Guides
A series of guides was developed to describe the techniques that were used in the study and to provide step-by-step instructions in their use. These techniques can be used by others to conduct studies or implement projects on similar topics. The guides also provide the main findings of the different components of the study.
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Participatory Listing, Ranking, and Scoring of Ecosystem Services and Drivers of Change
- This step-by-step guide provides instructions for three participatory techniques that we used in the project focus groups and interviews: listing, ranking, and scoring. These are easy-to-implement techniques that can be used to identify people's knowledge, perceptions, and opinions about a particular topic. The techniques presented in this guide can be used by natural resource managers and specialists on other national and state forests to better collect data about stakeholders' knowledge regarding natural resources. The ultimate goal of these techniques is to identify ways to enhance such knowledge, and to promote collective actions and participatory management. The guide also provides the main findings of the study. read more...
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Participatory Mapping of Land Cover Change
- This guide provides the step-by-step instructions that we used to conduct participatory sketch mapping. The purpose of the guide is to provide national forest managers, natural resource specialists, and researchers with a tool that can be used to investigate people’s understanding of geographic factors affecting forests or natural resources in general. The guide also includes the main findings of this study. read more...
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Multi-Criteria Evaluation and Geographic Information Systems for Land-Use Planning and Decision Making
- We used MCE analysis and GIS tools to develop a map that shows areas in which protection against urban expansion would help to ensure the continued provision of the forest’s ecosystem services. The map was developed for the area covered by the eight municipalities that have a portion of El Yunque within their boundaries. The map can assist land use planners, forest managers, and natural resources specialists, among others, in making land use decisions around El Yunque. This guide provides step-by-step instructions of how this map was developed. It specifically provides GIS users working with natural resources and environmental topics with a tool to conduct geographic analysis and produce maps to assist in the management and planning of land use and natural resources. This guide also demonstrates the potential of the resulting map for land-use decision making, management, and planning. read more...
