GIS Enhanced Ecological Mapping
for
Improved Governance of Natural Resources (GISEEM)

NGO Partners: Porini Welfare Association, BEA International, Africa Biodiversity Network/Gaia
Foundation

Duration: 2007-2009

The project taps at the traditional/indigenous knowledge systems on
natural resource management with the aim of improving both the
management and governance of natural resources and safegurading
livelihoods.

GIS technology is used to produce participatory spatial digital
information that local communities collect and process. The collected
information is enriched through intensive dialogue sessions and
stored as interogateable metadata. This metadata will be used as an
added tool for community planning and advocacy work, including
formulating Joint Forest Management plans that are informed through
deep traditional and ecological knowledge.

The process stimulates inter-generational knowledge transfer
between youth and elders plus it allows communities to interrogate
policies and systems of governance designed by the central
government-namely the Forest Act, the Local Authority Act, the
Heritage Act and at a higher level the Constitution- all which have
conflicting information about access rights and responsibilities
towards the management of natural resources.

Community Partners: Kariima (Nyeri), Giitune (Meru), Yiakku (Mukogodo-Laikipia),