Questioning the practice of participation: Critical reflections on participatory mapping as a research tool

Participatory mapping has been documented to be an effective process for empowering stakeholders and integrating Indigenous and western systems of knowledge. Reflecting on the way participatory mapping is conducted allows researchers and facilitators to genuinely listen to community voices. Our experiences with participatory mapping demonstrate that there is an emphasis on transforming map content to meet research goals and less focus on the process and consequences of participatory mapping for stakeholders. In this paper, we critically reflect upon our roles as researchers in using participatory mapping. We describe four case studies in Mongolia, Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, and the United States, tracing the typology of voices (i.e., individual-researcher, collective, and researcher-interpreted collective voices) throughout the participatory mapping process. We take a critical look at this process by questioning our practice and limitations of participation, how voices are (in) equitably represented, and the unintended consequences of our projects. Finally, we share a roadmap of community participation to assess the process and identify opportunities for reflection to enhance collaboration and improve equitable outcomes.