Ermis Africa

Aerial Photography Mapping

ESAPP - Switzerland has supported this project by purchasing aerial photographs and facilitating field logistics to conduct territorial mapping with the Ogiek indigenous communities. The process entails enlargement of aerial photographs, interpretation of features, delineation of boundaries and features, mapping out cultural sites and traditional natural resource management units by the Ogiek elders. The resulting maps will be ratified and retained by the Elders for use in natural resources management, conflict mitigation, litigation and inclusion in formal curriculum in school as recommended by the Ogiek Elder.

The two mapping processes will be complementary and lead to development of an Ogiek People Ancestral Territory Atlas (OPAT Atlas) whose dissemination will be guided by Ogiek elders and advised by ERMIS. Issues of protection of traditional knowledge systems whose exposure might jeopardize the rights of the community have been and are continuously being discussed. Mechanisms for securing these have been put in place through GIS visualisation and presentation routines.

We hope to facilitate the establishment of a community-owned repository site for these mapping products to enable the community to maximize on the benefits embedded in their traditional knowledge systems. As a result the following projects are envisaged.

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