Understanding landscape change using participatory mapping and geographic information systems: case study in North Sulawesi, Indonesia

A landscape provides key livelihood resources for people such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, extractive industries, and other productive land uses. It is the space in which dynamic and evolving nature-human interactions occur. Hence, understanding different functions and processes in a landscape becomes vital for poverty alleviation as well as sustainable management of natural resources. In our study to understand the landscape changes of North Sulawesi, the second richest province in Indonesia, we use a landscape approach to understand the connections between human livelihoods and environment. We studied five villages using Participatory Rural Assessments tools, consolidated questionnaires, formal and informal interviews of various stakeholders, GIS-based participatory mapping and in-the-field observations as well as secondary sources. We find natural hazards, climate variability, accessibility, extractive industries, food security and water scarcity are interlinked as big drivers of change in the landscape. Decision makers must consider them together to ensure community prosperity. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.