31
community. “Ranking of exercise is one of the
most effective methods of understanding preferences and is usually conducted during participatory workshops or focus groups discussion
exercises” (Angelsen et al. 2011:77). It involves
placing issues or objects in order of significance.
It is important to note that the actual rank is not as
important as the comments and the debates that
are generated by the exercise (Sithole 2002).
Ranking of calamities: After the ranking process, a specific colour was given to each calamity.
The exercises attracted much attention and generated useful debate among the mapmakers and the
onlookers. The final map was then recorded by
the research team to be used in the community
climate risk mapping consultative exercise.
Historical mapping was done to a minimal by
participants, e.g. some participants were involved
in drawing maps for the same areas for different
dates in the past to illustrate changes of coastal
erosion in the Georgetown area and the areas that
were destroyed by the 1902 and 1979 volcanic
eruptions (Angelsen et al. 2011). The exercises in
Chateaubelair, Vermont and Mespo used the historical mapping exercise to show changes in livelihoods, such as the disappearance of the banana
industry and the emergence of new livelihoods
such as marijuana farming and fishing.
As stated above, this technique was done as
part of a group discussion to generate a consensus view of the community’s social infrastructure
and indicate their level of vulnerability and the
impact of climate risk hazards and other calamities on towns. An essential part of the community
mapping exercise was the discussion of seasonality; a calendar drawn by the locals generated
information about the seasonal trends within the
community which enabled the identification of
research areas of particular stressors and vulnerabilities. These calendars were drawn on the
ground by participants using stones or seeds in a
preference-ranking matrix (Angelsen et al. 2011).
Some communities drew line graphs to show seasonal increases or decreases. Seasonal variables
can be included in one calendar to give an overview of the situation throughout the year. These
variables can consist of rainfall, crop sequences,
employment demand, availability of paid employment, the incidence of invasive diseases such as
Zika, hurricane seasons and festivals.
On completion of the community mapping
exercise (agreement by stakeholders that this represents their best collective knowledge), the maps
were then taken to the Physical Planning Division
in the Ministry of Sustainable Development to be
digitised and used for further analysis (Angelsen
et al. 2011; IUCN & WRI 2014). Digital mapping
is defined as a “classic GIS approach that builds up
a spatial picture by combining layers of digital
information and developing algorithms to test and
visualise specific options” (IUCN & WRI 2014:68).
Refinement
and
digitising
the
result: Following the knowledge mapping
exercise, the team at the GIS Unit of the Physical
Planning Division, Ministry of Planning and
Sustainable Development, finalised the result
and produced a digital version of the maps
across the assessment area. First, the team copied the shapes/colours into the GIS map, adjusting them in the process so that they reflect the
intent of the group and the characteristics of the
landscape, that is, by following the contours of
the landscape more precisely than those done by
the participants. The officials also made further
refinements and adjustments to the map whenever they have additional data to do so (IUCN &
WRI 2014).
After the GIS team completed work on digitising the map, the task of interpreting the maps and
other images began. This included identifying
and listing the meaning of the image content but
went beyond what could be seen in the image to
recognise spatial and landscape patterns. This
process can be divided into two parts:
(a) Simple recognition of objects such as streets,
fields, rivers etc.; the quality depends on the
expertise in image interpretation and visual
perception.
(b) An authentic description ascertained through
conclusions (from previously recognised
objects) of situations, recovery, etc. SubjectSection 1: The Participatory Mapping Process
community. “Ranking of exercise is one of the
most effective methods of understanding preferences and is usually conducted during participatory workshops or focus groups discussion
exercises” (Angelsen et al. 2011:77). It involves
placing issues or objects in order of significance.
It is important to note that the actual rank is not as
important as the comments and the debates that
are generated by the exercise (Sithole 2002).
Ranking of calamities: After the ranking process, a specific colour was given to each calamity.
The exercises attracted much attention and generated useful debate among the mapmakers and the
onlookers. The final map was then recorded by
the research team to be used in the community
climate risk mapping consultative exercise.
Historical mapping was done to a minimal by
participants, e.g. some participants were involved
in drawing maps for the same areas for different
dates in the past to illustrate changes of coastal
erosion in the Georgetown area and the areas that
were destroyed by the 1902 and 1979 volcanic
eruptions (Angelsen et al. 2011). The exercises in
Chateaubelair, Vermont and Mespo used the historical mapping exercise to show changes in livelihoods, such as the disappearance of the banana
industry and the emergence of new livelihoods
such as marijuana farming and fishing.
As stated above, this technique was done as
part of a group discussion to generate a consensus view of the community’s social infrastructure
and indicate their level of vulnerability and the
impact of climate risk hazards and other calamities on towns. An essential part of the community
mapping exercise was the discussion of seasonality; a calendar drawn by the locals generated
information about the seasonal trends within the
community which enabled the identification of
research areas of particular stressors and vulnerabilities. These calendars were drawn on the
ground by participants using stones or seeds in a
preference-ranking matrix (Angelsen et al. 2011).
Some communities drew line graphs to show seasonal increases or decreases. Seasonal variables
can be included in one calendar to give an overview of the situation throughout the year. These
variables can consist of rainfall, crop sequences,
employment demand, availability of paid employment, the incidence of invasive diseases such as
Zika, hurricane seasons and festivals.
On completion of the community mapping
exercise (agreement by stakeholders that this represents their best collective knowledge), the maps
were then taken to the Physical Planning Division
in the Ministry of Sustainable Development to be
digitised and used for further analysis (Angelsen
et al. 2011; IUCN & WRI 2014). Digital mapping
is defined as a “classic GIS approach that builds up
a spatial picture by combining layers of digital
information and developing algorithms to test and
visualise specific options” (IUCN & WRI 2014:68).
Refinement
and
digitising
the
result: Following the knowledge mapping
exercise, the team at the GIS Unit of the Physical
Planning Division, Ministry of Planning and
Sustainable Development, finalised the result
and produced a digital version of the maps
across the assessment area. First, the team copied the shapes/colours into the GIS map, adjusting them in the process so that they reflect the
intent of the group and the characteristics of the
landscape, that is, by following the contours of
the landscape more precisely than those done by
the participants. The officials also made further
refinements and adjustments to the map whenever they have additional data to do so (IUCN &
WRI 2014).
After the GIS team completed work on digitising the map, the task of interpreting the maps and
other images began. This included identifying
and listing the meaning of the image content but
went beyond what could be seen in the image to
recognise spatial and landscape patterns. This
process can be divided into two parts:
(a) Simple recognition of objects such as streets,
fields, rivers etc.; the quality depends on the
expertise in image interpretation and visual
perception.
(b) An authentic description ascertained through
conclusions (from previously recognised
objects) of situations, recovery, etc. SubjectSection 1: The Participatory Mapping Process