An Introductory Guide to Participatory 3D Modelling for protected and conserved areas lauched at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi (10 October 2025)

Launched together with the Handbook on Participatory 3D Modelling for Protected and Conserved areas, this guide describes how Participatory 3D Modelling (P3DM) can support the pathway for improving protected and conserved area (PCA) governance, planning and management towards achieving positive conservation outcomes, including as set out in the IUCN Green List Standard.

Across the guide there are blue boxes that present case studies of real-world applications of P3DM in different contexts, especially those that have supported or been co-led by communities. The green boxes are explaining key concepts or processes

Who is this guide for?

This guide is for anyone interested in learning about how using P3DM can support good practice in protected and conserved areas governance, management and planning. This includes:

• Governing actors or decision-makers such as PCA site managers and governing bodies, local government officials and policymakers;
• Local rightsholders including Indigenous peoples and local communities;
• Other stakeholders such as environmental nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society organisations (CSOs), researchers and academics.

It is also for any of the above actors who are using the Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas global Standards as a framework to advance in equitable governance, sound design and planning and effective management and would like to know how can P3DM supports them.

P3DM handbook lauched at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi (10 October 2025)

This handbook is useful both for people who are experienced in participatory mapping as well as people who are completely new to the practice. 

After gaining some initial understanding of what P3DM practice is all about and its origin, this handbook will help you to deepen your understanding of the implications of practising P3DM especially in the context of collaborative Protected and Conserved Areas (PCA) management.

This handbook primarily targets the following audience:

• Protected area managers: Government employees and private landowners working in the national PCA system who are directly responsible for the management of such areas.
• Advisors: Generally, these are expatriates operating in the context of externally funded projects focusing on PCAs.
• Collaborators: Representatives from civil society organisations having a stake in activities taking place in locations that receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological or cultural values. 
• Implementers and project staff: This audience will benefit from this handbook as it details the P3DM processes step-by-step and can help better shape mutual expectations and understanding of the intrinsic value of the process.
• Conserved areas governance actors and managers: Those actors that conserve their own areas effectively may wish to draw on P3DM as a means to gain recognition and support for their areas. This includes local rightsholders including Indigenous peoples and local communities.

It is also for any of the above actors who are using the Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas global Standard as a framework to advance in equitable governance, sound design and planning, and effective management and would like to know how P3DM can support them. To explore these options in depth, visit the Green List website.