Coastal Services Center

A Decision-Making Tool for Communities

Participatory mapping engages stakeholders in a mapping process to identify their resources, perspectives, and priorities. Through sharing this information, stakeholders become part of decision-making, and the process of creating maps can become as important to building community consensus as the maps themselves.

This publication provides some simple strategies for facilitators leading a participatory mapping process. While there are many aspects of participatory mapping, this publication focuses primarily on stakeholder involvement. Topics addressed include

• Understanding the basics of participatory mapping
• Knowing when participatory mapping is appropriate
• Identifying and working with stakeholders
• Collecting and reporting information

To Obtain This Guide

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Additional Assistance and Information

Technical Assistance
The NOAA Coastal Services Center offers assistance to communities interested in undertaking a participatory mapping exercise. This assistance ranges from phone calls that answer questions to an extra pair of hands dedicated to your program. Contact the Center for more information - csc.info@noaa.gov