Using photomaps to support participatory processes of Community Forestry in the Middle Hills of Nepal

Making information and decision-making processes accessible to disadvantaged and illiterate people is a challenge for community forestry in Nepal. In studies jointly conducted by the Nepal-UK Community Forestry Project (NUKCFP) and the Department of Forests, Nepal, large scale (1:1,250 and 1:2,500) aerial photographs and participatory photo-mapping (the process of mapping on transparencies placed over aerial photographs) were evaluated as aids to support participatory processes of community forestry in Parbat District. Observations were recorded during 12 participatory sessions. Results indicate that, regardless of educational status, most people accurately interpreted forest condition and could describe use by the community from the aerial photographs. Photographs were appreciated because they presented authentic information, allowed consistency of interpretation between groups, and made it possible to calibrate perceptions of resources. District Forest Officers and Community Forestry Officers valued aerial photographs as robust instruments that naturally directed discussions toward community and resource issues. Results of a pilot study of the use of aerial images for surveys indicated that orthorectified aerial images may substantially reduce time spent by District Forest Office (DFO) staff in chain-and-compass surveys of community forest. It is concluded that surveys based on aerial images encourage the participation of users, and boundaries drawn over survey photo- maps are represented in the context of important reference information contained in the photographic images. The development of a service for low-cost printing of high-resolution and geographically correct photo-maps is described.