Participatory three-dimensional mapping for disaster risk reduction (PLA 60)

Community-based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR) fosters the participation of threatened communities in both the evaluation of risk (including hazards, vulnerability, and capacities) and ways to reduce it. CBDRR should eventually empower communities with self-developed and culturally acceptable ways of coping with crises brought about by the occurrence of natural hazards. Practitioners often merge CBDRR with community-based adaptation to climate change (CBA) as the ability of people to face climate changes shares root factors with the capacity to cope with natural hazards. This paper focuses on participatory three-dimensional mapping (P3DM) as a way to facilitate the integration of both scientific and local knowledge and the participation of a large array of stakeholders in CBDRR. In this article, we first provide a short introduction to participatory mapping and CDBRR. Next, we describe the methodological process for integrating P3DM into CBDRR. Finally, we explore its strengths and also review some of the major limitations of P3DM for CBDRR.

Participatory Learning and Action (PLA, formerly PLA Notes) is the world's leading series on participatory learning and action approaches and methods. PLA publishes articles on participation aimed at practitioners, researchers, academics and activists. All articles are peer-reviewed by an international editorial board. See: www.planotes.org

Article in: PLA 60. Guest-edited by: Hannah Reid, Mozaharul Alam, Rachel Berger, Terry Cannon and Angela Milligan.

Keywords: CBA, climate change, adaptation, participation, DRR, disaster risk reduction.

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