Building a common description of land cover in a tropical watershed plagued with intercultural conflicts: The value of participatory 3D modelling

Abstract

Natural forest management and conservation projects such as reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and enhancing forest carbon stocks (REDD+) face many challenges in the field. Implementation of these projects depends on such factors as clarity of information among stakeholders, legal security of territories, and local decision-making power. These challenges have been previously identified in the Upper Bayano watershed of eastern Panama, where a long history of land cover and land-use conflicts is present between three different human groups. With a long-term objective of natural forest conservation, this study aims to develop and test participatory approaches (participatory mapping and participatory 3D modelling) for the Upper Bayano watershed in an attempt to create a consensus among all stakeholders on current land cover and land-use conflicts to overcome challenges faced by projects as REDD+. We found that the third dimension allows a common understanding over the landscape, creates a common ground discussion, and leads towards a consensus, while the participatory approach brings discussion and positive effects among the stakeholders and the bridging institutions bring equity and transparency. Finally, we discuss implications of this knowledge generation and common agreement over the landscape for future forest management projects such as REDD+'s implementation.

Participatory 3D model to promote intergenerational engagement for disaster risk reduction in São Luiz do Paraitinga, Brazil

“…The interaction with the participants was an opportunity to start the conversation and to apply the secondary methods (semi-structured interviews, roundtable discussions and group discussion and presentation about action plans) in a more relaxed way without forcing them to provide information. Participants were able to "travel" their territory by following the spatial information presented on the model (Guillemette et al, 2017).…”

“…The methodological approach allowed for inclusiveness of different audiences and focus groups' perceptions, which was a challenge faced by previous research studies. For instance, Guillemette et al (2017) identified difficulty in encouraging specific focus groups during the Participatory 3D model discussion phase. In that sense, we noticed that if interviews are conducted individually, then participants feel more confident about externalizing their point of view.…”

A participatory approach to elucidate the consequences of land invasions on REDD+ initiatives: A case study with Indigenous communities in Panama

“…As a result, twenty informal interviews were subsequently held with Indigenous leaders and government technicians in the region, which allowed us to further document current and unresolved land invasions in the watershed. Finally, community members built a three-dimensional scale model of the watershed, identifying areas of conflict and helping us to develop a timeline of land invasions [ 18 ]. Validation of all the information obtained on the invaded areas was then carried out with Indigenous leaders and technicians over the course of three workshops, one with the Guna and two with the Embera, in November 2015 attended by a total of 25 people.…”

Learning Together for and with the Martuwarra Fitzroy River

“…The salience/ relevance, credibility, legitimacy, applicability, accessibility/actionability, comprehensiveness/holism and timing of knowledge have been demonstrated to affect its accessibility for decision-making (Cash et al 2003;Dunn and Laing 2017). Useful knowledge in Indigenous societies is collectively held, owned and managed and demonstrates capabilities for innovation and adaptation, and for generating excitement and enthusiasm in the group (Guillemette et al 2017;Wheeler and Root-Bernstein 2020). However improved access to knowledge depends on social characteristics of the users as much as the knowledge characteristics (Jasanoff 2004).…”