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The designation of protected areas that overlaps
community farmland is an issue that needs to be resolved urgently
by people and government sectors. The problems faced through
the designation are due to a lack of participation of local
communities. As a result, the protected areas are often declared
and overlap the farming and settlement areas of the communities
that have been living there, often for a long time.
At the current stage, a significant number
of local communities are located within the protected areas,
most depending on the resources within the protected area
for their livelihoods. However, since the National Park Act
forbid living inside or utilising resources, the local community
suddenly become illegal settlers and therefore become excluded
from accessing the resources and participatory planning. This
has fuelled many conflicts concerning management of forests
and natural resources, which still prevail today.
In order to develop a process to address
such conflicts and promote participatory protected area management
based on ecological approach, SDF has developed a project
on participatory community mapping as an instrument for developing
participatory information system.
Integrated Community mapping is a mapping
system that illustrates information on community-based natural
resource management. It is different from general maps because
it adopts the integrated approaches under which information
from the community and official maps are combined to promote
an accuracy of information. The mapping process gives emphasis
to creating dialog where different stakeholders can discuss
and propose solutions to the conflicts in natural resource
management together. Most importantly, it aims to build capacity
of local communities by providing a learning process, an analysis
of problems through discussion and a sharing of information
by all stakeholders.
The mapping process itself, also help builds
the capacity of local communities to communicate their experiences
and problems relating to their natural resource management.
The output is a standardized participatory community map illustrating
detailed information on natural resources, problems and issues
in the areas related to local biodiversity. Since the information
gathering process prioritises the engagement of local stakeholders
and integrates it with government's data, the maps have a
potential for becoming one of the powerful tools for participatory
natural resource planning among different stakeholders.
The objective of community mapping is to
support a learning process within local communities, development
workers and other groups involved in community-based natural
resource management. It is also useful for studying the relationship
between the local ecosystems, communities' livelihoods and
community-based natural resource practices. SDF is currently
adopting this tool to be used in the participatory process
on land demarcation, which is a joint effort with state officials
involved with community's organisations. It is hoped that
this exercise will lead to the resolution of conflicts.
At present, current activity on community
mapping is at a preparation stage, specifically on developing
information framework, analysis of local situations, gathering
additional database materials and the consultations with community's
members, government officials and NGOs, working in the target
areas of Ob Luang National Park, Had Chao Mai Marine National
Park and Phu Pha Marn National Park.
This participatory community mapping activity
has received financial assistance from by Danida, King Prajadhipok's
Institute (KPI) and the Asia Forest Network (AFN). SDF also
received technical assistance and support from the Environmental
Science for Social Change (ESSC) from the Philippines through
the link in SPARK program.
'Participatory community mapping
process, conducted in Ban Nong Tan Nam, Tambon Nong
Tan Nam, Ampur Kud Kao Pun between 15-20 May, 2001'
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