Participatory 3-Dimensional Mapping:
Reclaiming the Ancestral Domains
ndigenous peoples in the Philippines continue including lands no longer occupied exclusively by
I to count among the poorest of the poor, having
been deprived for the longest time of legal
recognition of their territories. Yet, there is a legal
indigenous cultural communities, but to which
they had traditional access.”
framework in place that recognizes the rights of Under the principle of self-determination,
indigenous peoples. IPRA provides for indigenous communities to
document and delineate their own ancestral
Passed in 1997, Republic Act 8371 or the domain claims and to formulate their own
Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) addresses ancestral domain sustainable development and
four substantive rights of indigenous people/ management plans (ADSDPPs) based on their
communities: (i) the right to ancestral domains indigenous knowledge systems and practices.
and lands, (ii) the right to self-governance and At the time the PAFID NGO-ECP project started
empowerment; (iii) the right to cultural integrity; in 2003, many indigenous communities in the
and (iv) social justice and human rights. The law Caraga region were in the process of filing
defines ancestral domains to cover “forests, claims and negotiating for legal recognition of
pastures, residential and agricultural lands, their ancestral domains. Yet, the boundaries of
hunting grounds, worship and burial areas, their domains had not been properly identified
and mapped, causing extreme frustration within
Box 1. Mapping ancestral domains in
the communities whose claims were often northern Mindanao, Philippines
questioned as to their legitimacy. Moreover, in
the absence of perimeter maps and community The Philippine Association for Intercultural
plans, adverse claimants (including mining, Development, Inc. (PAFID) is a social
logging, and plantation companies) continued to development organization that, for 47 years, has
assisted indigenous communities in regaining
encroach into IP lands.
their ancestral domains.
PAFID’s project with IFAD, Mapping Ancestral
The innovation: marrying Domains in Northern Mindanao, was
implemented for 3 years (2003 – 2006). Its overall
traditional knowledge and goal was to bring about full recognition of the
rights of indigenous communities over their
technical processes ancestral domains. The project provided support
to the indigenous peoples’ communities that had
initiated negotiations with the government for
The use of participatory three-dimensional the legal recognition of their ancestral domains
mapping (P3DM) as a tool for community in the Caraga region of northern Mindanao. The
development was pioneered in Thailand in project focused on achieving its aims using (i)
participatory community mapping; (ii) ancestral
the late 80s and was used extensively by the
domain management planning; and (iii) capacity-
Royal Forestry Department. It was introduced building.
in the Philippines in 1993 by the Environmental
Science for Social Change in their work with
the Indigenous Alangan Mangyan in the
island of Mindoro. In 1995, PAFID adopted The mapping process heavily banks on the
the methodology and customized its use to participation of indigenous communities in
respond to issues related to indigenous peoples’ delineating their own domains based on physical
land rights and to facilitate ancestral domain and cultural markers. This establishes the basis
management planning (ADMP). for their filing of ancestral domain claims.
Furthermore, because the P3-D map is
With P3DM, local communities construct a relief constructed from the combination of local
model of their ancestral domain by combining knowledge and state-of-the-art mapping
collective and specific local knowledge and the technologies, it contains accurate and easily
use of global positioning system/geographic understandable spatial information such as area,
information system (GPS/GIS) technology. A location, distance and land uses, thus providing
3-D map is a physical model of a place. It uses critical technical inputs for the local community
an appropriate scale that shows the rivers, in formulating its ancestral domain management
mountains, and valleys, as well as the location of plans.
residential and cultivated areas, and the resources
from which communities derive their livelihoods.
It also records indigenous knowledge, beliefs,
and practices—i.e., the sacred areas, burial sites,
and all those features that have social, cultural,
and spiritual significance to the local people are
shown.
2 Bringing Innovations to Scale
The process: empowering Discussion of IP
communities for claim community situations
making and domain Community orientation
planning and capacity building for
mapping activities
The process of P3DM and domain planning
Documentation of
involves several related activities:
historical evidence for
making land claims
1. Discussion of IP community situations
Forums and community meetings are first
On-ground survey of the
organized to discuss the general situation of
IP territory
indigenous peoples and the salient features
of the IPRA law—e.g., socioeconomic and
tenurial rights of IP communities; community
rights and obligations to protect, utilize, and Actual 3-D mapping
develop their ancestral domains. Some larger
forums may be attended by both tribal leaders
and local government officials and may Production of ancestral
convene up to 300 people. domain maps
2. Community orientation and capacity building
for mapping activities Visioning and
Filing land claim
In community workshops, PAFID technical community planning
staff facilitate sketch-mapping activities to
enable communities to identify and determine
the coverage of their ancestral domain
Distribution of ADMP to
claims. People recall and write the names support groups
of mountains, rivers, sacred areas, and old
villages in their indigenous language and
provide historical accounts of these. They
identify important landmarks such as burial also conduct a series of community trainings
caves, community boundaries, communal on the use of GPS instruments and other survey
forests, and others. These sketch maps equipment. Resource persons often include
provide the basis for preparing enlarged tribal leaders from other communities who have
topographic and base maps that would be been previously trained on GPS and have already
used to construct 3-D relief models of their done perimeter surveys of their own ancestral
domains. domains.
In preparation for the conduct of on-ground Capacity building is also ingrained in actual 3-D
perimeter surveys, the PAFID technical staff mapping and community planning.
Participatory 3-Dimensional Mapping: Reclaiming the Ancestral Domains 3
3. Documentation of historical evidence for disputes or leadership conflicts. Moreover, in
making land claims areas like eastern Mindanao, there are peace
Throughout the mapping process, the PAFID and order problems due to the presence
staff work closely with the community in of rebel groups and military operations in
gathering evidence to support their ancestral indigenous community areas.
domain claims. These include extensive
gathering of documentary and physical 4. Community on-ground survey of the territory
evidence, recording of historical and oral Assisted by a PAFID technical team, GPS-
accounts, writing affidavits and testimonies trained members of the community conduct
of elders, and genealogical profiling. These an on-ground perimeter survey to delineate
are compiled into “claim-books,” the set the ancestral domain. They take a perimeter-
of documents submitted to the National walk to mark off the natural boundary lines
Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and cultural markers of the domain. They also
containing the mandatory requirements take point positions of important geographical
needed for IPs to support their claims to their features inside the domain. These include the
land. location of barangays, sitios, schools, health
centers, markets, bridges, concrete and rough
Experience has shown the many difficulties roads, and rivers and streams.
usually encountered during field research.
Official statistics regarding tribal communities All the data gathered are overlaid on a
are neither available nor credible. Often, topographic map. This is then used as the
key informants such as the elders are not base map for determining the extent of the
available or may have relocated elsewhere. domain.
Local customs may require baylans or spiritual
masters to conduct certain rituals before 5. Actual 3-D mapping
they are able to mention names of persons Using the base map, community members
and sacred places or to divulge indigenous then construct a relief or 3-D map model at
systems and practices. Some communities the appropriate scale. The youth, women,
face internal difficulties because of boundary elders, and leaders are actively engaged in
4 Bringing Innovations to Scale
the construction, identification of landmarks, and tenurial patterns or to show settlement
and recollection of historical accounts of areas and road networks. Hazard and risk
old villages, sacred mountains, and rivers. maps, particularly those showing flood- and
Sketch maps that were previously drawn at landslide-prone areas, may also be produced
the start of the process are used as additional as part of the map series that will be used
reference for spatial information. during the formulation of the ADMP.
Physical materials used for the actual 7. Visioning and community planning
construction of the 3-D map may vary—from The participatory way, in which mapping
resin to rolls of rubber sheets. The physical activities are conducted, enables the people
work involves preparing the base frame; to see, understand, and better appreciate the
numbering contour lines on the base map; land-use situation in their domain. This sets
tracing, cutting, and layering rubber sheets; the stage for the community to formulate its
and coating the model with epoxy and domain management plans and priorities,
painting it white. Once dried, the community as well as community rules and regulations,
then traces and locates geographical markers based on indigenous resource management
and land uses on the map (including sacred systems and practices. The 3-D map serves
sites, forests, indigenous settlements, as the community’s guide in formulating its
transient settlers, mountains and rivers, own ADMP.
traditional farms, etc.).
8. Distribution of ADMP to support groups
Through this process, the 3-D map is able to The community may choose to provide a copy
combine accurate spatial information with of the ADMP to NCIP and LGUs for adoption
community-relevant data. Once finished, it is and integration into municipal development
treated as an accomplishment by the whole plans (MDPs) and comprehensive land use
local community. plans (CLUPs). The community may also
opt to look for other sources of funds to
The 3-D map serves as a user-friendly implement their ADMP.
technical tool in the effort of indigenous
communities to identify the exact extent of 9. Filing of land claims
their domains and to help resolve boundary PAFID assists the community in packaging
disputes and other long-standing land the documents and maps into a claim folder.
problems. Communities also use these maps The community then submits this claim folder
to dialogue with government and corporations together with their official letter to NCIP in
and discuss issues related to the entry or their application for ancestral domain claims.
continued operation of mining, logging, and
plantation companies within their domains.
Implementation of the project
6. Production of ancestral domain maps
Other maps may now be produced through The PAFID project (NGO/ECP 214) was funded by
data generated from the 3-D map to represent IFAD and co-financed by MISEREOR-Germany.
the various land uses and other technical Spanning a period of 3 years (2003-2006), it
information on hydrology, slope incidence, involved nine IP communities from the Manobo
Participatory 3-Dimensional Mapping: Reclaiming the Ancestral Domains 5
and Mamanwa tribes in all four provinces of All of these create a clearer understanding that
the Caraga region—Agusan del Sur, Agusan del supports decisionmaking and consensus building.
Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Surigao del Norte.
The nine IP communities covered an estimated The participatory manner in which the 3-D map
12,000 individuals from about 1,600 families. is constructed enables all community members
—youth, women, elders, and leaders—to share
With PAFID’s assistance, seven 3-D models, information about their domain. Naming the
including one for the municipality of Jabonga places in the people’s own language gives
(Agusan del Norte) and two 2-D maps were the community a sense of ownership and
completed. Perimeter maps of all nine IP accomplishment.
communities, along with thematic maps,
were produced. Two of the nine communities In the conduct of perimeter surveys of ancestral
completed their ADSDPPS during the project domains, the model can be used to guide
period. Two other communities completed their the technical staff of support groups in the
CADT claim books and had their ancestral domain formulation of a realistic or smart survey plan.
titles (CADT) approved and awarded by NCIP, Locations of corners or markers can be initially
covering 13,657 hectares in five municipalities. identified in the 3-D model and all the survey
More than a hundred members of partner IP team has to do is to locate these and take GPS
communities learned basic skills on participatory positions. Interactive mapping can take on
community mapping, use of GPS instruments different forms—from crude hand-drawn sketches
in surveys, and 3-D modeling. Hundreds more to state-of-the-art mapping technology such as
acquired basic knowledge about their rights GPS and computer software such as GIS.
under the IPRA.
Resource management and development
planning activities will also be much more
comprehensive and facilitative with the thematic
Lessons learned data generated through the relief maps. Land-
use maps showing primary and secondary forest
Participatory mapping with the use of 3-D
areas, cogonal and idle lands, agricultural zones,
relief models has shown enormous potential
and sacred grounds are crucial in the formulation
for assisting indigenous communities in their
of the ADMP. That these are clearly understood
struggle for land rights and self-governance. The
by the people makes any planning activity more
maps make information tangible and visual for all.
productive.
The participatory process of constructing the
It is important that support to IP communities
3-D models helps the local people to identify
must respect and appreciate the community’s
the extent of their domains, the conflict areas,
own development plans, however crudely they
the land utilization and resource-use patterns, as
may be written. Often, due to pressing project
well as the overall situation of the community.
targets and time frames, the importance of
The spatial and cultural data that are generated
integration and rapport building as a crucial
become critical inputs for the community in
element in community-based projects is
defining future land use, with emphasis on their
deliberately overlooked. Oftentimes, the end
priorities for development and conservation.
result is a top-down approach where projects are
6 Bringing Innovations to Scale
identified and prioritized by outsiders and time
Box 2. Adoption of the P3DM process in
frames are dictated, in complete disregard of the India through NERCORMP-IFAD
community’s traditional processes and calendar
of activities. In May 2003, IFAD engaged the services of
PAFID thru the North Eastern Region Community
Resource Management Project (NERCORMP) to
While indigenous peoples should have an active conduct a training on Participatory Community
part in resource use planning, this should occur Mapping and Land Use Planning through
within the framework of their having secure 3-D-modeling for project staff and Sasatgre
access and jurisdiction over their traditional villagers to address livelihood concerns without
overexploitation of the natural resources.
territories.
As a result of the training, project staff and
Sasatgre villagers acquired technologies and
skills necessary for P3DM and land use planning.
Scaling up and moving An output of the training provided by PAFID was
the 3-D map of the Akhing Land of the Sasatgre.
forward The 3-D map has brought to these communities
“a deeper understanding and appreciation of
their village geography and natural resources,
PAFID’s P3DM process has been scaled up many
improved village communication and planning
times and in different ways. capacity, and improved land use management,
particularly with respect to selection of areas for
P3DM has been replicated in many indigenous shifting cultivation.” (Bajracharya et al. 2008)
communities throughout the Philippines. From
NERCORMP further replicated the P3DM
1995 to 2014, an estimated 790,000 hectares approach resulting in a total of 24 3-D maps in its
covering more than 100 ancestral domain claims sites of operation in India.
in the country have been mapped using it. Data
were culled out from the PAFID database.
The P3DM process has also been introduced had also requested for PAFID’s assistance
to other countries through its partnership with in building P3DMs to enhance their land-use
international organizations such as IFAD. These planning processes. Other NGOs such as
areas include Tura and Sasatgre, Meghalaya, India the EcoWEB, Ecosystems Work for Essential
(2003); the Godavari Watershed, Pulchoki, Nepal Benefits, Inc. is a local NGO based in Iligan City,
(2003); Song Da, Vietnam (1999); and the Upper Mindanao has also adopted the P3DM process
Nan Watershed, Nan Province, Thailand (1997- in CADT applications and community resource
2003). management planning. The ADMP as well as the
data/information generated from 3-D maps have
P3DM has also been adopted for other purposes. also been adopted for support by the Protected
Several barangay and municipal LGUs in Area Management Board of Mt. Kalatungan
Mindanao. This includes barangay LGUs of Range Natural Park in Bukidnon and some LGUs,
Pinalpalan and Datu Danwata of Malita, Davao specifically those in Jabonga and Kitcharao,
del Sur (through the Upland Development Agusan del Norte.
Program) and the Watershed Management
Council of Davao City (through its partnership Moreover, P3DM in some IP communities have
with Interface Development Interventions, Inc. also expanded their use from claim making and
and Foundation for the Philippine Environment, ADMP to resolving conflicts as was the case
Participatory 3-Dimensional Mapping: Reclaiming the Ancestral Domains 7
in Tubo and Boliney, Abra; coalition building to penetrate into decision-making processes
among Higa-unons in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon; relevant to their ancestral domain in the local,
and tapping Payment for Environmental Services national, and international level.
(PES) to support the community development
plan of the Talaandig-Kalatunganon tribe in
Talakag, Bukidnon. In the Subanen communities
in Bayog and Kumalarang, Zamboanga del Sur,
Drivers and champions
community participation in the whole process has
The champions of this upscaling are IP
gone a step further by enabling them to generate
communities that had already undergone the
their own thematic maps with GIS technology,
process. In another sense, they could also be
which was previously delegated to the PAFID GIS
drivers, just like the IP communities that have not
specialist only due to its high level of technicality.
yet delineated their territories and have not yet
formulated their ancestral domain plans due to
encroachment into IP lands by mining and logging
Vision and potential companies and other destructive projects. This
forces IP communities to actively defend their
scope people and ancestral domain.
As of December 2012, NCIP reported that 158
Environment groups can also act as drivers
CADTs had been issued nationwide, covering
for the shared goal of conserving of nature,
about 4.2 million hectares and benefiting
biodiversity, and cultural landscapes. Areas that
918,000 rights claim holders. It is projected that
had experienced devastating calamities (such as
more than 2 million hectares more still need to
Cagayan de Oro City) have now become drivers
be processed; hence, a total of 6 to 7 million
for scaling up of P3DM in search of means to
hectares is expected to be eventually covered
manage and reduce disaster risks.
under ancestral domain titles and claims (NCIP
database).
Participatory mapping and 3-D modeling is an Spaces and opportunities
appropriate and proven methodology for the
purpose of self-delineation of ancestral domains. Many CADT applications and support for IP
The 3-D model also provides a good tool for communities encounter bottlenecks due to the
negotiation and conflict resolution between following reasons:
tribes because it provides a complete view of
boundaries, traditional territories, and tenurial D tedious and bureaucratic requirement for the
arrangements. processing of claims (institutional/capacity
space);
However, beyond its purpose for achieving D limited financial and technical resources of
legal recognition of ancestral domain rights both the government agency and the CADT
through a CADT, it can also be used for land applicant (fiscal/financial space); and
use planning, conservation planning, natural D overlapping, sometimes contradicting, laws
resource management, and boundary and conflict and policies relevant to land and resource use,
resolutions. This enables the IP communities management, and ownership (policy space).
8 Bringing Innovations to Scale
Mapping by “Experts” Community Mapping
P Very expensive and laborious; P Cost-effective;
P Expert-driven; P Community-driven;
P Leaves little room for participation; P High community participation;
P Technically accurate, but usually omits critical P Acceptable & within the technical standards of state
data; mapping while ensuring community perspective;
P Access and control of information is remove P Guarantees control of critical data & information.
from the community.
Nevertheless, the products of P3DM are useful planning processes and to identify boundaries
for community conservation and natural resource and extents of ICCAs. It could also provide
management planning, which are also key immediate protection at the international level
components of the ICCA approach. through registration into the United Nations
Environment Programme World Conservation
Although the value of indigenous peoples in Monitoring Center (UNEP-WCMC), ICCA Registry
resource governance (sustainable use, protection, and the World Database of Protected Areas
and conservation) is still not fully recognized by (WDPA).
the Philippine government, there is increasing
recognition of indigenous and community
conserved areas at the international level.
(ICCAs are defined by the IUCN as natural and/
Pathways to greater scale
or modified ecosystems containing significant
biodiversity values, ecological services and Policy support
cultural values, voluntarily conserved by
indigenous peoples and local communities, both As of today, an ICCA bill has been drafted and
sedentary and mobile, through customary laws or strategies for its passing into law is being
other effective means.) This is based on a finding developed through the combined efforts of
that a considerable part of the earth’s biodiversity DENR-BMB, PAFID, UP-NCPAG, Bukluran ng
survives on territories under the ownership, mga Katutubo na Nangangalaga ng Kalikasan sa
control, or management of indigenous peoples. Pilipinas or the Philippine ICCA Consortium, and
Philippine maps produced by PAFID shows a other NGOs. In essence, the draft bill calls for
high degree of overlap between forest areas, national and legal recognition of and appropriate
biodiversity hot spots, and ancestral domains of support to sustain ICCAs and ICCA communities
indigenous peoples. in the Philippines.
The Convention on Biodiversity, World Parks
Building and linking communities of
Congress, and the International Union for the
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have recognized practice
ICCAs as effective means of nature and
biodiversity conservation. Participatory 3-D modeling is not just a method
but an empowerment tool developed through
PAFID’s 3-D model approach can be potentially years of practice in support of tenure rights
used to facilitate local community conservation for indigenous peoples. It requires skilled
Participatory 3-Dimensional Mapping: Reclaiming the Ancestral Domains 9
community facilitation by practitioners driven with Sibona. 2005. Second supervision mission to the NGO/
a sense of mission. A key pathway to scaling up ECP. Grant no.214/PAFID. Mapping the ancestral
is to build “communities of practice” and links domains of the indigenous peoples in northern
among IP communities and their supporters. Mindanao.
Authors
Bibliography
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Glaiza Tabanao