Bioregional mapping explained

Bioregional mapping is a participatory approach to cartography that focuses on mapping the natural, ecological, and cultural features of a bioregion—an area defined by its natural boundaries, such as watersheds, ecosystems, and cultures that arise form a place, rather than human borders.[1] This method highlights the interconnectedness of the region's natural systems and human communities, offering a holistic view of the landscape that integrates ecological data with cultural and historical insights.[2] [3] [4]

Bioregional mapping is also a participatory process that invites community members to actively engage in the creation of their region's map. This approach empowers individuals to contribute to the documentation of local knowledge, history, and cultural significance, thereby creating maps that are more inclusive and representative of the lived experiences within the bioregion.[5] Community mapping includes the identification of traditional pathways, local species, historical landmarks, stories, songs, how things change over time, and other culturally significant sites that might not appear on standard maps.[6] [7]

Bioregional mapping aligns with Indigenous mapping practices by recognizing the importance of natural boundaries and the relationship between people and their environment. The idea of bioregional mapping largely grew from the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation, Nisga'a, Tsilhqotʼin, Wetʼsuwetʼen first nations who used Bioregional Mapping to create some of the first bioregional atlases as part of court cases to defend their sovereignty in the 1980s and 1990s, one such example being the Tsilhqotʼin Nation v British Columbia. Both forms of mapping serve as tools for reclaiming narratives of the land, documenting traditional territories, and promoting sustainable land stewardship. This connection between bioregional and Indigenous mapping helps highlight the ongoing importance of traditional knowledge in understanding and preserving ecological systems.[2] [8]

Notes and References

  1. Shapiro . David W. . 1996 . Leading to a New Paradigm: The Example of Bioregional Mapping . Educational Technology . 36 . 1 . 14–16 . 0013-1962.
  2. December 1994 . Book Reviews . Annals of the Association of American Geographers . 84 . 4 . 744–779 . 10.1111/j.1467-8306.1994.tb01893.x . 0004-5608.
  3. Book: Aberley, Doug . Boundaries of Home: Mapping for Local Empowerment . 1993 . New Society Publishers . 978-0-86571-271-3 . en.
  4. Web site: 2012-02-10 . Giving the Land a Voice: Mapping our Home Places . 2024-08-16 . ltabc.ca . en-CA.
  5. Maps With Teeth from the series Ways We Live . 2021-01-28 . Cascadia Department of Bioregion . 2024-08-17 . YouTube.
  6. Book: Harrington, Sheila . Giving the Land a Voice: Mapping Our Home Places. . Salt Spring Island Community Services. . 1994 . Salt Spring Island.
  7. Book: Stevenson, Judi . Islands in the Salish Sea: A Community Atlas . Harrington . Sheila . 2005 . TouchWood Editions . 978-1-894898-32-4 . en.
  8. Web site: An Introduction to Bioregional Mapping – AMN . 2024-08-16 . en-US.