Participatory Mapping in a Developing Country Context: Lessons from South Africa

Participatory Mapping in a Developing Country Context: Lessons from South Africa

Digital participatory mapping improves accessibility to spatial information and the way in which knowledge is co-constructed and landscapes co-managed with impoverished communities. However, many unintended consequences for social and epistemic justice may be exacerbated in developing country contex...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Land (Basel) Vol. 8; no. 9; p. 134
Main Authors: Weyer, Dylan, Bezerra, Joana Carlos, De Vos, Alta
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Basel MDPI AG 01-09-2019
Subjects:
Accessibility
Accuracy
Community
Community involvement
Community participation
Context
D2D mapping
Decision making
Developing countries
Digital mapping
Empowerment
Environmental management
epistemic justice
Ethical standards
Ethics
Geographic information systems
Industrialized nations
Intellectual property
Knowledge
Land use
landscape management
LDCs
local knowledge
Logistics
Mapping
Natural resource management
Natural resources
Participation
PGIS/PPGIS methods
Power
Social justice
Spatial data
South Africa
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Summary:Digital participatory mapping improves accessibility to spatial information and the way in which knowledge is co-constructed and landscapes co-managed with impoverished communities. However, many unintended consequences for social and epistemic justice may be exacerbated in developing country contexts. Two South African case studies incorporating Direct-to-Digital participatory mapping in marginalized communities to inform land-use decision-making, and the ethical challenges of adopting this method are discussed. Understanding the past and present context of the site and the power dynamics at play is critical to develop trust and manage expectations among research participants. When employing unfamiliar technology, disparate literacy levels and language barriers create challenges for ensuring participants understand the risks of their involvement and recognize their rights. The logistics of using this approach in remote areas with poor infrastructure and deciding how best to leave the participants with the maps they have co-produced in an accessible format present further challenges. Overcoming these can however offer opportunity for redressing past injustices and empowering marginalized communities with a voice in decisions that affect their livelihoods.
ISSN:2073-445X
2073-445X
DOI:10.3390/land8090134