by: For. Janiella Sandoval
Natural resource management and planning are crucial for achieving sustainability and resilience. However, with increasing pressures from urbanization, climate change, and resource depletion, the need for innovative approaches is more urgent than ever. Spatial thinking offers a solution by analyzing the relationships between natural resources and their geographic locations. Using geographic data, advanced mapping techniques, and spatial analysis, researchers and policy-makers can make informed, strategic decisions that enhance sustainability and resilience efforts.
In the 13th episode of Resilience Live, Mr. Jan Joseph Dida, a licensed forester and environmental planner, discussed how geospatial technologies and spatial analysis play a crucial role in natural resources management innovation . Although people may be unfamiliar with the term “spatial thinking,” it plays a role in our everyday activities. For. Dida illustrated this by pointing out tools that rely on spatial data to optimize routes and resources such as Google Maps or Waze for navigation, and platforms like Grab or Foodpanda for delivery services.
Spatial Thinking in Natural Resource Management
The development of advanced mapping and geospatial technologies has revolutionized how we collect, analyze, and visualize spatial data, further enhancing our ability to think spatially. These technological advancements enable efficient analysis and provide sustainable solutions to address complex environmental challenges.
For. Dida shared that in ecotourism management, spatial analysis enables them to compute the carrying capacity of an area. This is crucial for maintaining environmental sustainability and preventing resource depletion, by balancing human activities with ecological limits. By understanding carrying capacity, we can prevent overuse of resources, avoid environmental degradation, and ensure that ecosystems remain resilient and capable of sustaining future generations.
Sieve mapping, a tool in spatial analysis, allows for the identification of land demand and supply, enabling policymakers and planners to determine suitable land zones in their area. In relation to this, policymakers also rely on spatial analysis to quantify ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, water purification, and biodiversity support. This understanding is important for making informed decisions about conservation and sustainable development.
Moreover, spatial analysis applied in hazard and exposure identification helps alleviate the impacts of disasters by enhancing strategic planning. It also aids in developing nature-based solutions, ensuring that area-specific and appropriate actions are taken. For. Dida provided an example, such as the establishment of mangrove forests in strategic locations to provide protection against storm surges.
Understanding both the physical landscape and the interrelationships between different systems ensures that funds are appropriately utilized and that strategies developed will be effective and sustainable.
Overcoming Barriers to Broader Adoption
Several barriers hinder the broader adoption of spatial technologies, including limited data availability, concerns on accuracy, infrastructure challenges, and a shortage of skilled personnel. Institutional constraints also prevent the full potential of spatial analysis from being realized. To help address this, For. Dida encourages academic institutions and GIS practitioners to leverage on readily available software and data, to promote institutional support for advancing spatial analysis. For. Dida also encourages incorporating local knowledge and enjoining the community to contribute to building more robust data. Engaging communities in data collection and spatial projects can enhance the quality and applicability of geospatial solutions. Additionally, free online courses, such as the UP RI and UPOU’s Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on the Basics of Resilience, provide a valuable opportunity for individuals to gain foundational knowledge in disaster risk reduction and management at their own pace.
A Path Forward
Spatial thinking offers a holistic, integrated view of environmental systems that can lead to more effective and sustainable solutions. As we continue to face growing environmental challenges, the importance of incorporating a spatial aspect to resource management cannot be overstated. By embracing the technologies that support it, we can strive toward a future where human development and environmental conservation exist in harmony, rather than conflict.
The UP Resilience Institute, advocating for open data, provides free access to valuable information such as flood, landslide, and storm surge data through the UP NOAH website: noah.up.edu.ph.