One of the central steps in Namati’s community land protection process is participatory mapping of community lands and natural resources. During mapping meetings groups of men and women discuss and draw initial maps of their community boundaries, communal areas and ways that they use their land and natural resources. The small groups then come together to share and combine their maps.
Namati and partners are testing new tools to support community mapping, including the use of satellite imagery, digital mapping software and global positioning system (GPS) data. This gallery shares photographs from two community meetings in northern Uganda in February 2015 where Namati and LEMU field tested the use of satellite imagery in participatory mapping exercises.
![LEMU mapping training Opens popup gallery with Geographic Information System (GIS) expert Alan Mills explains the continuum of mapping techniques in a training session with LEMU staff](https://namati.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF1416-e1425489705150-444x333.jpg)
Geographic Information System (GIS) expert Alan Mills explains the continuum of mapping techniques in a training session with LEMU staff
![LEMU mapping training Opens popup gallery with LEMU staff test the satellite imagery mapping exercise](https://namati.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF1429-e1425489720790-444x333.jpg)
LEMU staff test the satellite imagery mapping exercise
![Burlobo mapping Opens popup gallery with Community members in Burlobo interpret the satellite imagery of their community](https://namati.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF1434-e1425489729877-503x670.jpg)
Community members in Burlobo interpret the satellite imagery of their community
![Burlobo mapping Opens popup gallery with Satellite imagery draws large crowds eager to identify landmarks](https://namati.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF1451-cropped-e1425489739360-594x470.jpg)
Satellite imagery draws large crowds eager to identify landmarks
![Burlobo mapping Opens popup gallery with In small groups, community members draw and debate draft maps on the ground](https://namati.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF1531-e1425489748509-353x470.jpg)
In small groups, community members draw and debate draft maps on the ground
![Okeng mapping Opens popup gallery with Sketching on the ground is an engaging way for groups to discuss the spatial layout of their community](https://namati.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF1686-e1425489764935-597x796.jpg)
Sketching on the ground is an engaging way for groups to discuss the spatial layout of their community
![Burlobo mapping Opens popup gallery with LEMU facilitator Robins Odur explains the mapping exercise](https://namati.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF1536-e1425489773393-350x263.jpg)
LEMU facilitator Robins Odur explains the mapping exercise
![Burlobo mapping Opens popup gallery with Community members select a small team of representatives to draw on the maps, then huddle around to observe and comment](https://namati.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF1541-e1425489782166-350x263.jpg)
Community members select a small team of representatives to draw on the maps, then huddle around to observe and comment
![Burlobo mapping Opens popup gallery with Community members draw sketch maps on paper to document their existing perceptions of their community land](https://namati.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF1543-e1425489794265-350x262.jpg)
Community members draw sketch maps on paper to document their existing perceptions of their community land
![Okeng mapping Opens popup gallery with During the sketch maps, the group agrees on a legend to use in the final mapping](https://namati.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF1702-e1425489805754-474x355.jpg)
During the sketch maps, the group agrees on a legend to use in the final mapping
![Burlobo mapping Opens popup gallery with Women and men point out landmarks on the satellite imagery](https://namati.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF1545-e1425489818445-473x355.jpg)
Women and men point out landmarks on the satellite imagery
![Burlobo mapping Opens popup gallery with Often women are the best at identifying natural resource use areas on the map](https://namati.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF1549-e1425489828418-612x817.jpg)
Often women are the best at identifying natural resource use areas on the map
![Okeng mapping Opens popup gallery with Women are often more confident in mapping exercises when they can work in their own group, without men](https://namati.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF1694-e1425489840612-335x251.jpg)
Women are often more confident in mapping exercises when they can work in their own group, without men
![Burlobo mapping Opens popup gallery with A young man assists an elder to interpret the satellite imagery and identify boundaries](https://namati.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF1563-cropped-e1425489850302-335x315.jpg)
A young man assists an elder to interpret the satellite imagery and identify boundaries
![Burlobo mapping Opens popup gallery with Points, lines, and areas are proposed, debated and agreed upon by the mapping group](https://namati.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF1665-cropped-e1425489860726-335x243.jpg)
Points, lines, and areas are proposed, debated and agreed upon by the mapping group
![Okeng mapping Opens popup gallery with An elder monitors the mapping to ensure it follows the legend agreed upon during the first sketch map](https://namati.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF1715-cropped-e1425489869229-656x440.jpg)
An elder monitors the mapping to ensure it follows the legend agreed upon during the first sketch map
![Okeng mapping Opens popup gallery with Once map elements are agreed upon, the group guides their selected artist to draw it on a layer of thin, clear plastic laid over the satellite imagery](https://namati.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF1736-e1425489879224-291x218.jpg)
Once map elements are agreed upon, the group guides their selected artist to draw it on a layer of thin, clear plastic laid over the satellite imagery
![Okeng mapping Opens popup gallery with Each line is drawn carefully and slowly, with group approval](https://namati.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF1745-e1425489888277-291x218.jpg)
Each line is drawn carefully and slowly, with group approval
![Burlobo mapping Opens popup gallery with The small mapping groups reassemble to share their maps](https://namati.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF1617-cropped-e1425489897183-448x287.jpg)
The small mapping groups reassemble to share their maps
![Okeng mapping Opens popup gallery with Groups present their sketch maps and legends](https://namati.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF1753-cropped-e1425489908742-448x375.jpg)
Groups present their sketch maps and legends
![Okeng mapping Opens popup gallery with Each group explains their final map in detail](https://namati.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF1770-e1425489917644-499x666.jpg)
Each group explains their final map in detail
![Burlobo mapping Opens popup gallery with Each group describes their mapping decisions and the group's reasoning](https://namati.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF1604-cropped-e1425489926916-500x335.jpg)
Each group describes their mapping decisions and the group’s reasoning
![Burlobo mapping Opens popup gallery with Contentious elements, such as boundaries, were discussed as drafts that will be resolved in later steps of the community land protection process](https://namati.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DSCF1624-e1425489935324-447x335.jpg)
Contentious elements, such as boundaries, were discussed as drafts that will be resolved in later steps of the community land protection process