Attendees of the USAID GeoCenter Specialist Conference refer to a map of Egypt.
Photo: USAID GeoCenter

Understanding Landscapes using Spatial Data

By Ioana Bouvier, Silvia Petrova, Lovasoalalaina Parson

Landscapes and the complex, interlinked spatial units that comprise them are changing at an accelerating rate. Land use change, especially deforestation and forest degradation, are among the main contributors to global greenhouse emissions. Quantifying and monitoring forest conversion and better understanding the drivers of these changes is therefore paramount to supporting sustainable landscapes initiatives and increasing the potential for carbon sequestration globally.

The increased availability of spatial data and satellite imagery, combined with advances in computing power, are creating unprecedented opportunities for monitoring of deforestation and forest degradation at global and regional scales.

Forest Monitoring

The USAID-supported Global Forest Watch platform enables thousands of users to access and share reliable forest information globally. Other geospatial platforms provide updated forest loss information for tropical regions, such as the Terra-I platform and the Monitoring of the Andean Amazon Project (MAAP).

Development programs are also using geospatial data and analysis at the country level to enhance understanding of forest degradation. In India, an estimated 41 percent of the total forest has been degraded to meet the country’s growing demand for fuelwood and timber. There, the USAID-funded Forest-Plus initiative uses geospatial analysis and technology to develop and rapidly share forest inventories and forest carbon estimates

Cross-Sector Integration

Data provided through global monitoring platforms can help practitioners integrate development programming across sectors, identify high priority landscapes and monitor landscapes with high potential for carbon sequestration and/or ecosystem services. In Cambodia, USAID used spatial analysis and a landscape approach to integrate programming across sector objectives and to define the extended Prey Lang Landscape, which includes the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, protected areas and catchment basins that provide ecosystem services and are hydrologically connected to the Tonlé Sap ecosystem.

Image

Map of Cambodia's Prey Lang province.
One example of successful application of geospatial analysis for development programming took place in Cambodia, where USAID used spatial analysis and a landscape approach to integrate programming across sector objectives and to define the extended Prey Lang Landscape.

Empower Communities

Local communities—the people who live on, manage and use landscapes and resources—are central to understanding complex landscape dynamics and addressing key drivers of land use change. USAID and other development agencies are increasingly using geospatial analysis and technology for crowdsourcing and community-based approaches, such as USAID’s MAST initiative, a participatory approach that empowers communities with the tools to quickly, accurately and transparently map and document their own land and resource rights.

Test Development Hypotheses

Geospatial analysis can also be used to generate evidence aimed at testing the theory of change and understanding the potential impact of intervention within landscapes. USAID recently used geospatial analysis as part of an impact evaluation in Zambia to analyze community perceptions of forest tenure and forest condition. Findings showed that more secure forest tenure is associated with better-reported forest condition.

Guidance and Requirements

USAID missions and partners have access to a growing number of resources to support landscape analysis and to build capacity for spatial data collection and management. USAID developed new data guidance and specific location requirements for data collection at the activity level, which helps improve decision-making and adaptive management throughout the development program cycle. This strengthens USAID’s ability to plan, deliver, assess and adapt development programming in an accountable, transparent manner.

USAID missions can also access specialized geospatial analytical and capacity building support within the Bureau for Education, Energy and the Environment/Land and Urban office or the USAID Geocenter. Missions can also leverage the capacity and expertise of the SERVIR hubs, a community of practice comprising over 50 specialists, and a consortium of YouthMappers that connects student mapping charters around the world.

Strategic Objective
Adaptation, Integration
Topics
Adaptation, Ecosystem-based Adaptation, Forest/Forestry, Indicators
Region
Global
Ioana Bouvier headshot

Ioana Bouvier

Ioana Bouvier is a senior geospatial adviser in the Land and Urban Office at USAID, where she leads the development of fit-for-purpose, participatory approaches that empower communities and have the potential to improve efficiency and to reduce costs associated with land documentation. She focuses on building capacity to leverage data, geospatial analysis and sustainable technology to advance land and resources governance, support resilient cities and foster integrated development planning. She also uses geospatial analysis to generate and apply evidence for programs that support biodiversity conservation and sustainable landscapes, increase land transparency, identify rural-urban links, promote responsible land investments and safeguard vulnerable populations. Ioana has a master’s degree in Geographic Information Science for Development and Environment from Clark University, Worcester, MA.

Silvia Petrova headshot

Silvia Petrova

Silvia Petrova serves as E3/Land’s Geospatial Analyst and provides geospatial analytics and technology solutions assistance to missions, across land and urban portfolio and cross-sectoral programs. She focuses on generating new evidence through the use of innovative geospatial and technology approaches to support land and resource governance, sustainable urban services, and cross-sectoral programming for climate change, biodiversity and food security initiatives. Learn More / Contact Silvia Petrova.

Lalaina Parson headshot

Lovasoalalaina Parson

Lalaina Parson is the Senior GIS Database Administrator and System Architect at GeoCenter USAID Washington . She holds a Masters in Environmental Geography and has experiences working on GIS projects in the government, environmental, conservation, health and international development sectors. Prior to USAID GeoCenter, Lalaina worked with the USAID CIO office where she built the AidTracker program. She also worked for FEMA to create and manage the GIS RiskMap CDS web application, the US Department of Education to build their GIS NCES webmap application, and for the US Census to develop a GIS application and implement their GIS infrastructure. In Madagascar, Lalaina worked on conservation and environmental projects and health program management with USAID through CARE International. Currently, Lalaina is developing a GIS enterprise architecture for all phases of the SDLC for the GeoCenter, in which she administers and maintains spatial databases and develops GIS web services through the use of cloud technologies.

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