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SECTION II
MAPPING THE
COMMUNITY’S FOUNDATIONS
KEY READING
Part I: Section III
Part I: Section IV
Part II: Section I
Part II: Section III
This section provides guidance on a range of issues that your community
may wish to consider including in the biocultural community protocol. It is
referred to as ‘mapping’ primarily in the metaphorical sense. Overall, it
aims to support a locally-defined process of documenting, delineating, and
communicating the community’s identity and natural, social-cultural,
economic, political and institutional, and legal foundations.
Each sub-section references several tools described in Part I: Section IV that may be useful for their
respective topics. They are neither exhaustive nor mandatory. You may already have experience with
some of them or other similar tools. All of them can be adapted and integrated into the local process as
appropriate, depending on the community’s interests, priorities, and capacities.
Each sub-section also contains a number of guiding questions to catalyze community reflection and
discussion. The questions and overarching topics will inevitably overlap and should not be treated as
mutually exclusive or exhaustive. It is not necessary to address only these questions or in any particular
order; some will naturally lead to ancillary questions and others may not be at all applicable. Encourage
natural transitions between topics and avoid being overly prescriptive about what can be discussed and
when. The most important thing is to explore issues that relate directly to the community’s ways of life
and current situation. Due to the wide-ranging nature of the questions, encourage flexible discussions and
culturally appropriate participation from a broad cross-section of the community.
Notably, these questions are potentially invasive and deal with sensitive issues. Understand your role as
facilitator and be clear to the community that not ‘everything’ has to be included in their protocol. They
should not feel obliged to answer each question, discuss anything they don’t wish to, or contravene any
customary laws or social norms. This is especially relevant for the location of natural resources, the
location and meaning of cultural and spiritual sites, and specific details of traditional knowledge. Sensitive
or confidential information that is documented should be kept in a secure place with regulated access and
use. Once information is documented, it is possible that others could access and use it for unintended or
unwanted purposes. See Part I: Section III/B5 for more guidance about safeguarding sensitive
information.
As a facilitator, consider how to integrate tools to monitor and evaluate the process as it emerges. Some
relevant tools are highlighted in Part I: Section III/B5, Part I: Section IV, and Part II: Section III.
Documenting the process of developing and using a protocol can also help ensure accountability and
transparency within the community as well as with external actors.