Participatory Mapping in Nambloung, West Papua, Indonesia (2002-3)

In late 2002, Native Lands was invited to West Papua by the British Department for International Development (DFID) to work with the Association for Papua Indigenous People's Study and Empowerment (PtPPMA) and the Papuan Department of Forestry on maps of the lowland region of Nambloung, several hours to the north of Jayapura, Papua's capital city. There were no reliable government maps of the region, which had an area of roughly 54,000 hectares. Villagers wanted maps so they could establish control over their lands and resources and stop the unregulated entrance of timber and other extractive enterprises. The project began slowly and then built into a strong force, with growing participation by community leaders. The maps were completed and PtPPMA went on to use the methodology to map the neighboring district of Kemtuk-Gresi. The maps have been instrumental in giving villagers protection over their lands and negotiating with the government and outside companies. DFID is presently working with the Department of Forestry to use the methodology to map customary lands in the highland region near Wamena.