Participatory Mapping for Strengthening Environmental Governance on Socio-Ecological Impacts of Infrastructure in the Amazon: Lessons to Improve Tools and Strategies

Carla Mere-Roncal, Gabriel Cardoso Carrero, Andrea Birgit Chavez, Angelica Maria Almeyda Zambrano, Bette Loiselle, Felipe Veluk Gutierrez, Vanessa Luna-Celino, Marliz Arteaga, Eduardo Schmitz Bongiolo, André Segura Tomasi, Paul André Van Damme, Dennis Edgar Lizarro Zapata and Eben North Broadbent
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Carla Mere-Roncal: School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Gabriel Cardoso Carrero: Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Andrea Birgit Chavez: Spatial Ecology and Conservation Lab, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Angelica Maria Almeyda Zambrano: Spatial Ecology and Conservation Lab, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Bette Loiselle: Center for Latin American Studies, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Felipe Veluk Gutierrez: School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Vanessa Luna-Celino: School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Marliz Arteaga: School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Eduardo Schmitz Bongiolo: Spatial Ecology and Conservation Lab, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
André Segura Tomasi: Instituto Internacional de Educação do Brasil IEB, Brazilia 70863-520, Brazil
Paul André Van Damme: Faunagua, Instituto de Investigación Aplicada de los Recursos Acuáticos, Sacaba-Cochabamba 31001, Bolivia
Dennis Edgar Lizarro Zapata: Centro de Investigación de Recursos Acuáticos, Universidad Autónoma del Beni Mcal. José Ballivián, Campus Universitario “Hernán Melgar Justiniano”, Trinidad, Bolivia
Eben North Broadbent: School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 24, 1-20

Abstract: The Amazon region has been viewed as a source of economic growth based on extractive industry and large-scale infrastructure development endeavors, such as roads, dams, oil and gas pipelines and mining. International and national policies advocating for the development of the Amazon often conflict with the environmental sector tasked with conserving its unique ecosystems and peoples through a sustainable development agenda. New practices of environmental governance can help mitigate adverse socio-economic and ecological effects. For example, forming a “community of practice and learning” (CoP-L) is an approach for improving governance via collaboration and knowledge exchange. The Governance and Infrastructure in the Amazon (GIA) project, in which this study is embedded, has proposed that fostering a CoP-L on tools and strategies to improve infrastructure governance can serve as a mechanism to promote learning and action on factors related to governance effectiveness. A particular tool used by the GIA project for generating and sharing knowledge has been participatory mapping (Pmap). This study analyzes Pmap exercises conducted through workshops in four different Amazonian regions. The goal of Pmap was to capture different perspectives from stakeholders based on their experiences and interests to visualize and reflect on (1) areas of value, (2) areas of concern and (3) recommended actions related to reducing impacts of infrastructure development and improvement of governance processes. We used a mixed-methods approach to explore textual analysis, regional multi-iteration discussion with stakeholders, participatory mapping and integration with ancillary geospatial datasets. We believe that by sharing local-knowledge-driven data and strengthening multi-actor dialogue and collaboration, this novel approach can improve day to day practices of CoP-L members and, therefore, the transparency of infrastructure planning and good governance.

Keywords: governance; infrastructure; nature conservation; participatory mapping; protected areas; socio-ecological systems; western amazon (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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