlé de l'expérience de son peuple à l'occasion d'un séminaire présenté le jeudi par Giacomo Rambaldi du Centre technique de coopération agricole et rurale ACP-UE (CTA) et Rudi van Kanten de Tropenbos International, sur le thème de la cartographie participative en 3D (CP3D).

Par le biais de son interprète Debora Linga, Adjako a expliqué que depuis que Tropenbos a encouragé les Saramaca à produire une carte P3D de leur propre territoire, en début d'année, ce peuple dépossédé de ses terres retrouve espoir. Les Saramaca ont été déplacés contre leur gré lorsque le gouvernement du Suriname a lancé la construction du barrage d'Afobaka dans les années 1960 : avec la création du réservoir de Brokopondo, ce sont toutes leurs terres qui ont été inondées, les forçant à déménager de leur forêt équatoriale vers d'autres villages saramaca. Linga explique que ce départ subi « nous affecte quotidiennement... encore aujourd'hui. Les Saramaca ne cessent d'en parler. »

Le projet de carte participative en 3D, promu entre autres par le CTA, a été achevée le mois dernier. Elle repose sur le savoir géographique du peuple indigène. Elle présente clairement tous les points importants : en prenant les ruisseaux et les rivières comme principaux points de repère, elle situe les terres de chasse, les fermes, les routes, les villages, les forêts et d'autres infrastructures des Saramaca. Cette carte ne repose pas sur des données scientifiques, mais sur le savoir local traditionnel.

Van Kanten a expliqué que cette carte a ensuite été « géoréférencée et numérisée pour être utilisée lors des prises de décision. » Il précise que la carte permet d'expliquer aux personnes extérieures comment les Saramaca exploitent la forêt, en donnant des informations qui pourront être utilisées à des fins de développement local, notamment pour raccorder les villages à l'électricité et à l'eau courante, ou pour créer des dispensaires et des écoles. En évoquant l'histoire et les traditions des Saramaca, la carte sert également à transmettre le savoir aux nouvelles générations.

La carte « modélise les conséquences du changement sur les biens et les services de l'écosystème et sur les moyens de subsistance dans la forêt », ajoute-t-il, ce qui peut aider les membres du gouvernement qui prévoient des programmes de développement économique dans la région.

Rambaldi est un pionnier de la cartographie participative en 3D. Après l'avoir fait découvrir au CTA, où il travaille désormais, il l'utilise aujourd'hui dans le monde entier. Rambaldi a expliqué que dans les PEID, la modélisation gagne en popularité dans les stratégies d'adaptation au changement climatique. En plus d'aider à atténuer les risques de catastrophes naturelles, elle permet de mieux gérer et de résoudre les conflits territoriaux. Enfin, elle offre aux peuples indigènes une certaine autodétermination vis-à-vis de leurs terres.

Pour autant, cette carte ne mentionne pas toutes les informations importantes pour le peuple Saramaca. Adjako a expliqué que la carte n'indique pas les cimetières sacrés par exemple, pas plus qu'elle ne situe les réserves aurifères, a précisé Linga.

Cette dernière a expliqué que le peuple Saramaca souhaite que cette carte puisse être utilisée par les personnes et les entités intéressées par la région, et qu'il valait donc mieux ne pas divulguer des informations aussi sensibles. Rambaldi a précisé qu'aux Philippines, certains peuples indigènes qui avaient révélé toutes les informations les concernant sur leur carte en 3D ont été victimes de voleurs et d'individus mal intentionnés. « Il est important de faire un choix quant aux informations qui seront rendues publiques », déclare-t-il.


Auteur : Jewel Fraser

CTA-funded 3D map helping tribe document and articulate their traditional knowledge

Saramaccans settled along the Upper Suriname River have expressed the hope that a form of Geographical Information Systems introduced by Tropenbos International and CTA will ensure they will better cope with the trauma provoked by their relocation from their traditional lands five decades ago, the effects of which are still being experienced. Saramaccan chief Godfried Adjako was sharing their experience on Thursday with an audience at the Caribbean Week of Agriculture 2014, during a seminar on Participatory 3D Mapping (P3DM), led by Giacomo Rambaldi of the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA) and Rudi van Kanten of Trobenpos International.

Speaking through an interpreter, Debora Linga, Adjako told the audience that Trobenpos' intervention earlier this year to encourage the Saramaccan people to produce a P3D map of their territory had brought hope to a people who had lost all their lands. They were forcibly resettled after the Surinamese government built the Afobaka Dam in the 1960s, which created the Brokopondo Reservoir, flooding miles of rainforest where they had formerly lived and forcing them to move to other Saramaccan villages.

Linga said this forcible resettlement "on a daily basis...still affects our lives. Saramaccan people talk about it very often."

The P3D map, work on which was co-sponsored by CTA and completed last month, is based on the indigenous people's knowledge of their territory. It clearly plots all important points of interest, using creeks and rivers as the main markers and showing where things like hunting grounds, farms, roads, villages, forests and other infrastructure of the Saramaccan are located. It is not a scientific map but based on local, traditional knowledge.

Van Kanten explained that this map was then "geo-referenced and digitized so that it can be used in decision making." He said the map explains the Saramaccan's use of the forest to others and provides information which can then be used for planning local development, including the introduction of electricity, running water, medical posts and schools. It also serves as a means of transferring knowledge to the younger generation of Saramaccans about their people's history and traditions.

The map "models the impact of change on ecosystem goods and services and the forest livelihood," he added, which can help government officials when they are considering plans for economic development of the region.

Rambaldi is a pioneer of P3D mapping. He introduced it to the CTA where he now works and has used it in various regions around the world. Rambaldi told the audience the model mapping is increasingly used in climate change adaptation planning among SIDS. It is also used in disaster risk reduction, and the management and amelioration of territorial conflicts. It also helps indigenous people enjoy self-determination with regard to their lands.

Nevertheless, the map does not contain all important information pertaining to the Saramaccan people. Adjako explained that sacred burial grounds are not included on the map. Linga added that the location of gold reserves in the area are likewise not mapped.

She explained that the Saramaccan people thought it wise to withhold some sensitive information even though they wish to make the map widely available to others interested in the area to use. Rambaldi pointed out that in the Philippines, where some indigenous people had given full disclosure of all data available on their 3D map, they had suffered losses to thieves and others with bad intentions. "It is important to decide what information should be made public or kept confidential," he said.

Written by Jewel Fraser