Rapid Agrobiodiversity Appraisal (RABA) - Are you looking for one ...

14
Rapid Agrobiodiversity Appraisal (RABA)
in the Context of Environmental Service Rewards
2.2. Step 2: Land-use identification and classification (V, S )
bo
The focus of step 2 is to ascertain what type of land use shows potential for conservation of agrobiodiversity and
where this is located. It is important to keep in mind that the effectiveness of a protected or conservation area is
related to it having sufficient area or habitat matrices, from which little 'leakage' occurs. Therefore, having located
the focal sites, the following step is to determine competing land uses that might become a threat in the future.
2.2.1 Mapping the area of agrobiodiversity importance
Spatial analysis can provide baseline data to be used in the identification of potential biodiversity conservation areas.
In the context of RABA, there are two things that should be considered when mapping an area: the size of the area and
the level of human population. It is suggested that when dealing with a vast area with a low population, spatial
analysis using satellite imagery or aerial photographs is more effective than participatory mapping. On the other hand,
participatory mapping would be more effective for smaller areas that are well populated. Despite the time necessary
to conduct participatory mapping, the approach is useful to understand local definitions of land-use types and
institutions related to land and natural-resource use.
Nevertheless, the two approaches have similar needs for baseline spatial data, which provides basic information on
the study site. Examples of maps that are classified as baseline data are: administrative maps (provincial- to villagescale
maps), soil and geological maps, road and river networks, and land/forest status maps. These maps can be
obtained from local government agencies, forestry departments, or mapping/survey agencies. Most of these maps
are usually available in 'hardcopy form', which must be digitized. Some maps that are obtained in digital form may still
require editing to ensure their quality.
Spatial analysis - Participatory mapping
Many community development initiatives that on paper seem well designed, turn out, in practice, not to be suitable
for the beneficiaries. Consequently, few of the beneficiaries support project implementation. Participatory mapping
is a process involving all members of the community. Apart from the objective of obtaining local perspectives about
the areas, the process is also useful for increasing the local people's information base and bonding capital, as well as
increasing their participation in an activity.
The underlying reason for advocating participatory mapping is that the people who know about an area are those who
are living in it. The objective of participatory mapping is to map aspects of the villagers' land and resources that are
important to them. There are two groups of people working together: the GIS experts integrate all GIS-based map
needs for the area of interest, while local communities assist in mapping their area according to local definitions of
land-use types. The method used here involves farmers and local communities in resource mapping, and then
transfers data from draft maps to spatial information (see example shown in Annex 5).
GIS-based maps – such as road, river, mountain peak position, village location, land cover, elevations – and local place
names are important for marking boundaries and transforming data into GIS format. Participatory mapping benefits
RAPID AGROBIODIVERSITY APPRAISAL (RABA)