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Social Geomatics: Participatory Forest Mapping to Mediate Resource Conflict in the Bolivian Amazon

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Abstract

This paper describes a participatory mapping method field tested with agro-extractive settlements in the Bolivian Amazon. A regional transition from customary to formal property rights resulting from sweeping 1996 land tenure reforms has led to confusion and conflicts over resource rights, a problem compounded by recent high market prices for Brazil nuts. In response to community requests to clarify resource rights to Brazil nut trees, CIFOR offered to train community members to map trees, trails and other key features themselves. This experience indicates that local residents can map their resources in an effective and efficient way and in the process gather necessary information to mediate competing claims, demonstrate their legitimate resource claims to external stakeholders and make management decisions. We argue that maps and properties are more likely to be seen as legitimate reflections of de facto rights if local stakeholders are involved as a group from the outset.

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Notes

  1. With high prices in recent years the harvest continues 3 or 4 months longer, an extension locally called the zafrilla or little harvest.

  2. This is derived from barraca, the local name for these estates.

  3. In other Palma Real families sons that marry are provided a portion of the family castañal but such a division had not taken place in one family. Interestingly, their daughter, who married an outsider but remained in the community, would not have inherited a portion of the family castañal, given local custom. However, in this case the woman’s family was given access to a castañal newly defined as a result of the mapping exercise described here.

  4. Differential techniques involve having an additional GPS receiver collecting data at the same time over a point with known coordinates.

  5. Slope distances can be corrected by using the slope measurements: horizontal distance = slope distance × cosine (slope angle).

  6. Legally Palma Real should receive 16,000 ha (500 ha for each of the 32 families). INRA has identified lands to compensate the community but unfortunately the selected area does not cover the traditionally used forests that remain outside of their polygon so further negotiation will be necessary.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for International Forestry Research, Santa Cruz, Bolivia

    Peter Cronkleton, Marco Antonio Albornoz & Kristen Evans

  2. School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Grenville Barnes

  3. Center for Integrated Area Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

    Wil de Jong

Authors
  1. Peter Cronkleton
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  2. Marco Antonio Albornoz
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  3. Grenville Barnes
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  4. Kristen Evans
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  5. Wil de Jong
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Correspondence to Peter Cronkleton.

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Cronkleton, P., Albornoz, M.A., Barnes, G. et al. Social Geomatics: Participatory Forest Mapping to Mediate Resource Conflict in the Bolivian Amazon. Hum Ecol 38, 65–76 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-009-9296-4

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