The Political Dimension of Land Mapping

Abstract

Local populations have detailed knowledge of their lands. This knowledge can be organized using the procedure known as participatory mapping. Participatory mapping implies taking into account the social structure of the communities studied. As a result, cartographic knowledge stored in the minds of the informers turns into maps, graphs or written documents, which can be used to analyse common lands along with the possibility of taking action in terms of public policies. This paper provides two examples within specific situations: 1) defending common lands, and 2) the change in land use in the Eastern area of the State of Mexico.