Participatory geographic information systems for environmental zoning plan: Case Study of the madu ganga estuary, sri lanka
ISBN: 978-1-78190-545-6, eISBN: 978-1-78190-546-3
Publication date: 30 January 2014
Abstract
Participatory geographic information systems (PGIS) have been increasingly employed for decision-making in planning, environmental conservation, zoning, and development. This research explores the use of PGIS and its significant role for environmental zoning plans (EZP). PGIS methodology intends to incorporate local knowledge, increase data access, multiple realities, and bottom-up decision-making in EZP in a very sensitive water body in Southern Sri Lanka.
This research presents the lessons learned from a case study of Madu Ganga estuary in Galle District, Sri Lanka. Madu Ganga is an extraordinarily stretch of water body (an estuary) with abundant natural resources and beauty. In recent years, Madu Ganga has faced serious environmental threats due to increase in human activities leading to overexploitation of natural resources. To protect and manage this valuable environment, a team of geographers from the Center for Environmental Studies, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka was invited by the Coastal Resource Management Project to undertake the zoning study. Various participatory methods including PGIS applications were adopted and affected communities were also involved in developing a zoning plan. The study illustrates that the use of PGIS approach is effective in incorporating local people into environmental planning, and it also supports affected people to be actively involved in development activities in their own communities.
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgments
Many individuals and institutions helped us in this environmental zoning plan research project. The GIS Mapping Unit team members through the Center for Environmental Studies, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, rendered enormous support to produce spatial maps for this research project such as spatial data analysis, production of fieldwork base maps, collection of data, and final Madu Ganga Zoning Atlas. Coastal Resources Management Project of the Coast Conservation Department, Sri Lanka, provided financial and logistic supports to conduct the research. Although it is impossible to thank everyone, we would like to extend our sincere thanks two coastal communities (Balapitiya DS Division and Karandeniya DS Division) local community members, religious leaders, and local government officials have facilitated us providing various social, environmental and land use data collection. Finally, we are grateful to Professor Wickramagamge (Team Leader) and Professor Madduma Bandara (advisor) from the Department of Geography, University of Peradeniya, for their insight, leadership, and support to produce a sustainable environmental zoning plan for Madu Ganga community.
Citation
Alagan, R. and Aladuwaka, S. (2014), "Participatory geographic information systems for environmental zoning plan: Case Study of the madu ganga estuary, sri lanka", Voices of Globalization (Research in Political Sociology, Vol. 21), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 217-232. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0895-9935(2013)0000021013
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2013 Emerald Group Publishing Limited