Participatory 3D mapping supports ancestral domain claims

Location: Mindanao, Philippines

Timeline: 1996-Present

Principal organisations: PAFID

Participatory 3D mapping has proven to be an effective tool to support indigenous peoples’ formal claims over their ancestral domains in the region of Mindanao. These include rivers, forests, agricultural and coastal areas, among other natural resources. While the mapping process facilitates the resolution of conflicts over land, it also increases the capacities of the communities to engage in land-related decision-making. The digitised version of the maps has helped document formal claim dossiers and allowed communities to demand their right to free, prior and informed consent. They are also being used as an educational resource for the youth.