Participatory mapping and Nature's Contributions to People: Insights from the Amazon Delta

Abstract

Understanding how traditional and coastal communities perceive and interact with nature is key to promoting inclusive conservation. This article examines human–nature interaction in the fishing village of Jubim, located in the Marajó Archipelago, delta of the Amazon River, Brazil. Over 2 years of participatory research, including social cartography, photovoice and community mapping workshops, semi‐structured interviews and territorial excursions guided by traditional experts, data were spatialized in maps with QGIS software and codified based on the Nature's Contributions to People (NCP) framework. We identified 65 georeferenced sites and documented 73 plant and animal species associated with diverse NCP. Material contributions, such as food, medicine and construction materials, were the most frequently cited, while cultural contributions included identity, spirituality and leisure. Participants emphasized the multifunctionality of local ecosystems—mangroves, forests, rivers, crops and the sea—as interconnected spaces sustaining livelihoods and cultural continuity. Nature was described not as a stock of extractable resources but as a living entity requiring reciprocity and care, revealing a deeply relational worldview that challenges utilitarian interpretations of NCP. The findings reveal a diverse range of contributions provided by nature, while also underscoring how local socio‐environmental realities resist simplistic categorizations. It does also highlight the potential of participatory mapping to expand the analytical and practical reach of the NCP framework. Recognizing the multifunctionality of ecosystems and the relational perspectives of Amazonian communities is essential to design conservation and governance strategies that are not only ecologically effective but also socially just. Integrating these perspectives into policy and management frameworks can strengthen adaptive governance and promote knowledge co‐production across different worldviews. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.