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Grassroots Innovation Using Drones for Indigenous Mapping and Monitoring

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  • Jaime Paneque-Gálvez

    (Centro de Investigaciones en Geografía Ambiental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua carretera a Pátzcuaro No. 8701, Morelia CP 58190, Michoacán, Mexico)

  • Nicolás Vargas-Ramírez

    (Centro de Investigaciones en Geografía Ambiental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua carretera a Pátzcuaro No. 8701, Morelia CP 58190, Michoacán, Mexico)

  • Brian M. Napoletano

    (Centro de Investigaciones en Geografía Ambiental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua carretera a Pátzcuaro No. 8701, Morelia CP 58190, Michoacán, Mexico)

  • Anthony Cummings

    (School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, GR 31, Richardson, TX 75080-3021, USA)

Abstract

Indigenous territories are facing increasing pressures from numerous legal and illegal activities that are pushing commodity frontiers within their limits, frequently causing severe environmental degradation and threatening indigenous territorial rights and livelihoods. In Central and South America, after nearly three decades of participatory mapping projects, interest is mounting among indigenous peoples in the use of new technologies for community mapping and monitoring as a means of defense against such threats. Since 2014, several innovative projects have been developed and implemented in the region to demonstrate and train indigenous communities in the use of small drones for territorial mapping and monitoring. In this paper, we report on five projects carried out in Peru, Guyana, and Panama. For each one we describe the context, main objectives, positive outcomes, challenges faced, and opportunities ahead. Preliminary results are promising and have gained the interest of many indigenous societies who envision this technology as a powerful tool to protect their territories and strengthen their claims regarding specific environmental liabilities and justice issues. Based on the results presented here and a review of previous similar studies, we offer a critical discussion of some of the main opportunities and challenges that we foresee regarding the use of small drones for indigenous territorial mapping and monitoring. In addition, we elaborate on why a careful, well thought-out, and progressive adoption of drones by indigenous peoples may trigger grassroots innovations in ways conducive to greater environmental justice and sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Jaime Paneque-Gálvez & Nicolás Vargas-Ramírez & Brian M. Napoletano & Anthony Cummings, 2017. "Grassroots Innovation Using Drones for Indigenous Mapping and Monitoring," Land, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-25, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:6:y:2017:i:4:p:86-:d:121992
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shyamsundar, Priya & Sauls, Laura Aileen & Cheek, Jennifer Zavaleta & Sullivan-Wiley, Kira & Erbaugh, J.T. & Krishnapriya, P.P., 2021. "Global forces of change: Implications for forest-poverty dynamics," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    2. Néstor Vercher, 2022. "Environmental Conflicts and Social Innovation on the Balearic Islands (Spain)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-22, April.
    3. Octaviano Rojas Luiz & Enzo Barberio Mariano & Hermes Moretti Ribeiro da Silva, 2021. "Pro-Poor Innovations to Promote Instrumental Freedoms: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-22, December.
    4. Tauli-Corpuz, Vicky & Alcorn, Janis & Molnar, Augusta & Healy, Christina & Barrow, Edmund, 2020. "Cornered by PAs: Adopting rights-based approaches to enable cost-effective conservation and climate action," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).

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